A four-year degree is not the only path after high school, and Jack of Hearts is helping Bastrop students turn their skills into careers in the trades.
What's happening
For over five years, Jack of Hearts has operated as a nonprofit helping graduates pursue futures in welding, plumbing, electrical work and other trade crafts. Founders Jack Prentiss and Justin Love told Bastrop City Council on July 14 that the program has awarded nearly 100 scholarships, but their mission comes with rising costs they can’t carry alone.
“We want to keep giving back to our community and to these young men and women whose schools may not see them the same way we do,” Love said. “Everything that makes this country go around is because of these kids.”
The background
What began as two friends brainstorming ways to give back grew into an organization funded largely through local business donations and two annual fundraising events. Prentiss expressed that, as amazing as it has been, the nonprofit has faced financial challenges as it has expanded. Prentiss also used the council platform to emphasize that Jack of Hearts is just one of many influential nonprofit groups in Bastrop that struggle to expand their missions amid rising costs.
Jack of Hearts has used the Bastrop Convention Center for its annual scholarship banquet for the past five years, but has recently seen an increase in costs. As Jack of Hearts aims to expand its support for students entering trade careers, it also seeks further recognition and greater financial flexibility to do so.
“We are growing tremendously, and our businesses support us as much as they can, so when we can get a break, we need one,” Prentiss said.
What they're saying
Supporter Clayton Tishler said his family has seen the organization’s impact firsthand after his son received a scholarship in 2023. He explained that the award was about more than the money.
“They didn’t just award him financial help; they made him feel seen and valued. That scholarship gave him confidence and direction,” Tishler said. “That’s not just charity; that’s community and compassion, and that’s the heart of Bastrop.”
The future
As Jack of Hearts hopes to distribute more scholarships, Prentiss said the nonprofit’s costs are rising with its growth—and he expects the discussion about support for local nonprofits to continue.
“It’s nice to see the community giving back to us and to be recognized for what we’re doing, not who we are, because we are going to do that with the city council or without,” Prentiss said. “With the community or not, we’re going to be there to help others who need it at a great time.”
