When I first started this fundraiser, it was to help one person: Sampson James, a former Indiana University running back who found himself living unhoused on the streets of Austin, Texas. I recognized his IU Athletics backpack, struck up a conversation, and learned about his incredible resilience.

Thanks to an overwhelming wave of support—including generous donations from former IU teammates we successfully got Sampson out of homelessness. The initial funds allowed us to secure a safe rental apartment for him, supply him with essential clothing, food, and household furniture, and give him the foundation he needed to rebuild his life and achieve stability.

Sampson’s story showed me both the immense power of community support and the reality of how quickly someone can fall into housing instability. Moving forward, this movement is expanding into a formal nonprofit organization: End Austin Homelessness.

All future funds raised through this platform will directly power our mission to end homelessness in Austin, TX. We will be using these resources to:

Help Homeless People in Austin Get Employed: Assisting with job application support, work supplies, uniforms, and resources needed to retain stable income.

Build Long-Term Support Networks: Creating community-driven mentorship programs that ensure recently housed individuals stay supported for the long haul.

Sampson proved that when a community rallies together, real and permanent change is possible. Thank you for joining us as we take this next step to help more neighbors leave the past behind and build a brighter future right here in Austin.