Austin Philanthropists Pledge $1 Million to Launch Westminster CARES Foundation

AUSTIN, TX — A new Austin-based foundation dedicated to improving the lives of seniors and adults with disabilities across Texas has launched with a transformational $1 million pledge from longtime Austin philanthropists Dick and Sara Rathgeber.

The Westminster CARES Foundation was established by Westminster, an Austin senior living community with a nearly 18-year history of person-centered care. The Foundation will provide grants, education, consulting, equipment and other resources to organizations serving seniors, veterans, adults with disabilities and underserved populations throughout Texas.

CARES stands for Centered Around Resident Empowered Services, a philosophy built around dignity, autonomy, choice and meaningful connection. Unlike many senior living foundations that primarily support residents within their own communities, Westminster CARES is outward-facing, with a mission to support seniors and people with disabilities throughout Texas. Its priorities include addressing food insecurity, social isolation, housing instability and access to healthcare, while advancing person-centered models of care.

“We are deeply honored and grateful for Dick and Sara Rathgeber’s extraordinary generosity and belief in our mission,” said Charles Borst, Co-Founder and CEO of the Westminster CARES Foundation. “Their leadership gift will help us create meaningful impact for seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and underserved populations across Texas. Their pledge doesn’t just launch our Foundation; it sets the standard for what’s possible.”

The Rathgebers are well known throughout Austin for their decades of philanthropy and civic leadership. Dick Rathgeber has played a pivotal role in advancing the mission of The Salvation Army in Central Texas, including helping make possible the development of the Salvation Army Rathgeber Center for Families, which provides housing and support services to families experiencing homelessness.

“We believe deeply in giving back and helping others,” said Dick and Sara Rathgeber. “The Westminster CARES Foundation reflects values that are incredibly important to us: dignity, compassion, community, and supporting people who may otherwise feel overlooked or isolated. We are proud to help launch this effort and look forward to seeing the lives it impacts throughout Texas.”

Among the organizations the Foundation intends to support are Meals on Wheels Central Texas, Alzheimer's Texas, Family Eldercare and the Texas Culture Change Coalition. The Foundation will also prioritize initiatives that promote independence, combat isolation and strengthen support systems for aging adults and people living with disabilities.