The Nelson Family Foundation presented donation checks for $125,000 each to the Round Rock Area Serving Center and Hope Alliance ahead of the Greater Round Rock Community Foundation Board meeting at the Round Rock Chamber on Aug. 26.

The funds are part of a $1 million commitment to support Texas-based nonprofits over the next five years, the NFF announced Aug. 5. The Nelson family owns Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, which completed its build-out in Round Rock in 2020, joining the Kalahari family of resorts and convention centers as its fourth location.

Representatives of beneficiaries Round Rock Area Service Center and Hope Alliance said these donations will be put to good use.

"I want to attempt to put into perspective what these funds mean to Hope Alliance," Hope Alliance CEO Nick Brown said. "I mentioned briefly during the event that we provide a lot of different kinds of services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. I mentioned some of our costs associated with those services. This check that we'll be receiving today represents basically covering our entire costs for an entire year of our hotline service."

Brown said the vast majority of those who need services from the Hope Alliance comes through its hotline. The Hope Alliance offers assistance to victims of sexual and family violence, such as crisis intervention, emergency shelter and legal advocacy.


The Round Rock Area Serving Center, another recipient of a $125,000 donation check, also.provides local services to those in need. Programs and services offered by the center include community gardens, furniture and clothing vouchers as well as a food pantry.

"First of all, I would like to say thank you to Kalahari and the Nelson family and their foundation; they did a great job helping us with our fundraiser," RRASC board President Cady Clark said. "These funds are going to help tremendously the folks in our community who need assistance. Thank you all for what you've done."