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Yellow Cab partners with law enforcement agencies to promote National Night Out

From left to right: Officer Rosie Salinas, Austin Police Department Community Liaison, APD Chief Art Acevedo, Yellow Cab Marketing Director Chris Colemon, Deputy James Kitchens, Travis County Sherriff’s Community Outreach Unit

On October 6, Austinites around the city gathered with their neighbors to participate in the 26th annual National Night Out. Yellow Cab once again partnered with the Austin Police Department and the Travis County Sherriff’s Department to promote the event, which serves to strengthen police-community partnerships and boost neighborhood spirit in an effort to combat crime. Yellow Cab’s mobile billboard advertisements helped spread the message and drive registration for block parties all across Austin. The kick-off event was held at the Chinatown Center on North Lamar and featured Chinese Dragon dancers performing for the hundreds in attendance.

Yellow Cab sponsors Austin Aztex, brings Heart House kids to home game

Now in their second season, the Austin Aztex made the large leap into a more challenging league, a larger stadium, and an even greater fan base.  Yellow Cab returned this year as sponsors and was present for a recent home game along with some very special guests.  Yellow Cab employees were joined by the children of the Heart House after school program.  Heart House is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe haven and academic support to low-income children and encouraging them to become good citizens.  The children took to center field at half-time where they competed with one another by throwing Yellow Cab Frisbees for distance.  For more information on this growing organization, please visit www.hearthouse.org.

Gold Star Mother rides in Yellow Cab Cadillac during Veteran’s Day Parade

In the wake of the recent attack on Fort Hood, this year’s Veteran’s Day Parade took on special significance as a tribute to the men and women of our armed forces. Yellow Cab was honored to have as a passenger in our Cadillac Parade Honoree Yolanda Valdez-Perez, Austin’s first American Gold Star Mother- a special designation given to mothers whose children made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the military. On September 3rd, 2004, LCpl Nicholas S. Perez, 19, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Born and raised in Austin, Nicholas joined the Marines to fulfill his lifelong dream of military service, a dream shared by his sister, Lance Corporal Briana Y. Perez. Nicholas’s service and sacrifice were honored in August of 2006 with the opening of LCPL Nicolas S. Perez Elementary School, a brand new facility serving PK-5th grade in Southeast Austin. We extend a very special “thank you” to all of Yellow Cab’s employees and independent contractor drivers who have served in the armed forces.

Yellow Cab sponsors teen's trip to Robofest World Championships

Evan Ryker with his trophy and prize-winning robot

Yellow Cab is committed to supporting our community, especially to supporting youth education. Evan Ryker, son of independent contractor driver Brad Ryker, is a home schooled student entering his senior year of high school. In early 2009, Evan won the local LEGO Robotics competition. His success there qualified him to the 2009 Robofest World Championship, held in May at Lawrence Tech University in Southfield MI. Yellow Cab was proud to contribute to Evan’s travel expenses so he could participate. Evan’s autonomous LEGO robot earned him the 4th place trophy in a field of 30 competitors in the senior division at the World Championship. Evan is a regular competitor in LEGO robotics and plans to pursue a career in electrical engineering. “We are so proud of Evan’s success,” said Yellow Cab General Manager Ed Kargbo. “Evan has demonstrated a real passion for science and technology. We congratulate his family and wish him the best as he pursues his academic and career goals.”

Yellow Cab was proud to lend its cast of eccentric characters to the 7th Annual Keep Austin Weird Festival & 5k.  As title sponsors for the event, Yellow Cab got to join in all of the festivities- our employees judged the highly-competitive costume contest, distributed water to runners, and Independent Contractor Driver John Subac drove the Yellow Cab Caddy as the official pace car for the race.  Special thanks to everyone who braved the wet weather to be a part of a very fun and memorable day!

ADAPT of Texas honors Yellow Cab ADAPT of Texas is a non-profit agency devoted to creating more accessible communities for people with disabilities. The agency’s focus includes improvements to housing, transportation, public accommodations, and government buildings and programs. At its June Celebration BBQ, ADAPT honored Yellow Cab with an award recognizing the company’s contribution to ADAPT and support of people with disabilities. Communications Manager Jon Koltys, who attended the festivities along with his son J.J., accepted the award on behalf of Yellow Cab.

Yellow Cab sponsors festival benefiting Round Rock senior citizens Yellow Cab was a proud sponsor of the 16th annual Round Rock Daffodil Festival. The family-friendly festival featured free entertainment, a live auction and raffle, a 1K walk and booths featuring local vendors and artisans. The Round Rock Senior Citizens Foundation produces the Daffodil Festival and uses the proceeds to benefit facilities and programs for Round Rock area seniors.

Yellow Cab supports “The Big Push” campaign to reduce Central Texas ozone levels Yellow Cab is donating space on mobile billboards to help promote “The Big Push,” a high-profile campaign of the Clean Air Force of Central Texas, aimed at bringing ozone levels in Central Texas into compliance with Federal regulations. Marketing Director Chris Colemon is proud to serve on the Clean Air Force of Central Texas Board of Directors.

Yellow Cab supports American Heart Association Walk Yellow Cab is happy to support the American Heart Association through the promotion of the Hays County Heart Walk. The Heart Walk is an annual 5K non-competitive walking event designed to bring public awareness to physical activity and a heart-healthy lifestyle, while raising the critical dollars needed to fund the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association.

Yellow Cab shares in the fun at Zilker Kite Festival Kaylah, in the "passenger seat," is the daughter of Angie Manley who works in the communications department. She and her friends enjoyed the fun at the Zilker Kite Festival this spring. Yellow Cab was proud to be a sponsor of the event and distributed Yellow Cab “goodies” to the crowd.

Yellow Cab sponsors upcoming SafePlace Field Day and Festival on April 18

SafePlace staff Laura Haney, Christina Hiett, Kristen Evon, and Amy Temperley

Yellow Cab has had a long-established relationship with SafePlace, an Austin organization which works to end sexual and domestic violence through safety, healing, prevention and social change. Yellow Cab provides transportation and employment opportunities to SafePlace clients and raises community awareness of the organization’s services throughout Austin by displaying SafePlace ads on mobile billboards. Yellow Cab is a sponsor of the SafePlace Field Day & Festival on April 18th, 2009 at Fiesta Gardens West End Park. The all-day event features local bands, guest speakers, a children’s area with games and activities, and a dog park with games and contests for pets.  SafePlace’s multifaceted approach to ending sexual and domestic violence includes an emergency shelter, 24-hotline, hospital accompaniment programs, legal and counseling services, transitional housing, and educating the community. To learn more about SafePlace’s services or the festival, please visit http://www.safeplace.org .

MLK March & Festival        Monday, January 19th will mark Austin’s 16th Annual Community March to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Yellow Cab is proud to sponsor the march and the following Cultural Festival held at Huston-Tillotson University.  Past marches have had an estimate 15,000 participants, and this year’s promises to be the largest to date.  More information about the event can be found at www.mlkcelbration.com.

Mayor Wynn presents Hometown Hero Award to Yellow Cab driver at Austin CVB Taxi Driver Appreciation Day

Mayor Will Wynn presents the Hometown Hero award to Yellow Cab independent contractor driver Evans Ortega as Debbie Taylor, Yellow Cab assistant general manager, and Ed Kargbo, Yellow Cab general manager, applaud. The ceremony took place during the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau's Taxi Driver Appreciation Day. For more information, please read the press release.

Consumers from the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center visited Yellow Cab recently to learn about potential employment opportunities for the visually impaired. After an overview of our company, they were invted to ask questions and discuss with visually impaired call taker Jimmy Vinson his experiences as a Yellow Cab employee. After the presentation, the Criss Cole consumers visited our busy call center, where they listened in on incoming calls and gained a better understanding of how sophisticated Job Access With Speech (J.A.W.S.) software interacts with our computerized dispatch system to allow visually impaired employees to input data.

Yellow Cab was proud to sponsor Austin Restaurant Week. Modeled after similar events in major cities across the United States, Austin Restaurant Week is a food-focused celebration highlighting some of this city’s finest eateries. During two weekends in October, about 4 dozen of Austin's finest restaurants participated in the celebration, offering three-course fine dinging meals at a cost of either $25 or $35. As part of our sponsorship, Yellow Cab has been featured in online and print publicity for the event and our promotional materials are included in gift bags to remind patrons that Yellow Cab is their best option for a reliable ride to and from their favorite late night hangouts. Learn more about Austin Restaurant Week at the event's website: http://www.RestaurantWeekAustin.com

Jewish Community Association's Fall Fusion Yellow Cab was proud to be a sponsor Fall Fusion, a glamorous fund raiser put on by the Jewish Community Association of Austin. The evening’s theme centered around New York City, and as guests entered the Dell Jewish Community Center for an evening of food and entertainment, our classic Yellow Cab Cadillac and a Yellow Cab Charger evoked images of New York City's streets. Proceeds from the festivities support a variety of programs, events, and services of the JCCA.

Yellow Cab sponsors Keep Austin Weird 5k

A very hot weekend didn’t deter the Yellow Cab employees from participating in the 6th annual Keep Austin Weird 5k. As an official sponsor of the June 28th event, Yellow Cab was on site to inform the community of Yellow Cab’s services. The event is known as one of Austin’s more eclectic, with many of the runners and walkers donning bizarre costumes. Six of our fleet-footed staff joined the many characters on the 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) course, representing Yellow Cab proudly as they raced across the finish line. Darren Kownslar and Vanessa Spivey (pictured above), along with Scarlet McCarther, Arlita Ephran, Donnell Lowery, and Ed Kargbo participated in the race, which raised more than $10 million raised for local charitable causes.

Austin Sunshine Camp kids have a ball on Yellow Cab Night at Austin Aztex soccer game

Though the Austin Aztex came up one goal short against the El Paso Patriots, June 27th was a big win for the Austin Sunshine Camps. As the guests of honor at Yellow Cab’s official game night at Dragon Stadium, the children of the Sunshine Camps were treated to an exciting game of soccer and took to the field at half-time for a competition of their own. With Yellow Cab Frisbees in hand, the group lined up at center field and one-by-one they hurled their Frisbees as far as possible with the crowd cheering on. While the top three finishers took home official Aztex jerseys, all of the children left with memories of being in the spotlight in front the game’s large crowd, which through donations at the gate raised hundreds of dollars for the disadvantaged and at-risk youth of the Sunshine Camps.

Juneteenth Parade

On June 19th, the Greater East Austin Youth Association put on several events, including concerts, sports tournaments, and the popular annual Juneteenth Parade. Yellow Cab was a proud sponsor of the parade. Employees Chris Colemon and Diane Reece were accompanied by Diane’s Uncle Harold Mills in the crowd-pleasing Cadillac. The parade’s attendance was as large as ever and the Yellow Cab Caddy turned many heads as it cruised down MLK and throughout the East Austin parade route.

Yellow Cab Round Rock Sponsors Daffodil Festival

A boy at the Round Rock Daffodil Festival enjoys posing with a "Yellow Cab"

Yellow Cab volunteers handed out Yellow Cab Round Rock magnets and balloons and information about Yellow Cab Round Rock at the Daffodil Festival.

Yellow Cab Sponsors Zilker Kite Festival

Yellow Cab volunteers distributed Yellow Cab balloons and other novelties at the Zilker Kite Festival.

Take a drive with Easter Seals Central Texas! Easter Seals Central Texas (ESCT) is partnering with Yellow Cab Austin to spread its mission to Central Texans. Yellow Cab has generously donated taxi cab advertising to ESCT beginning the end of February '08. These ads will be seen by Austinites 24 hours a day, every day. This will enable ESCT to remind the community of the services it provides to children and adults with disabilities. Yellow Cab offers wheelchair-accessible taxis, which accommodate wheelchairs and scooters up to 31” wide. These taxis are available around the clock and are subject to regular fares. Three additional passengers can ride at no additional charge.

Yellow Cab supports "Atlas Lions" Soccer Team with donation of team uniform Over the past five years, eight independent contractor drivers have used the same teamwork and commitment that brings them success behind the wheel of their cabs to find victory on the pitch. The Atlas Lions soccer team is composed of names familiar to many at Yellow Cab: Karime Bentatois, Mourad Boudni, Jamal-Eddine El Harrass, Yassine Faiq, Azzedine Kahia, Hicham Lahbabi, Abderahim Manass, and Hicham Mouahidine. Going undefeated in the regular season and earning a prestigious spot vying for the State Cup last year, the Atlas Lions are looking great again this season, thanks in part to the new team uniforms donated by Yellow Cab. Yellow Cab wishes the Atlas Lions continued success and is proud to be a sponsor of their team.

As we have in years past, Yellow Cab was a proud sponsor of and participant in the annual Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade. Marketing Director Chris Colemon and dispatcher Frank Cruz were accompanied by Frank’s three grandchildren (pictured left to right- Zoltan, Adrian, & Amanda), who added great excitement to the day’s events despite the cold and rainy weather. The five waived and cheered from the Yellow Cab Cadillac, receiving a warm welcome from the many celebrants lining Congress and the downtown parade route. The parade serves to gather Christmas gifts for underprivileged children and is part of Operation Blue Santa. On December 7th, the Cadillac fired up again to deliver the many boxes of gifts donated by Yellow Cab employees and independent contractor drivers alike. (see third photo on right: Scarlet McCarther, Arlita Greenwell, Ed Kargbo, and Blue Santa volunteers). The presents were given to Operation Blue Santa, who will make sure they find their way under the Christmas trees of needy children in the Austin area.

The 2nd annual Yellow Cab Austin scholarship program awarded $7,500 in scholarships to the children of Yellow Cab indepenent contractor drivers and employees. Picture above are (front row, left to right): Kyra Clark and Christina, (back row, left to right): Lori Bohanon, Jeff Bowden, General Manager Ed Kargbo, and Bria Black. For more information, please read the press release.

Yellow Cab sponsor Keep Austin Weird 5K and Music Fest

Yellow Cab was a title sponsor of the Keep Austin Weird 5k and Music Fest. The event benefited the RunTex Foundation, which builds events that raise awareness and money for non-profit organizations, generating over $10 million annually for the local community. Among the runners and walkers representing Yellow Cab at the event were independent contractor drivers Joseph Iley and Isabel Torres and employees Scarlet McCarther, Darren Kownslar and Ed Kargbo. Yellow Cab also had a booth at the event, at which festival participants could pick up Yellow Cab novelties and learn about Yellow Cab services.

Yellow Cab featured in historic Juneteenth Parade

Scarlet McCarther and Delonda Adams participated in the Juneteenth parade. Here they are shown prior to the parade's start, distributing goodies while parked in the Yellow Cab Cadillac.

Yellow Cab sponsors Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church 3rd Annual Golf Tournament

Art Ramirez and Benny Sustaita, co-hosts of the Our Lady of Guadalupe 3rd Annual Golf Tournament, were among the folks wearing Yellow Cab shirts on the links.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church is celebrated its Centennial anniversary with a golf tournament, with Yellow as the major sponsor of the event. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a tremendous resource to the East Austin community. The services it provides to thousands of needy people include a food pantry and rental assistance. The church relies upon donations and fundraising events such as the third annual golf tournament, held on May 19, 2007 at the Roy Kizer Golf Course. The theme for the church’s centennial celebration is “Reflections of the Past, Visions of the Future.” For more information, see the church website at www.olgaustin.org, call (5120 478-7955 or visit the church at 1206 East Ninth Street.