LP Local Initiatives Highlights

On July 22, our Girls of Legacy community gathered in Round Rock, Texas, hosted by one of our sponsors at the premier downtown venue, Centro. Donors, mentors, business leaders, volunteers, family, and friends came together for one reason: to invest in young women whose potential is far greater than the circumstances they started with. The evening’s theme was Texas glam. This year was special as we focused on celebrating four of our inaugural girls who are taking the stage thi

On July 22, Girls of Legacy welcomed mentors, sponsors, donors, community leaders, volunteers, family, and friends to CENTRO Event Space in Round Rock, Texas, for our annual Girls of Legacy Fundraiser—an evening dedicated to celebrating the remarkable young women who continue to redefine what is possible through education, mentorship, and perseverance. This year's event marked a milestone years in the making as we celebrated our first cohort of Girls of Legacy college graduat

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this historic milestone calls me to do more than just look back. It calls me to remember what this great country I call home, my America, has made possible not only for me, but for millions of Americans who call it home. It also calls me to reflect not only on what has been achieved, but most importantly on how we pay it forward so others can still reach for their version of the American Dream. Because the real question I challenge

April 2026 Rebecca was honored to serve as a keynote speaker at the 2026 Young Enterprising Women National Leadership Conference, a gathering dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young women across the country. The Young Enterprising Women program is a national initiative that organizes mentoring events across the United States, each designed to empower high school girls with a passion for STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math. These events connect ambit

March 2026 Rebecca spoke at the F.I.R.E – Leaders Conference in Belton, Texas, a gathering that brought together nonprofit and community leaders for a day focused on purpose-driven leadership and growth. Hosted by a network of faith-centered business leaders, the conference created space for meaningful dialogue around leadership, impact, and aligning professional work with deeper purpose. During the event, Rebecca delivered a keynote centered on “Leading With Resolve,” where

A milestone years in the making. This year, Girls of Legacy proudly celebrates its first college graduates—Lily, Alaiysha, and Ranya. Girls of Legacy, an initiative of LaunchPad The Center founded by Rebecca Contreras, provides mentorship, leadership development, scholarships, and ongoing support to young women as they pursue higher education and career goals. Shortly after graduating high school, these young women joined Girls of Legacy with ambition, determination, and a vi

At LaunchPad The Center, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their strengths, build confidence, and step into their purpose. That's why we're proud to support organizations like Shine Your Light Christian Youth Leadership Camp. Founded by Evelina Solis and her daughter Hope, the camp brings together students from New Braunfels and surrounding communities for leadership development, mentorship, faith-based learning, public speaking, and personal

At LaunchPad The Center, we believe every young person deserves the tools and support needed to stay safe and thrive. Recently, LaunchPad joined leaders, advocates, and community partners at Girl Scouts of Central Texas in support of a new online safety initiative launched through Not on Our Watch TX, an initiative of Texas Women in Business in partnership with Girl Scouts of Central Texas and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The new curriculum and Girl S

The Girls of Legacy Annual Spring Luncheon and Coaching Development Session brought together our students for an impactful, hands-on learning experience centered on one of the most critical life skills: communication. Led by Cherie B. Mathews, the session focused on both verbal and non-verbal communication and how these skills directly influence opportunities, relationships, and long-term career success. Rather than a traditional lecture, the experience was intentionally desi

At our core, we believe every young person deserves access to opportunity, guidance, and a safe space to grow—regardless of where they start. We know that for many in our community, the path forward is not always clear. Barriers exist, resources can be limited, and too often, potential goes untapped. That’s why we exist. At LaunchPad – The Center, we are committed to creating an environment where youth and young adults are not just supported, but truly seen, equipped, and emp

Principal and Assistant Principal of North East High School in Austin meet with Maria Hernandez (long standing community partner of LaunchPad) and Rebecca Contreras and Crystaline Lopez to discuss YEW Mentoring Forum event in October 2026. We are excited to officially announce the launch of the first-ever Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forum in Austin , coming this October in partnership with Young Enterprising Women, LaunchPad, and Northeast Early College High School . R

At LaunchPad The Center, we believe strong communities are built when individuals and families have access to the support, resources, and care they need during life's most important moments. We were honored to serve as a sponsor of the 2025 Pardners for Life Banquet benefiting Agape Women's Clinic, an organization dedicated to providing guidance, education, and compassionate support to women, men, and families facing unplanned pregnancies. Throughout the evening, guests heard

At LaunchPad, we believe access to opportunity includes access to the arts, culture, and experiences that strengthen community. That is why we were proud to support Mariachi Rock Revolution: The Electrified Experience as part of our commitment to investing in youth, families, and meaningful community-centered work across Austin. Produced in partnership with Vitera Cares Music Foundation and benefiting Austin Soundwaves' Mariachi Para Todos program, the event celebrated Hispan

Rebecca gathered the Girls of Legacy students and mentor team for a holiday lunch at Maggiano’s at The Domain in Austin, Texas, celebrating a season of gratitude, connection, and shared impact from 2025. The time together honored the power of mentorship, leadership, and the meaningful relationships that continue to shape lives and communities. While not every student and mentor was able to attend due to travel and scheduling, the gathering provided a meaningful opportunity fo

On July 17th, the annual Girls of Legacy fundraising event was held at the Headliners Club in Austin, Texas. Now in its fourth year, the...

When disaster strikes, community matters more than ever—and at LaunchPad, we believe in showing up when our neighbors need us most.

Back in March 2022, LaunchPad officially launched the Girls of Legacy Scholarship and Mentorship Program right here in Austin, Texas....

The LaunchPad team is once again honored and excited to celebrate the true heroes of our community—our educators! This year, for Teacher...

LaunchPad is honored to be a key sponsor this year for the COABE Annual Conference, held in Dallas, Texas. Our founder, Rebecca...

Cabin named in LP Founders Name, "Contreras Cabin" David, speaker at MAN UP, Calebs Ranch Retreat LaunchPad is honored to support the transformative work happening at Caleb’s Ranch, a space dedicated to strengthening men, families, and communities across Texas. On March 15th, the Ranch hosted its annual MAN UP Weekend, drawing more than 120 minority men and young men for a powerful day of leadership development, growth, and brotherhood. This year’s gathering included impactfu

Mr. Albert Perez has dedicated 42 years to serving students in Texas schools through his roles as a teacher, administrator, and...

I had the privilege of engaging with two exceptional students from Success High School who have read "Lost Girl". Accompanied by my...

"This afternoon, I am deeply moved and profoundly enriched. Today, I had the privilege of meeting the family of my exceptional Girls of...

Launchpad is proud to contribute $8,000 to the Principal Fund, which will be used for special campus projects aimed at enhancing...

"My heart is full! I spent the last couple of days engaging with the incredible girls at Success High School, which is one of our valued...

Hispanic Heritage Month is always a special time for Rebecca, and on October 8, 2024, she was invited to speak with the faculty and...

Incredible evening last night kicking off the new school year at Success High School and meeting the new leadership. Principal Valencia...

Rebecca delivered a keynote for inspiring the graduates of the entrepreneur leadership event, Jefas on the Move, hosted by the Latina...

On June 20th, the annual Girls of Legacy fundraising event was held at the Headliners Club in Austin, Texas, celebrating the program’s...

In March 2022, I launched a transformative initiative, the Girls of Legacy Scholarship and Mentorship Program, under my non-profit,...

"I recently had the honor of delivering the Commencement address for the Graduating Class of 2024 at IDEA Public School, held at...

This month we celebrated Teacher Appreciation at Success High School in Round Rock. Success High School has been a consistent and vital...

LaunchPad The Center Executive Director David Contreras had the distinct honor of delivering the Commencement Address for the IDEA Public Schools Class of 2024.

We celebrated two of our Girl of Legacy students at their graduation for Success High School in Round Rock, Texas. GOL Program Director...

David and Rebecca, the creators of LaunchPad, generously provided a $4,000 scholarship to each of the "Girls of Legacy" students who...

This month during Women's History Month I had the honor of giving a keynote address for Mission Monday at the incredible Ann Richards...

Rebecca had the honor of giving the keynote address for the Annual Gala for the Comal Crisis Center serving over 1,700 women and children...

As we step into the vibrant month of March, I am filled with a sense of pride and gratitude for the incredible journey we have embarked...

From our co-founder Rebecca: Today I spent the afternoon with the remarkable team and two board members of the Comal Crisis Center, which...

The Fight to Fly Show is a podcast and digital video show hosted by Tia Minzoni of Stella Jets. Tia interviews guests who have fought...

Not on Our Watch Texas (NOWTX) is rallying all women in business to raise awareness of online abuse, exploitation, and sextortion to help...

Not on Our Watch Texas (NOWTX) is rallying all women in business to raise awareness of online abuse, exploitation, and sextortion to help...

Rebecca's scholarship and mentorship signature initiative "Girls of Legacy" was recently featured in Enterprising Women Magazine. "Girls...

Rebecca's recent visit to LBJ Highschool to interview potential students for the upcoming Girls of Legacy semester was a huge success....

This week was special for me as we had the honor of hosting my Girls of Legacy, their guardian, and our amazing mentors for an evening of...

The LaunchPad team is proud to have supported the Williamson County Juvenile and Detention Center during the past December 2023. During...

In conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of Mercy Ministries, I recently re-connected with the Founder of Mercy Multiplied Nancy Alcorn....

Rebecca Contreras, AvantGarde CEO recently attended and sponsored the annual gala for We are Not Broken. We are Not Broken has an...

This past month AvantGarde CEO Rebecca Contreras and her Girls of Legacy were featured in both Fortune and Forbes magazines. The feature...

We joined forces with Texas Women in Business to raise awareness and promote advocacy for one of the biggest issues facing Americans (and...