Austin Partners In Education is looking to raise money for its student-focused volunteer programs Dec. 3 as part of Giving Tuesday, a national movement to kick off the giving season.

The second annual event encourages people to send donations to local nonprofits and charities.

"It's just a nice reminder to give back," APIE Executive Director Cathy Jones said, adding that for APIE, participating means helping local students at Austin ISD schools.

The Austin-based nonprofit organization helps to prepare students in under-resourced communities to be college- and career-ready.

"Our Giving Tuesday funds that we're looking to raise will go towards our mentoring program," she said, explaining APIE mentors talk one-on-one with students to help them develop self-confidence and encourage goal-setting. The organization has about 972 people trained as mentors, and that number has increased by about 100 since last year.

"We're looking for funds to help support that, just to make sure that we're able to keep up with it," she said.

Once APIE raises $5,000, the Houston-based group Oppenheimer Foundation plans to match that with another $5,000 to help students, Jones said.

More information is available at www.austinpartners.org and www.givingtuesday.org.