Awareness Ambassadors: Corporate Partners Protecting Austin Kids

by Victoria McCullough

May 9, 2025

Read time: 4 minutes

Last month, the Center launched its Awareness Ambassador program, which empowers companies with tools to amplify child safety efforts across Austin — starting with Child Abuse Prevention Month.

This new program gives local businesses the opportunity to make a difference in our community while boosting brand recognition and demonstrating to customers, clients, and employees that they care deeply about protecting children.

During April, our Awareness Ambassadors committed to engaging in a variety of child abuse prevention initiatives based on their specific audiences, abilities, and resources — helping extend awareness efforts to a wide range of demographics.

In its first year, our Awareness Ambassador program made an astounding impact: raising awareness, educating the community, and promoting our Protect Austin Kids prevention campaign. Let’s take a moment to reflect on all the ways our partners took a stand for children during this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Community Visuals

Ambassadors received awareness items to distribute and display throughout the month. From posting branded social media graphics to encouraging employees to wear #ProtectAustinKids pins, our partners — like Frost Bank and Heritage Title Company — leveraged their spheres of influence to amplify awareness across their networks. Companies also received #ProtectAustinKids window vinyls and yard signs to display at their locations. For example, Dignity Memorial and CWS Apartment Homes helped broaden our campaign’s reach by placing these materials at 10 funeral homes and 7 apartment complexes across Austin.

Educating Employees

Ambassadors were given prevention resources to educate and empower their employees, including weekly conversation starters designed to help break the silence around child abuse. Ambassadors also invited their employees to attend the Center’s “5 Steps to Protecting Our Kids” webinar, which is part of a Monthly Webinar Series focused on prevention. Several companies, such as JB Goodwin Realtors and Dignity Memorial, scheduled speaking presentations for their teams to learn more about the Center’s mission and deepen their understanding of child abuse prevention.

Awareness & Fundraising

Ambassadors were encouraged to host events and engage their customers in prevention initiatives. Several companies, including Anderson Parker and The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen, hosted fundraising events on Protect Austin Kids Day — donating a portion of their proceeds directly to the Center. Other companies organized month-long donation drives. Orangetheory Fitness Avery Ranch set up an information table, collected monetary donations, and asked employees to wear blue every Friday to promote awareness. Frontier Investment Management and CWS Apartment Homes mobilized their clients and residents to collect new items for the Center’s Kids Closet, helping provide essential resources to children and families impacted by abuse.

Protect Austin Kids Day

Ambassadors were asked to “go blue” on April 4 for Protect Austin Kids Day. During this citywide show of support for child abuse victims, countless companies participated by posting photos of their staff in blue on social media. Several companies, like The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen, went above and beyond by lighting their buildings and business signs blue — transforming our city into a beacon of hope for a brighter future.

While many companies supported Child Abuse Prevention Month, our Awareness Ambassadors stood out by making an intentional commitment to lead the charge in advocating for the safety and well-being of children in our community. Together, they amplified awareness about child abuse prevention across Austin and played a vital role in making our city a safer place for kids.