Ashley Kontnier
DRIPPING SPRINGS — What started as a grassroots effort between local residents has turned into more than a decade of building relationships and connecting people to resources in Dripping Springs. Now, in further support of its evolving mission, Project Connect has changed its name to Springs of Hope.
The nonprofit began in 2015 as a way to connect residents within the Dripping Springs ISD boundaries who are in need with people in the community who could provide resources, said board president Lisa Little.
For example, if a family didn’t have the ability to fix a car, the organization would visit the mechanic and ask for a lower price by only charging the family the costs of the parts, rather than labor.
Springs of Hope has historically been limited to direct donations from the community or members of the nonprofit, said Little. Despite this, the organization has assisted more than 1,000 individuals and families, providing more than $1 million in financial assistance and charitable support.
One of its largest initiatives is Tiger Santa, which coordinates gifts, food, clothing, financial assistance and other resources via counselors at DSISD schools.
“Through Tiger Santa, we go directly to those counselors and ask them, ‘Who in your school do you know that is suffering? Who is having a hard time and probably is not going to be able to do much for their family over the holidays?’ They identify those families and then, they give them a form to fill out for us that lists out the family members, their ages, their sizes, things that they would like for the holidays,” explained Little.
The district then provides the information anonymously to the members of the organization to reach out to the community to find individuals or families willing to sponsor those in need. After the shopping has been completed, they come together and wrap the gifts and send them to the schools to be distributed.
The organization has also started a bimonthly advisory board with other local nonprofits to share ideas, thoughts and resources with each other.
While there is no requirement to have students who attend DSISD schools to receive assistance, one of the nonprofit’s missions is to remove barriers to education.
“We feel like if a kid's family doesn't have the money for our new pair of tennis shoes — that whole piece of going to school and having an old pair of shoes or a pair of shoes that doesn't fit anymore — that's a barrier to education,” Little said. “Going to school and being made fun of or being pointed out or just feeling uncomfortable could be a barrier. So, we're really trying to do anything we can to help these kids feel normal and feel good about themselves, so that when they get into the classroom, they're there to learn.”
The growth of the organization over the years has been slow, she said. This is partially due to the fact that the organization has no funding mechanism beyond individual donations. However, in 2025, this changed with the announcement of its first major fundraiser, a silent auction.
Following this auction, the idea for a name change came up. The reason behind it, Little explained, is that, while the organization is still a connecting point, it also does “so much more.” As the leadership looks to grow, there was a desire to make sure the logo and branding was relevant to what the nonprofit represents.
"Project Connect reflects where we began, but Springs of Hope represents who we have become," said the president. "Connecting people with resources will always be at the heart of our mission, but today, we also provide direct assistance, coordinate volunteers, build partnerships and create opportunities for our community to come together in meaningful ways. Our new name better reflects the hope that's created when neighbors help neighbors."
Now, Springs of Hope has begun its second annual Online Silent Auction, which will run from Sept. 29-Oct. 4, and raises critical funds to support year-round programs and services that benefit students, families, Dripping Springs ISD employees and neighbors throughout the community. The auction can be found at https://go.rallyup.com/springsofhope/Campaign/Details.
Those interested in keeping up with Springs of Hope can follow its Facebook or Instagram at @springsofhopeds. To learn more, volunteer, donate or become a community partner, visit www.SpringsOfHopeDS.org.
