Organization to honor area philanthropists at ceremony Feb. 14 in Austin

Brody Roush first became interested in serving others when he was in the fourth grade.

When his YMCA basketball coach, Clint Barbour, needed help collecting basketball shoes for Hoops for Hope—which provides athletic shoes for children in Africa—Brody pitched in, helping to collect nearly 700 pairs of shoes.

"That was where my roots were," Brody said. "He was just always very inspirational, and he was always very active in the community."

Inspired by his coach's example of service, Brody, now 17, has maintained his involvement with the YMCA; at 13, he founded his own service group, Beyond the Bases.

As an eighth-grader, Brody had moved on to baseball and was helping his father with tryouts for the Oak Hill Youth Sports Association. Brody saw that many of the children who showed up didn't have the basic equipment.

"I noticed that a bunch of the kids didn't have the essentials—a bat, glove, helmet, things like that. I had tons of stuff packed away in my garage that I'm not using," Brody said. "I went home and got the equipment I had and gave it to these kids. And I thought, 'I've met so many people over the years. They've got to have stuff in their garage, too.'"

Brody distributed the equipment to the players, and then with the extra gear he gathered that first year, he held a sale, raising more than $700.

So began Beyond the Bases, which Brody estimates has provided equipment for nearly 500 athletes and has raised nearly $15,000 for scholarships.

"From that, we kind of expanded our vision. We didn't sell all our gear. We had a missionary group come to us, and they wanted to take our gear to Mexico," he said. "We also went over to Del Valle. The smiles on those kids' faces—they were just amazed when they walked up [and saw] boxes of equipment.

"This continued to expand, and we've had annual equipment sales. We've been doing raffles. It's just been incredible."

Brody has continued to play baseball throughout high school, and after a tournament in Houston last spring, he expanded Beyond the Bases to Houston, partnering with a league run by a pastor on the city's east side.

Now a senior at St. Michael's Catholic Academy in Austin, Brody said he plans to attend college after he graduates—the University of Notre Dame and Washington University are among his options—and said he hopes to expand Beyond the Bases wherever he ends up.

For his work with Beyond the Bases, Brody will receive the 2013 Kelly Davidson Memorial Outstanding Philanthropic Youth Award on Feb. 14 at the Philanthropy Day awards luncheon.

"I think it's very special to receive this award for the organization," he said. "In the end, it's just really something extra.

"And I never know who I may help, but knowing that I can change the life of one kid, that's what matters, right?"

To contribute to Beyond the Bases, contact Brody at [email protected] or through www.beyondthebases.org.

2013 Philanthropy Day winners

The awards ceremony honors the work of philanthropists throughout Central Texas.

• Special Recognition—Sister Gertrude Levy, D.C., Seton Fund For nearly 40 years, Sister Gertrude Levy has served the community through her work with Seton Healthcare Family. In 1999, the hospital system established the Sr. Gertrude Levy Endowment in honor of her 80th birthday; it has grown to more than $1.8 million, according to Seton Fund.
• Outstanding Philanthropist—Mickey and Jeanne Klein Half a dozen letters of support accompany the nomination of Mickey and Jeanne Klein. Victoria Corcoran Neal of Corcoran & Co. wrote, "They have created a community of high expectations among one another. It's the kind of thing that makes a city home, and makes a city great."
• Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser—Bonnie Mills and Jim Sauer Susan McDowell of LifeWorks wrote, "Bonnie Mills and Jim Sauer are the most dedicated and successful volunteer fundraisers I have worked with during my 22 years as a professional fundraiser."
• Outstanding Fundraising Professional—Brett Barnes, LifeWorks "In addition to his service to LifeWorks, Brett is a tireless community volunteer and supports Texas Early Music Project, AIDS Ride, Well Aware, Autism Speaks, Movember and many others," wrote Susan McDowell in her nomination letter.
• Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation/Organization Carl C. Anderson and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation The foundation's work with Meals on Wheels and More as well as the Junior League of Austin's Food in Tummies Program was among that highlighted by the group's nominators. The Junior League's Cathy McHorse wrote, "The folks at the Anderson Foundation know how to talk the talk, and they absolutely walk the walk. They are a partner in every sense of the word."
• Outstanding Philanthropic Small Corporation—Fleming's Prime Steak House and Wine Bar, The Domain location Beverly Scarborough of New Milestones Foundation wrote, "Since Darryl Wittle took over leadership of Fleming's at the Domain in 2010 he has created a corporate culture of philanthropy and community collaboration."
• Outstanding Philanthropic Large Corporation—H-E-B Letters nominating the Texas grocery store chain cited its involvement in hunger relief, health, education and crisis situations.

For more information about the Association of Fundraising Professionals Austin Chapter's 2013 Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, go to www.afpaustin.org and click on Philanthropy Day. Tickets are $80 (AFP members) or $90 (guests).