Hope Austin's Leadership in Fighting Child Hunger: A Nonprofit Success

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Monica von Waaden and what led her to found Hope Austin?

Von Waaden is a former special education teacher, domestic violence advocate, and attorney who now leads Hope Austin and Hope Round Rock. She credits her upbringing in El Paso, where her educator mother taught in the city's poorest neighborhoods and often brought students home for meals, and her electrical engineer father insisted those children join in science fair projects, instilling a lifelong philanthropic mindset.

What makes Hope Austin's backpack kits different from a typical food-insecurity program?

Rather than filling bags with chips, cookies, and Fruit Roll-Ups, Hope Austin engineers shelf-stable weekend kits with 68 to 73 grams of protein. Items include Cooper Street whole-grain granola bars with quinoa, buckwheat, and real fruit, shelf-stable yogurt, a whole-grain low-sodium noodle cup called a Woodle, almonds, sunflower seeds, and reduced-sugar cereals to fuel learning outcomes.

How does Hope Austin operate without any paid staff?

Every role, including von Waaden's, is volunteer. Roughly 60 drivers cover the Central Texas Metroplex each Wednesday, while packers assemble 5,000 kits weekly in an hour-and-a-half shift model. Most volunteers commit for full semesters and often return year after year, with some serving nine-plus years because they see the mission's value firsthand.

Why did von Waaden bring up Kodak during a conversation about a food nonprofit?

She and Eisenberg used Kodak, referenced by prior guest and White House photographer David Valdez, to illustrate why organizations must evolve. Kodak invented the digital camera but refused to adapt and collapsed. Hope Austin has similarly evolved from a simple weekend backpack program into eight distinct nutritional programs, including snack support, fresh food, hot food, and a teen pregnancy program.

What leadership lesson does von Waaden hope her son Alex carries into his role as Panera president?

She wants him to remember that leaders set the tone by example and should never ask someone to do something they wouldn't do themselves. Von Waaden points to her own habit of taking out recycling and mopping floors at Hope Austin, arguing that whether employee or executive, running a business is a together endeavor requiring willingness to do every task.

How can listeners get involved with Hope Austin beyond writing a check?

The organization needs volunteers for 90-minute packing shifts in a music-filled environment, and it is actively recruiting substitute and full-time drivers as some step away for health reasons ahead of the Hutto expansion in the 2026 school year. Children as young as five can participate. Interested parties can email [email protected] or connect at Round Rock Chamber events.