Recess Roundtable: Andy Roddick Foundation on Closing the Opportunity Gap for Austin Kids
Tennis legend Andy Roddick founded the Andy Roddick Foundation in 2000, just as he was ranked the world’s #1 junior tennis player and about to turn pro. Inspired by advice from his hero Andre Agassi, who admitted his biggest regret was not giving back sooner, Roddick committed early to making a difference. More than two decades later, that decision has created one of the most impactful out-of-school-time programs in Central Texas.
Under the leadership of CEO Jaime Garcia, a 30+ year veteran in out-of-school-time education, the Andy Roddick Foundation now serves as the backbone for after-school and summer learning across the region – directly running acclaimed programs while supporting a network of 43 partner organizations that collectively reached 45,000 youth and families last year.
The timing of this Giving Tuesday feature couldn’t be more important. As Austin continues to grow and the cost of living rises, access to quality after-school and summer programs isn’t just about enrichment – it’s about equity, economic stability, and ensuring every child has the chance to thrive.
We sat down with Jaime to discuss how ARF is closing this opportunity gap, what a day in their programs actually looks like, and how the Austin community can support this critical work.
The Andy Roddick Foundation was founded when Andy was just 17 years old. What inspired the creation of ARF, and how has the mission evolved over the past 25 years?
Andy founded the Andy Roddick Foundation in 2000, when he was just 17, because he believed deeply that all young people, no matter their circumstances, deserve opportunities. What began as a way to improve the lives of children and families has grown into a nationally recognized leader in out-of-school-time programming. Over the past 25 years, our mission has evolved from charitable giving to directly designing and delivering high-quality spring break and summer learning programs, and serving as the intermediary for Central Texas out-of-school-time providers.
Today, ARF supports more than 40 after-school and summer program partners across Central Texas, expanding access, building program quality, and advocating for the investment our kids deserve. As our field has evolved, so has our purpose: we exist to close the growing learning gap by ensuring all children have safe, enriching spaces to learn, connect, and thrive outside the school day.
ARF focuses specifically on the “out-of-school time” gap: those hours after school and during summer when many kids are most at risk of falling behind. Can you explain why this particular window of time is so critical for children’s development and academic success?
The hours after school, during school breaks, and across summer are when children, especially those from under-resourced communities, are most likely to fall behind academically, socially, and emotionally. Research shows that consistent learning opportunities across childhood and adolescence nearly double a child’s chances of long-term success, particularly when they experience both early childhood programs and ongoing out-of-school learning.
This time is also when enrichment gaps widen. Families with resources can fill afternoons and summers with camps, tutors, sports, and arts programs. Families without access often can’t. ARF steps into this critical window by providing safe, supervised, and joyful learning spaces that keep kids engaged, supported by caring adults, and build the foundational skills that carry into school success.
Whether through your direct programs or your partner network, what does your impact look like on the ground in Austin, and what might a typical day include for a child in an ARF program?
A day in an ARF program blends rigorous, hands-on learning with creativity, movement, reading, and exploration. Each year, our youth pick the summer theme, which is woven into our STEAM activities and the curriculum taught to campers. In summer 2025 alone, campers:
- Designed camping structures, solar cars, and rockets
- Coded video games and filmed silent movies
- Created art inspired by Frida Kahlo and Keith Haring
- Learned to cook, made wildflower seed balls, and painted self-portraits
- Played lacrosse, volleyball, gaga ball, soccer, and swam
- Visited Q2 Stadium, the McDonald Observatory, the Austin Zoo, and Georgetown Airport
- Read daily with teachers and took home free books from the Austin Public Library
Youth also receive breakfast, lunch, and two healthy snacks each day, and families receive weekly Brighter Bites produce to use at home. ARF integrates new experiences, such as hatching baby chicks, backstage theater tours, and premiering films at PBS Austin, that expand a child’s worldview and spark their curiosity.
Across the year, ARF serves children through summer learning, spring break overnight camp, at-home learning kits, and 11+ family events. Ninety-seven percent of families attend, strengthening connections between home and school.
The data shows that the biggest learning gaps happen during summer months. How do ARF’s programs specifically address this “summer slide,” and what results have you seen in terms of academic performance when kids return to school?
Our summer learning program is intentionally designed to prevent summer slide by embedding academics into high-interest, hands-on projects. Children practice reading and math daily, receive enrichment aligned with TEKS standards, and engage in collaborative problem-solving through STEM, arts, writing, and experiential learning.
The results are clear:
- ARF children outperformed their peers on the STAAR test in both reading and math by up to 21% more meeting standards.
- 100% of parents said their child felt ready for the next school year.
- 98% of students said they learned new things at camp.
- 98% said they plan to continue their education after high school.
By keeping learning joyful, connected to real-world experiences, and supported by caring adults, ARF helps students return to school more confident, more prepared, and more excited to learn.
ARF doesn’t just run its own acclaimed summer camps: you also invest in and equip other after-school and summer programs throughout Austin. What does this collaborative approach look like, and why is it important to your strategy?
ARF serves as the intermediary backbone for Central Texas OST providers through the Learn All The Time (LATT) Network, supporting 40 partner organizations with tools, resources, training, and funding.
Our collaborative approach includes:
- Mini-grants that help partners strengthen curriculum and expand impact
- Professional development, coaching, and peer learning across the network
- Shared tools for data, quality standards, and evaluation
- Advocacy that amplifies the collective voice of OST providers
This network reached 45,000 youth and families last year, and helped pass Travis County Prop A, now Raising Travis County, securing $75 million to expand childcare, after-school, and summer learning. By working together, we multiply impact far beyond what any single program could achieve.
Many families don’t realize that access to quality after-school and summer programs is an equity issue. How does ARF work to ensure that children in lower-income communities have the same enriching opportunities as their peers?
Equity is central to ARF’s mission. We ensure access through:
- Completely free summer, after-school, and spring break programs at our three AISD partner campuses
- Healthy foods and produce distributed directly to families
- Scholarships for field trips, arts experiences, and sports programming
- Transportation assistance, school partnerships, and programs located directly in neighborhoods we serve
Equity also means exposure. Many ARF youth experience their first airplane cockpit, art museum, zipline, coding project, or theater performance through our programs. These experiences open doors, expand aspirations, and build confidence.
Your programs span literacy, STEM, arts, and sports. How do you design programming across such diverse areas, and what have you seen in terms of how exposure to different fields helps kids discover their passions?
We design programs through a whole-child lens. Every learning experience is:
- Hands-on
- Culturally relevant
- Rooted in creativity and exploration
- Supported by trained educators and enrichment partners
Our curriculum blends reading, STEM, arts, and physical activity so children can discover what excites them. For example:
- STEM projects included building solar cars, rockets, and designing camp structures
- Arts programming included film creation, self-portraits, pressed-flower bookmarks, peace murals, and more
- Sports exposed kids to lacrosse, skating, soccer, volleyball, and swimming—activities many never had access to before
One of our favorite stories is Garrett’s, a former camper who discovered lacrosse through ARF in fourth grade and is now mentoring younger athletes. Stories like his show how exposure can ignite lifelong interests and leadership.
As Austin continues to grow and the cost of living rises, what new challenges are you seeing for the families you serve? How is ARF adapting to meet these evolving needs?
Rising living costs mean families have fewer resources for childcare, enrichment, and summer learning. Many parents work multiple jobs or nontraditional hours, making safe after-school and summer programs even more essential.
ARF is adapting by:
- Expanding partnerships through the LATT Network to increase the number of available programs
- Advocating for policy solutions like Raising Travis County, which will create 10,000 new childcare spaces annually
Our goal is to reduce barriers wherever they appear so families can thrive in a rapidly changing city.
With Giving Tuesday approaching and the holiday giving season upon us, what would you want Austin families to know about how their support directly impacts kids in our community? What does a donation to ARF make possible?
A donation to ARF directly fuels year-round learning opportunities that kids wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Your support makes possible:
- Free summer learning for 220+ students
- 6,400 at-home learning kits distributed to families
- Spring break overnight camp experiences that build confidence
- Healthy meals, healthy snacks, and fresh produce
- STEM, arts, literacy, and sports programming
- Field trips that expand horizons
- Support and training for 43 OST partner organizations
Every gift, small or large, helps build brighter futures. When you invest in ARF, you invest in stronger learners, stronger leaders, and stronger earners.
Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the future of out-of-school-time programming in Austin, and expanding beyond Austin? What would success look like five or ten years from now?
Looking ahead, my vision is centered on deepening and expanding the work we’re already leading through both our direct programs and the Learn All The Time (LATT) Network. Over the next decade, ARF aims to strengthen our role as the backbone organization for out-of-school-time in Central Texas—supporting program quality, expanding access, and ensuring that every child has a safe, enriching place to learn beyond the school day.
Success for us means continuing to handcraft exceptional summer, after-school, and spring break programs that serve as a national model, while simultaneously growing the reach and impact of the LATT Network. Today, LATT brings together 43 partner organizations that collectively reach 45,000 youth and families. In five to ten years, we envision a larger, stronger network—more partners, more collaboration, and more alignment around high-quality standards and shared results.
We also see the LATT model expanding beyond Austin, offering a framework for other communities that want to build coordinated, equitable out-of-school-time systems. By supporting providers with training, mini-grants, resources, and advocacy, we can ensure that high-quality OST learning is not the exception but the expectation.
Ultimately, success looks like this: every child in Central Texas—and beyond—having consistent access to joyful learning experiences year-round, supported by a strong ecosystem of programs, partners, and caring adults who believe in their potential.
How You Can Support the Andy Roddick Foundation This Giving Tuesday
This Giving Tuesday, you have the opportunity to be part of closing the opportunity gap for kids in our community.
Make a Donation
Every contribution directly supports free programming, healthy meals, field trips, and learning experiences that change lives. Donate to ARF today →
Join the Movement
- Giving Tuesday Pickleball Event – Participate in ARF’s special Giving Tuesday celebration
- Team ARF at the 2026 Austin Marathon – Walk or run to support out-of-school-time programs
Volunteer Your Time
ARF relies on volunteers to make their programs possible. Learn about volunteer opportunities →
Learn More About Their Impact
For Families Who Might Benefit
If you know a family who could benefit from ARF’s free programs, encourage them to visit andyroddickfoundation.org to learn about enrollment for summer camps, spring break programs, and after-school opportunities.
The Bigger Picture
At Recess, we believe that after-school and summer programs aren’t “extras,” they’re essential infrastructure that supports working families and gives all children access to the enriching experiences that shape who they become. The Andy Roddick Foundation embodies this belief in action, creating pathways for children who might otherwise be left behind.
As Austin grows and changes, organizations like ARF become even more critical. They’re not just preventing summer slide or providing childcare—they’re building a more equitable future, one child, one experience, one moment of discovery at a time.
This Giving Tuesday, consider investing in that future. Because as Jaime and the Andy Roddick Foundation reminds us: when you invest in ARF, you invest in stronger learners, stronger leaders, and stronger earners for our entire community.
