Press Release: TEGAC IS NOW PHILANTHROPY ADVOCATES

News Release

TEGAC IS NOW PHILANTHROPY ADVOCATES
New Name, Renewed Commitment to Core Mission to Advocate for
Texas Students from Cradle to Career

AUSTIN, TEXAS (August 25, 2020)—Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium (TEGAC) today announced its new name, Philanthropy Advocates, a collaboration with Educate Texas. TEGAC’s name change better reflects its core mission, engaging philanthropy to advocate on behalf of 7 million pre-K-12 and higher education students across Texas.

“Since our founding nearly a decade ago, Philanthropy Advocates has harnessed the power of philanthropy and data-driven research to achieve our vision. Our name may have changed, but our commitment to our core mission is unwavering. We advocate to ensure Texas students achieve their educational goals from cradle to career,” said Jennifer Esterline, Director, Philanthropy Advocates.

Texas philanthropic partners first united in response to the Texas Legislature’s historic budget cuts to public education - totaling $5.4 billion - in 2011.

Over the last decade, Philanthropy Advocates’ work in both education policy research and advocacy efforts has contributed to meaningful education policy reforms in the areas of early childhood education, pathways to college and career, effective teaching, and school finance - including support for one of the most significant state investments in our public education system (House Bill 3, 86th Legislature, 2019).

Philanthropy Advocates is a group of 54 family, corporate, community and private foundations and United Ways from across Texas that collectively represent Texas' smallest communities and largest cities. In 2019, we joined forces with Educate Texas, a trusted change agent in education, to better advocate together on behalf of our state's 7 million students.

“Philanthropy Advocates' collective voice and our seat at the table with state lawmakers and with the business community is helping to promote, to protect and to improve Texas' public and higher education systems. Now, as we navigate the current pandemic and its impact on our state's budget and public and higher education systems, our work is more important than ever,” said Dr. Wynn Rosser, President and CEO, T.L.L. Temple Foundation and Chair, Philanthropy Advocates​ Leadership Committee. 

“Our state’s budget woes and outlook will come into sharper focus in the next few months. One thing is already clear; Philanthropy Advocates’ work will play a critical role as the Texas Legislature grapples with historic, unprecedented budget shortfalls and a weakened economy due to COVID-19,” said Esterline.

Learn more at philanthropyadvocates.org.

Watch our video online at http://bit.ly/WeArePhilanthropyAdvocates.

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Media contact: Jennifer Harris, jharris@jwhcommunications.com | 512-773-7168

About Philanthropy Advocates

Philanthropy Advocates, a collaboration with Educate Texas at Communities Foundation of Texas, is a diverse consortium of over 50 private, corporate, and community foundations and United Ways. In 2019, we joined forces with Educate Texas, a trusted change agent in education, to better advocate together on behalf of our state’s 7 million students. Online at philanthropyadvocates.org.