Now is When Philanthropy Matters

By: Nyle Maxwell, Owner of Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships and founder of Greater Round Rock Community Foundation

As a Round Rock businessman and former mayor, I’ve had a front row seat to the success and
prosperity our city has enjoyed for many years. I’m sure everyone reading this can agree that
Round Rock has a long list of great things going for it…strong city leadership, top notch schools,
amazing parks and sport centers, a vibrant business community from entrepreneurs to one of the
largest corporations in the world in Dell Technologies. But if we are really honest with ourselves,
what makes Round Rock such a great place to live is the people.

There is something very special about how the citizens of Round Rock help each other and want
to be part of something bigger then themselves. Philanthropy at every level has always been on
display whether it’s donating food to the Round Rock Area Serving Center or supporting your favorite charity in dollars large and small. But it’s easy to give when times are good. The true test of a giving community is when there is a crisis.

That has never become more apparent than what we have witnessed during this very trying
time. The pandemic gripping our world right now is not only taking the lives of people, but also
their livelihood. While our health professionals are doing their best to take care of those whose
health is compromised, our city leaders realized something had to be done for the health of our
local economy. Out of chaos, Round Rock Cares was established. From the extraordinary
collaboration of the City of Round Rock, the Round Rock Chamber, Dell Technologies, and the
Greater Round Rock Community Foundation, this fund was created as a means for neighbors to
help neighbors. Every dollar raised is going to our small business community to relieve them of
some of their financial burdens while they wait for government funding to assist them long-term.

Our small businesses are the engine of our local economy. Without them, Round Rock begins to
look like a very different place to live. It has been a proud moment to see individuals and
corporations alike stepping up to support this fund and help make a bad situation better. The
response has been remarkable. At the time of this publication, Round Rock Cares has provided
financial support to over 160 Round Rock businesses. It’s this type of philanthropy that shines a
light on the most help we can ever give each other: lifting someone up in their darkest hour.

Mayor Craig Morgan came up with a great perspective: if 50,000 people in this city of more than
100,000 just gave $30 each, we would raise over $1.5 million in the blink of an eye. Think about
the good that $30 could do when we all work together. And isn’t that what Round Rock is all
about? Neighbors helping neighbors to make good things happen for everyone?

“No one is useless in the world who lightens the burden of another.” That’s by Charles Dickens,
but I will take that one step further to say that philanthropy is not only one of the simplest ways
to lift someone up, it also lifts you up. If you feel helpless in self isolation, if you worry that our
first responders are having to do all the heavy lifting, if you want to help, but don’t know how,
please donate to Round Rock Cares. Doing what we can to take care of each other is the best
any of us can do right now.

Please consider a contribution for your community today at Round Rock Cares.