Campaign raises funds for programs affected by Abbott cuts

After Gov. Greg Abbott made good on his promise to cut criminal justice funding to Travis County last week, Austin’s philanthropic and political communities combined in an effort to find the money elsewhere. The $1.5 million means a lot to the county, going toward programs dealing with a range of community issues, including – but not limited to – family violence, prostitution prevention and veterans courts. The Travis County #StrongerTogether campaign, fronted by state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez with help from the nonprofit Austin Community Foundation, kicked off on Friday and raised more than $50,000 in the next 24 hours. “These funds were spent on special programs that helped the County serve women, children and veterans, and these populations will suffer if the programs are abruptly eliminated,” the group wrote in a statement on its website. “Together, we will raise the funds necessary to ensure that our community’s vulnerable do not suffer during these uncertain times.”