Extending the Giving Tree Branch
As two of our most important values at Lioness Books are giving back to our community and supporting local, we are putting together a Giving Tree this holiday season! This tree will be in our brick and mortar and decorated with ornaments that include information about the local nonprofits that we partner with. QR Codes to make a donation will also adorn the tree. The giving will begin on Black Friday and continue through Christmas Eve!
Keep reading to learn about the wonderful ways in which these organizations benefit and support our community!
Meet our local nonprofits
Texas Freedom to Read Project is a parent-founded, parent-led 501c3 nonprofit organization fighting book bans and censorship in Texas. Their co-founders are Laney Hawes (Fort Worth branch), Frank Strong (Austin), and Anne Russey (Katy). "We are two moms and a dad who had enough people censoring and removing books from our kids’ schools under the guise of “parents rights” and “protecting kids," Russey tells us. "We’re working to let fellow Texans- especially parents- know that the freedom to read is under attack in Texas, and how they can join us in fighting back.”
Texas Freedom to Read Project "supports, connects, and mobilizes fellow parents, and everyday Texans, to combat book bans and censorship in Texas. We believe the first amendment rights of our children—and all Texans—are on the line, and worth fighting for. We believe every parent has the right to guide their own child’s reading choices, but no one else has the right to make those choices for our kids (or other people’s kids)! We believe book bans harm our kids, not help them."
Read our interview with the Texas Freedom to Read Project from August 2025!
Leander Pride’s primary mission is to make Leander a more inclusive and safe place for LGBTQIA+ residents and community members. Their nonprofit was formed after protestors shut down Drag Story Hour at the Leander Public Library in 2019. "We banded together to tirelessly work toward building acceptance and community in Leander for our queer neighbors."
Your donations to Leander Pride would go toward building community, creating events, and so much more. "Knowing there's a community that sees you, celebrates you, and has your back can make all the difference for people who are afraid to be themselves in this city," President Shannon Whiting and Vice President Rachelle Dorr tell us. "If you're looking to create a little holiday magic this year, maybe hang a little pride on your tree!"
The Skate Gym is a nonprofit skateboarding school and skate shop, offering classes, lessons, and community to youth, teens, and adults. The founder and owner John Miller, also recently created TSG Community Projects with a mission to better support the community. Here's some of the things they've been doing:
- Opened the skate-school facility for free during open skate hours to the public.
- Giving away equipment to those in need.
- Upgrading their facilities and making them of the highest quality to ensure progression and, most of all, safety.
- Funding free-to-the-public educational workshops for skateboarding and fitness.
- Having community art projects as skateboarding and art are deeply intertwined.
By making a donation to TSG Community Projects you will support the following:
- Promoting Physical Fitness: Utilizing skateboarding as a full-body workout that improves balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health.
- Enhancing Social Skills: Building community through teamwork, mentorship, and support in educational settings.
- Ensuring Accessibility: Guaranteeing that skateboarding is an adaptive activity accessible to all students, regardless of body type or equipment availability. We provide equipment and access to all; especially underserved communities and individuals.
Make a donation to The Skate Gym here!
How to donate
Look out for our Giving Tree when you're in our brick and mortar! It will be up from Black Friday to Christmas Eve. Scan the QR Codes on the ornaments—or click the links in this blog article—to make a direct donation to any of these amazing organizations!
Please note: Lioness Books cannot accept any donations (digital or cash) on behalf of the nonprofits.
