Goettl Partners with APIE to Empower Austin Students

Austin Social Impact News is produced by Grateful Giving, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tech startup focused on transforming every purchase into a force for good.

In Austin, building brighter futures often means building stronger partnerships. This fall, Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing renewed its support for Austin Partners in Education (APIE), a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring, tutoring, and preparing students for college and career success. The collaboration will help expand APIE’s reach to more than 2,500 students across Austin ISD, providing critical academic and personal support. (cbsaustin.com)

APIE was founded on a simple but powerful idea: when schools, businesses, and the broader community come together, students thrive. Volunteers—often professionals from local companies—step into classrooms as mentors and math tutors, helping close achievement gaps while building relationships that boost confidence and motivation.

For Goettl, the partnership goes beyond philanthropy. Company leaders emphasize that investing in education is investing in Austin’s future workforce and community health. By funding tutoring programs and encouraging employees to volunteer, they’re reinforcing the idea that corporate responsibility means direct engagement with young people’s lives.

Students participating in APIE programs often show measurable academic gains, particularly in math. Just as importantly, many report stronger connections with caring adults who encourage them to see themselves as capable, resilient, and college-ready. In a district where nearly 60% of students are economically disadvantaged, these relationships matter as much as test scores.

The partnership reflects a larger pattern in Austin: businesses leveraging resources to support nonprofits that specialize in targeted social impact. Rather than duplicating efforts, companies like Goettl align with organizations already embedded in schools and communities.

Still, the need is vast. APIE continues to call for more volunteers and donors to expand its programs. Each new mentor or tutor adds capacity to reach another student who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

This collaboration is a reminder that social impact isn’t abstract—it’s built student by student, classroom by classroom. And it takes all of Austin—nonprofits, businesses, and individuals—to create the momentum.

CTA: Interested in tutoring or mentoring with APIE? Learn more and get involved at austinpartners.org.

For original coverage of the Goettl partnership, see CBS Austin’s story.
Read more here