MRT 7/29/25 (free): $60M Received by Hill Country Community Foundation // Two Dozen Experts to Testify Thursday in Kerrville on Flood Response // TX Dems Fundraising to Quorum Break

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

TUESDAY | 7/29/2025

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• TOP NEWS  

“Hill Country Community Foundation’s 4 employees now manage $60M in flood donations — and a somber duty,” Houston Chronicle's Andrea Ball — “The Guadalupe River floodwaters were barely receding when a young man showed up in the lobby of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.

It was Sunday afternoon, two days after the July 4 storm turned the river into a predator that killed at least 137 people, swept away homes, tore down trees and ripped up roads. The Community Foundation, a nonprofit serving 10 surrounding counties, was running at full speed, figuring out how and how fast they could help.

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The young man gave two $20 bills to Jayne Zirkel, the foundation’s manager of marketing and events. He was the first person to walk into the Community Foundation with a donation. Zirkel gratefully took the money.

Over the next three weeks, hundreds more would follow.

The four-employee foundation has now raised more than $60 million to rebuild what the flood destroyed.

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The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country was established in 1982 to foster a culture of philanthropy. It handles money from individual donors who don’t want to create their own nonprofit and deal with the business-end of a charity, but want to support specific people or causes in the community.

The donors control how that money is spent, be it through individual scholarships or to specific nonprofits. Other people allow the foundation to disperse their money how it deems fit. The Community Foundation handles the mechanics.

The nonprofit serves 10 surrounding counties, including Uvalde, Blanco, Gillespie and Bandera. They may be rural counties, but its residents support charity. More than 250 donors currently use the foundation to support causes including music, animal welfare, housing, libraries and child welfare.

In 2024, the nonprofit gave $7.3 million to local charities. It does not give money to individuals.

The foundation posts details of how the fund is being spent on its website, including the recipients and size of the grants. It links where to donate and volunteer.

Money continues to pour in from across the philanthropic spectrum: $2 million from HEB; $1 million from James Avery Artisan Jewelry, both Texas institutions that got their start in Kerrville; $25,000 from a woman who had saved up the money for a new car; thousands of dollars from lemonade stands across the country; millions from strangers across the world aching for Texas – with more coming in every day.

The flood fund is far more money than the nonprofit has ever handled at one time — usually, a big year is $11 million.

So the 43-year-old foundation is busy building a sustainable plan for what will be a multi-year recovery, said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation. They’re talking to other foundations and potentially bringing in a third-party expert to help the nonprofit through the funding process.

“We’re talking to the experts,” Dickson said. “We’re not sure exactly what this is going to look like yet.”" Hou Chron ($)

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• #TXLEGE  

“Two dozen experts set to testify at Texas lawmakers' Kerrville flood hearing ahead of the public” SAEN ($)

“Texas Democrats are fundraising to potentially leave the state to block GOP-backed redistricting” Texas Tribune

“Seven House Democrats making day trip to New Mexico amid redistricting battle” Texas Tribune

• STATE GOVERNMENT  

“AG Paxton responds to DOJ: Texas did not pass race-based maps” NBC DFW

“ERCOT selects new Board of Directors Member” CBS Austin

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT  

“Contempt hearing against former Harris County DA Kim Ogg rescheduled amid special session” HPM

Editorial: “Mayor Jones, loosen your grip on the gavel at San Antonio City Hall” SAEN ($)

• 2026  

Editorial: “Time to break your silence, Judge Hidalgo” Hou Chron ($)

• TEXANS IN DC  

“Texas Sen. Ted Cruz files bill to target activist groups with anti-organized crime laws” Hou Chron ($)

“Ted Cruz unveils aviation safety bill in response to deadly DCA midair collision” DMN ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> HOU CHRON: "Greg Abbott wants to regulate THC like alcohol. What's wrong with that?" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "Exclusive: Kerrville texts reveal tension with county after July 4 floods" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "Another member of Mayor John Whitmire’s administration is leaving" HOU CHRON

> TX TRIB: "East Texans condemn Dallas millionaire’s plan to pump 16 billion gallons of their groundwater to other parts of the state — every year" TX TRIB

> DMN: "Texas redistricting will spark brutal fight that could spread across nation" DMN

> THE TEXAN: "Texas House Files Identical Hemp-Derived THC Ban Bill as Senate" THE TEXAN

> THE TEXAN: "Texas Lawmakers Begin Preparing Hill Country Flood Response, Kerrville Hearing to Come" THE TEXAN

> HOU CHRON: "NASA workforce to shrink by about 20% as nearly 4,000 employees take buyouts" HOU CHRON

> DMN: "Smith: Scandal hastens Capriglione’s exit, resets the conservative bar in Tarrant County" DMN

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "City of Kyle promotes resident engagement, open government with new transparency portal" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> THE TEXAN: "Dallas Residents Threaten to Sue City Over 133 Ordinances Violating 'Death Star' Law" THE TEXAN

> SAEN: "States file lawsuit against Trump administration over efforts to collect SNAP recipients' data" SAEN

> AAS: "Starbase water feud: Cameron County says SpaceX responsible for area residents" AAS

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Elgin City Council to interview city manager candidates" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> AAS: "'Unconstitutional Death Row': At San Antonio Immigration Court, Rep. Casar decries arrests, gets few answers" AAS

> HOU CHRON: "HPD officer joins lawsuit alleging service weapon accidentally discharged" HOU CHRON

> DMN: "DallasNews Corporation board formally rejects Alden affiliate offer as Hearst ups bid" DMN

> DMN: "Searing heat threatens health and power grids over nearly half the U.S." DMN

> FWST: "Family of North Texas teen who was killed by stray bullet mourns his death" FWST

> MY RGV: "Habitual offender sentenced to life for fatal Alton drunk driving crash" MY RGV

> FWST: "Man vanishes after saving 5-year-old in river at Washington park, rescuers say" FWST

> AAS: "Is lane splitting legal in Texas? Here’s what motorcyclists should know" AAS

> MY RGV: "Suspect in critical condition after police shooting in Brownsville" MY RGV

> MRT: "28 Texas companies named among best places to work in US News ranking" MRT

> HOU CHRON: "Austin’s unsolved Yogurt Shop Murders resurface in HBO docuseries" HOU CHRON

• EXTRA POINTS 

Last night's Texas sports scores:
> WNBA: Dallas 92, NY 82
> MLB: Washington 2, Houston 1
> MLB: LAA 6, Texas 4

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:10pm: MLB: Washington at Houston
> 8:38pm: MLB: Texas at LAA

Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 1:10pm: MLB: Washington at Houston
> 7pm: WNBA: Atlanta at Dallas
> 8:38pm: MLB: Texas at LAA

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston ace Framber Valdez criticizes defensive shift in Astros’ loss to Nationals" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "Angels get to deGrom and stop Rangers’ 6-game win streak with 6-4 victory" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "5 things we learned about the Rangers this week: What’s behind Texas’ offensive awakening?" DMN ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Why Michael Taaffe could change positions for Texas football" AAS ($)

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cornerback Caelen Carson joins Cowboys’ growing injury list with hyperextended knee" AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: "How can Cowboys handle life without Tyler Guyton? Breaking down Dallas’ options at LT" DMN ($)

HOUSTON TEXANS: "Texans have new offensive line in 2025. But are their additions enough for significant improvement?" Hou Chron ($)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Mavericks hire Ethan Casson in new role as president under CEO Rick Welts" AP

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: "Spurs to host Chinese team to open first preseason under Mitch Johnson" SAEN ($)

DALLAS WINGS: "Ogunbowale, Bueckers score 20 apiece and Wings hang on to defeat Liberty 92-82" AP