Professional Services in Lakeway

Theresa Bond Zelazny founded the Mobile Art Program (MAP) after seeing how the creation of artwork helped her mother reduce stress and anxiety during a six-month battle with colon cancer. Today, MAP works toward empowering seniors and people with disabilities through artistic expression, helping them cope with their situations, regain a sense of control in their lives, and develop interpersonal relationships. Instructors drive a VW station wagon to nine facilities throughout underserved areas of Austin every month and conduct art classes where participants learn about the colors, compositions, and brush strokes employed by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Vincent van Gogh and model their own works off of these techniques. Instructors bring all of the supplies necessary for each project, giving the participants experience with a variety of mediums. By creating art in group settings, seniors can simultaneously gain new skills, build communities of friends, and bolster their self-esteem. At least once a year, the organization also holds a mini exhibit in each assisted-living facility, where residents vote on their favorite pieces and everyone receives prizes.

Washing a blemished suit at home can be as difficult as luring a cat into a bath. Comet Cleaners helps customers save time by gently sterilizing delicate apparel and offering speedy, same-day dry-cleaning service. In addition to garment revitalization, the staff performs a slew of services that include custom alterations, leather cleaning, complimentary button replacement, and stork-nest removal from fancy hats.

Susan and Don Cox founded The Christi Center in 1987 in memory of their daughter, who had recently died. Through their organization, they aim to help people adjust to life after the death of loved ones with a variety of support groups and community partnerships. The Christi Center runs 21 monthly groups to help people deal with the loss of children, spouses, and family members. Special bimonthly groups cater to children and teens, and school-based groups gather at local high schools for youth to participate in 10-week grief groups with their peers. In addition to providing grief support, The Christi Center also operates substance-abuse-recovery services for patients in conjunction with Austin Recovery.

For 10 years, the technicians at Save Your Tapes have preserved customers’ memories by transferring the contents of VHS, VHS-C, Hi-8, and Mini-DVs onto pristine DVDs. After picking up customers’ tapes in person, technicians transfer their contents to DVD—complete with a custom menu and label—and place the DVD in a protective sleeve ready for customers to pick up. Mail service is also available. Save Your Tapes offers tape repair services and photo slideshows in addition to its transfer services.

The Amala Foundation aims to inspire youth to become peaceful and compassionate leaders through local, national, and international humanitarian service projects. Many of these projects are directed at helping to connect underserved youth, including refugee and immigrant children, with opportunities to take leadership roles and serve others. Youth participants have often experienced religious persecution, child labor, extreme poverty, gang violence, or war, and Amala's projects are aimed at helping them to achieve inner peace as well as peace within the communities where they work. Programs include the One Village Project and the Global Youth Peace Summit, which unite youth from around the globe to help them heal and connect with others. Over the last decade, the Amala Foundation has directly impacted the lives of thousands of young people in Austin and around the world.