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Universal City honors volunteers; Parks Partners presents $22,000 donation to city parks
Summary
Council recognized the Universal City Volunteer Corps as a Governor’s Volunteerism Award recipient; Parks Partners presented a $22,000 check to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and residents and former officials praised local volunteerism.
Council and community members on April 1 recognized the work of longtime volunteers and nonprofit partners and accepted a donation from Parks Partners.
Mayor and council members announced the Universal City Volunteer Corps — including Parks Partners, Friends of the Library, Homeless Pets (Homes for the Homeless referenced) and the Universal City Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (UCPAAA) — had been named a community champion in the 41st Texas Governor’s Volunteerism Awards. The city manager and mayor praised the groups’ fundraising and volunteer hours.
Nut graf: Volunteers and nonprofit partnerships were a recurring theme during public comment and staff reports. Community members and former Mayor John Williams told the council that volunteers are central to the city’s events and services, and several residents urged the council to maintain policies that support nonprofit activity.
During citizens-to-be-heard, Silas (representing Parks Partners) presented a $22,000 check on behalf of Parks Partners to the Parks and Recreation Commission and said he hoped staff and the commission could “match or make grow” the donation. Council thanked the donors and noted staff would seek matching grants where possible.
Residents who spoke during public comment highlighted long-term local nonprofit activity and urged the council not to “alienate the good people” who volunteer. Jerry Browning, a longtime local volunteer and a Homes for the Homeless board member, described his organization’s past donations to the local shelter and urged council to define problems before undertaking changes to city services.
Ending: Council thanked the volunteers and noted some volunteer-driven programs — including the redesigned youth cadet academy — will expand in coming months.
