At Rosedale School in north Austin, dozens of disabled students got the chance to show off their own artistic aptitude by working together on a colorful mural. Friends, family and volunteers helped each of the young artists to design and cut out a foam relief, apply their choice of paint and stamp the large canvas that was laid out on the floor.

Each student got a sample of their own artwork as a special keepsake of the fun day of art appreciation, and it’s all thanks to the partnership between two organizations that want to make a difference and put a few smiles on some faces.

Austin Involved and VSA Texas members and volunteers got together by rolling up their sleeves and getting a little messy for the sake of providing a fun day. It was the first collaboration between the two, but for the local network of Austin Involved it certainly wasn’t the first or will it be the last time that it finds a nonprofit to partner with.

What exactly is Austin Involved? For co-founder and executive director Courtney Clark, it is a chance for local young professionals to discover new opportunities in community volunteer work and to then become the next generation of philanthropists.

Having been involved in the nonprofit realm for five years, Clark noticed that there were barriers in place that kept many young professionals from taking part with many charity organizations. Mainly, it was a lack of knowledge of what was out there that kept many future philanthropists from discovering the right organizations to devote time and money towards.

So with the help of current chairman of the board Matt Swinney, Clark and others were able to put together a sizable social network that could help funnel all willing volunteers’ time and effort into specially chosen nonprofits. Each member of Austin Involved donates $25 each month, and each member votes on which nonprofit will receive funding and volunteer time for the month.

Past projects and volunteer days have seen partnerships with organizations such as the Special Olympics. Recently, Austin Involved members also provided business insights for many aspiring women and minority entrepreneurs seeking to start small businesses. For members of Austin Involved, it is apparent that they have the flexibility to get whatever hands-on experience they will need when they move on to become intrepid philanthropists.

For September, it would be the Texas affiliate of VSA and their project at Rosedale that would receive help from the folks of Austin Involved. As part of an international organization, VSA is committed to making the arts accessible to the disabled, whether professionals or amateurs. They help to train art teachers to better help disabled art students and even have their own gallery devoted to showing off the creativity of disabled artists.

Once the mural canvas dries out, part of it will be taken back to VSA’s Access Gallery for display while the majority of it will be left for the school to be displayed wherever they choose.

So for everyone involved with today’s project, they can all expect the chance to receive something out of the collaborative artistic endeavor. For volunteers, it’s the hands-on experience they will need for future efforts. For participants, it’s having fun and showing off some creativity.