The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees and ACC Foundation accepted a major $100,000 gift from H-E-B on Monday, November 4, 2024. 

The gift will support the College’s Student Care Center and provide resources for students’ basic needs and tuition assistance. In recognition of this gift, Trustees unanimously approved renaming the College’s Student Care Center at the Highland Campus the “H-E-B Student Care Center.”

“Donations like this one from H-E-B are transformative for our students,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “With this gift, we can provide essential resources and financial support, helping students focus on their education and future. We deeply thank H-E-B for their dedication to our community and generosity toward Texas students.”

ACC’s Student Care Centers were created to help students cover some of their basic needs. They provide food support and connections to community resources, including housing, transportation, legal aid, family support, and more. 

“H-E-B has long believed in the purpose and mission of Austin Community College District. This gift is an investment in our community. It starts with ensuring students have access to the resources they need to succeed,” says Heidi Anderson, H-E-B Senior Director of Public Affairs for Central Texas. “We look forward to witnessing the positive impact this partnership will have on students’ lives.”

Half of the funds will be directed toward supporting students’ basic needs, including $40,000 for food pantries at all ACC campuses and $10,000 in $50 gift cards for student emergency aid. The remaining $50,000 will establish an endowment to support the ACC’s Free Tuition program, a pilot initiative with a long-term goal of expanding free tuition opportunities for all students.

H-E-B’s contribution builds on a decade-long partnership with ACC which has totaled $65,000 toward scholarships and career programs. The new naming honor acknowledges H-E-B’s integral role in strengthening ACC’s student services and its commitment to building stronger Texas communities.

For more information, visit austincc.edu/studentcarecenter