The Jordan Award, established by Dr. Wylie Jordan in 1999, has historically recognized one nonprofit organization that mobilizes volunteers to strengthen Central Texas. In honor of Dr. Jordan’s legacy, Austin Community Foundation hosted a final grant cycle supporting the work of two organizations with the Award’s largest amount to date. This milestone for the Jordan Award reflects the spirit of Dr. Jordan’s generosity that every recipient, past and present, will carry forward into our community.
Since its inception, the Jordan Award has evolved to reflect the changing needs of our region while staying true to its core purpose: celebrating the transformative power of volunteerism. This year, it focused on organizations that:
- Creatively engage volunteers in innovative ways
- Demonstrate clear effectiveness and measurable impact
- Share compelling stories that inspire community support
Austin Community Foundation is proud to announce the 2025 Jordan Award recipients, each receiving $11,500 in support of their work.
Maternal Health Equity Collaborative (MHEC)
MHEC works to make birth safer for Black and Brown families by building community and using collective power to create lasting change rooted in birth justice and equity.
MHEC Volunteers
Founded in 2020, MHEC provides free, high quality in-home childcare for families during the perinatal period. Volunteers power their biannual Community Baby Showers, providing essential baby and postpartum supplies to families who often face barriers due to financial strain or isolation. MHEC volunteers bring specialized experience in translation, outreach, logistics, grant writing, and event planning, ensuring programs are inclusive and responsive to community needs.
Many MHEC volunteers have experience as parents, birth workers, or healthcare professionals. One long-time volunteer, who started as a client, now helps organize donations that connect families to resources. Another volunteer, a bilingual healthcare professional, has expanded outreach to Spanish-speaking families by translating materials and guiding them through events in their preferred language. She also secures health-related donations like formula and infant first aid kits.
By grounding its work in collective leadership and volunteer power, MHEC continues to advance equity in maternal health and create spaces where families feel supported, connected, and celebrated.
Lirios Pediatrics
Lirios Pediatrics improves the well-being of uninsured children by providing them with free, equitable, and high-quality medical and mental healthcare. The free services provided by Lirios include well-child exams, vaccinations, mental health counseling, x-rays, medication, and lab work.
Lirios Pediatrics Volunteers
This past year, Lirios volunteers have served over 1,000 children and provided 8,000 hours of support. Volunteers take on essential roles, from managing the front desk and scheduling appointments to assisting with translation for Spanish-speaking families. Many of Lirios’ volunteers are pre-med students from The University of Texas at Austin who gain hands-on experience with both the clinical and human sides of healthcare.
One dedicated volunteer leads volunteer recruitment, training, and scheduling, keeping the clinic running smoothly. She has expanded Lirios’ bilingual volunteer count from one per shift to an average of three per shift, recognizing the importance of receiving care in your own language. Lirios’ volunteers ensure that every child who walks through their doors receives care that is not only free, but also compassionate, comprehensive, and culturally informed.
A Legacy of Service
ACF is honored to celebrate the extraordinary impact of this year’s recipients. Maternal Health Equity Collaborative and Lirios Pediatrics remind us that volunteerism takes many forms, and both embody Dr. Wylie Jordan’s belief that volunteer service is a powerful force for change.
While this is the final chapter for the Jordan Award, the spirit behind it lives on in every volunteer and organization who gives their time, skills, and passions to strengthen Central Texas. We invite you to join us in supporting these organizations, amplifying their stories, and carrying forward a legacy of service.
