We are pleased to announce the release of the OneStar 2021 Annual Report! This year’s publication features the theme of Rising to the Challenge, which celebrates the resilience of Texas communities addressing the unique obstacles of 2021—including the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri.
In addition to showcasing OneStar’s impact and providing transparency into our operations, we prioritized telling the stories of our partners across Texas to illustrate the power of collaboration. Our 2021 Annual Report spotlights specific examples of how OneStar builds capacity for nonprofits doing amazing work in Texas and provides critical support to diverse organizations statewide.
We extend our appreciation to our extraordinary colleagues from Sewa International, Center Against Sexual and Family Violence, Volunteer Houston, Hookset Brother Combat Recovery, Texas Department for State Health Services, United Ways of Texas, and Latinitas, who agreed to have their experiences featured in these pages. This is just a small glimpse of the many valued partners we had the privilege of working with in 2021, and we thank all of you for joining our us in our mission to build stronger Texas communities.
Letter from the CEO: OneStar 2021 Annual Report
Dear friends,
As we reflect on 2021, I am incredibly grateful for the nonprofits and partners who have worked alongside OneStar to support Texas communities, especially during this extraordinary time that has demanded so much fortitude and resilience. We embarked on this past year with ambitious ideas and ready to deliver on our new strategic plan. While the ensuing months brought unanticipated challenges and twists, I am proud of the strides we have made toward building a robust foundation to engage individuals in service and strengthen the Texas nonprofit sector.
Over the past few months, we have laid the groundwork for a massive expansion of AmeriCorps in Texas. This fall, we kicked off the largest AmeriCorps Texas cohort ever with an anticipated 3,600 members serving and the addition of three new programs—and more on the way. We also have made progress in strengthening the volunteer infrastructure in Texas with the exciting launch of VolunteerTX.org, the first online platform aggregating volunteer opportunities statewide. In addition, our Texas Faith-Based & Community Initiative grew with 11 new appointments to the Texas Nonprofit Council, convened to provide front-line insight and recommendations from the nonprofit sector directly to state government agencies.
2021 also marks two years of living in the shadow of uncertainty and devastation cast by COVID-19. This year, we have come to accept that this pandemic may have permanently altered basic facets of our daily lives. The ever-evolving circumstances have required us to continuously listen to and learn the needs of the community, and I am so grateful to our many partners who possessed the grace and agility to adapt to new challenges each week. Thank you for your initiative and community-driven efforts to respond and support Texans when they needed it most. We are proud to celebrate many meaningful milestones in the pages of this annual report, but these accomplishments are only the first steps in a long journey. Our work in 2021 has formed a strong foundation for programs, networks, and collaborations to come, and we invite you to join us and be a part of our ongoing mission to strengthen Texas communities in the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Chris Bugbee
President & CEO