Season for Caring

Each year, the Austin American Statesman selects 12 deserving families to participate in their Season for Caring giving campaign. These families and individuals are selected from nominations sent in by local nonprofit organizations and have their needs and stories highlighted through a series of stories and videos, while collecting donations on their behalf. 

This year, we nominated Shilda Fresch, and we’re thrilled to announce that she was selected to be a part of the campaign.

A Little About Shilda:

Family means everything to Shilda. She grew up in the foster care system and had to endure many hardships.  Later as an adult, when she discovered some of her own family members’ children would be separated in the foster care system, she and her husband, Venard stepped up in a big way. They adopted two of those children and are in the process of adopting the three more. So that makes a beautiful family of eight for this giving, selfless couple.

Venard, a music producer, composer and music engineer by trade, takes on the huge responsibility of staying home to raise their six small children, while Shilda is the primary breadwinner. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, like so many other millions of women nationwide, her work hours were dramatically cut. She reports that most months her post-tax income hovers around $100/month. Costs for food, housing, medical care, transportation, student loans and mental healthcare are all contributing to a very dire financial situation for the Fresch family.

But Shilda and Venard continue to persevere. Shilda works as a paraprofessional teacher for Travis Heights Elementary School in Austin. She is also finishing her studies at Austin Community College and soon hopes to attend UT or Texas Tech to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Education.

Dress for Success Provides Direction for Shilda’s Career

Shilda came to Dress for Success Austin at the beginning of 2020, seeking support for professional skills to help her prosper at work. She was one of our first graduates of our Path to Employment program, which is a six-week job search & mentorship program. Her and her mentor, Sharon Pierce, met every week and almost a year later, still keep in touch regularly. In fact, they were highlighted in an Austin American-Statesman article this past year titled “‘'I have worth': Dress For Success brings confidence to women's pandemic job searches.” Shilda is also a member of our Professional Women’s Group, and attends our webinars and other events when her schedule allows. 

Shilda works two jobs, continues her studies to achieve her degree, is active in her community, is a mother of six and still finds ways to grow personally and professionally.  She has a passion for children’s television programs and music, so her dream is to one day create her own children’s program.  

You Can Make a Difference

Shilda has a personalized wish list of things she and her family want or need that you can find here. Or you can make a monetary donation here or in-kind donation from the Fresch’s wishlist by filling out this form.