TEENAGE VOLUNTEER LEGEND RECEIVES $10,000 DONATION DURING 2026 SAY THANKS, AUSTIN CEREMONY – OVER $20,000 DONATED IN TOTAL
“So much recognizing good is happening in our community and hopefully inspiring other people to go out and do good things as well!”
– Judy Maggio, ATX Good News
After a Central Texas gratitude campaign running throughout January saw more than 40,000 acts of appreciation submitted via text, web, email, social media, and paper forms to local foundation RecognizeGood, it’s safe to believe that the 2026 Say Thanks, Austin tradition was a success. The community’s collective attention was drawn to a group of ten incredible, selfless givers from the area who have made amazing impacts for those around them – all originally honored in 2025 individually through RecognizeGood’s Legends program. This year’s edition of Say Thanks, Austin, the 17th in its history, was unique with the addition of the Rotary Club of Austin‘s Four-Way Test Public Safety Awards honoring local first responders who have demonstrated exceptional integrity and commitment to uplifting all citizens – especially the most vulnerable – within the Austin-area community.
The closing ceremony was held at Austin City Hall on Friday, March 13th where final results of the campaign were announced. RecognizeGood’s executive director, Joel Coffman kicked the ceremony off with a brief introduction to the program, then handed off hosting duties to longtime local news anchors Judy Maggio and Leslie Rhode (now of ATX Good News) alongside longtime local philanthropy leader Bobby Jenkins of ABC Home & Commercial Services. The three hosts announced the results of the Say Thanks campaign, and presented pay-it-forward donation checks in the names of each honoree toward the charities of their choice. All of the volunteer honorees received an official Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Austin, signed by Mayor Kirk Watson.
“It’s really incredible some of the individuals we have here in Central Texas,” says Coffman. “It is an absolute pleasure to get to find them, and just tell them thank you. We really believe at RecognizeGood you pay it forward by telling your own story – you inspire others when you tell your incredible volunteer stories.”
“We believe that good news does two things,” says Rhode. “It connects us as a community – it brings us together – and it’s also really good for our mental health. We like pointing out the good in our community.”
“There are cool events all over Austin, and good things taking place,” says Jenkins. “But this may be as pure and sweet and special as anything that you’ll ever attend. At the end of the day, saying thanks is so important – and I love the tradition of gratitude and saying thank you.”
Teenager Remmer Machamer received the top $10,000 donation on behalf of Wreaths Across America, Delysia Moore received a $5,000 donation for the Hays County Food Bank, and Mike Metschan received a $2,000 donation back to Seedling. All the other Legend honorees received a $500 donation as well:
Danny Martin for Capital Area Master Naturalists
Ann Barlow for The Charlie Center
Andy Harris & Matt Price for RBI Austin
Peggy Wilson for Foundation Communities
Tiffany Huerta for B.I.G. Love Cancer Care
Karen Clayton for Carrying Hope
Gerard Van de Werken for Austin Habitat for Humanity
Following the announcements of the results of this year’s campaign, Darrick Eugene and Cindy Brummer from the Rotary Club of Austin hosted the Four-Way Test Public Safety Awards. Their Team Award Winner was the Austin-Travis County EMS Collaborative Care Communication Center (C4) Team which was recognized for redefining emergency response by connecting patients to the right care at the right time through telehealth, resource navigation, and alternative treatment pathways – often avoiding use of valuable ambulance resources. Captain Tom Szimanski from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office was the Individual Awardee, after demonstrating exceptional leadership during the devastating July 4th flooding, serving as a steady and compassionate presence for impacted families and partner agencies.
No participating first responder department left empty-handed – RecognizeGood made a $1,000 donation to one charity on each of their behalves, going to:
Austin Firefighters Relief & Outreach Fund
Austin Police Operation Blue Santa
Sheriff’s Memorial & Benevolent Society of Travis County
RecognizeGood’s Legend program has honored over 175 individuals since its inception in 2009, and the program has donated more than $425,000 to local charities in the names of these honorees. Each individual presentation includes a $1,000 donation to charity and a brick donation along Lady Bird Lake inscribed with the honoree’s name. In addition to RecognizeGood Legends, the foundation also operates RecognizeGood Lighthouses honoring civic organizations and volunteer groups, along with the Ethics in Business Awards honoring those in the local business community demonstrating integrity, fairness and honesty in their day-to-day dealings.
