Austin County Funeral Home

A family is giving the Austin Area Foundation the largest gift in its history. Scroll for more content... Paul and Joanne Worlein have granted 71 acres of farmland to the Foundation, worth roughly $400,000. "This is our gift to the community we love and which has benefited our family for generations,” says the Worleins. “We want to give back and Austin Area Foundation is the ideal vehicle to ensure this plaza area will be maintained and preserved as a tribute to my parents and a gift to the community." The Foundation says the Worleins’ made a “quality of life” gift in 1999 which became Worlein Plaza, the outdoor seating and park/rest area near Mill Pond. The Plaza stands on the site of the first Worlein Funeral Home. “The Worlein’s donation to AAF is a terrific example of the way philanthropists can ensure the durability of their philanthropy after their passing,” said Jeff Baldus, executive director of the Austin Area Foundation. “A community foundation is designed to exist in perpetuity, and we provide guidance in choosing worthy nonprofits and grantmaking services that alleviate the administrative burden for family members who are honoring the charitable legacy of their loved one.” ...