Austin State Hospital Volunteer Services Council - ashvolunteers.org

Dianna Pickens (Chair) has extensive experience with the hospital, having been the Director of the Education and Rehab Department from 1973 to 2003. Dianna has served on many boards in the community and is active in the Legislative Ladies’ Club and the Long Center Committee. She has been active on the VSC since 2005 and continues to give her time and resources in order to help meet the needs of ASH patients through the many programs the VSC supports.

Benjamin Franklin (Vice Chair) has had a long and varied career. He worked as an IBM programmer at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, in public relations for LTV, and in human resources for the Northrop Corporation. Ben was a marketing representative for Dow Chemical and a manufacturing supervisor for General Motors Corporation. He owned and managed a restaurant for three years, and served as the Austin branch manager for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency. Ben also worked for several years in the insurance and financial services industry. He was President of the "Good Neighbor" Toastmaster Club for one year and earned his Competent Toastmaster (CTM) designation. Ben has provided volunteer support for Partners-In-Education (PIE) and Habitat for Humanity. He holds a BA degree in mathematics and economics, and is currently an independent business owner in the field of healthcare.

Phyllis Kharbanda (Treasurer) has been an active member of the Volunteer Services Council since 2003. She has over eighteen years experience in business administration, policy planning, fund raising and community development. Phyllis has an MBA and direct experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.

Amy Holloway (Secretary) is President and CEO of Austin-based Avalanche Consulting Inc.. She has 12 years of experience as a strategic planning and marketing consultant for economic development and public sector organizations. After more than a decade of being on the road consulting other communities, Amy made a commitment to dedicate her time and energy to helping her home town and favorite city on earth, Austin, Texas. She started serving on ASH's Leadership Council in October 2006, where she acts as the Board's Secretary. She also serves on the board of Catalyst 8, Austin's Long Center for the Performing Art's young professionals group. Amy's BBA and Master's degrees are from Baylor University.

Julian Rivera is a partner in the Austin office of the Brown McCarroll law firm. The focus of his practice is health care and administrative law. Julian is also a mental health advocate and serves on the board of directors of Mental Health America.

Bruce Perkins, J.D., specializes in complex multiparty litigation involving a broad range of contract disputes, torts, copyright and trademark claims, governmental matters, securities issues, real estate and construction industry cases, landlord-tenant disputes, professional negligence claims, e-commerce matters, and general business conflicts. Mr. Perkins also has a business practice that is concentrated on contract matters, intellectual property rights, corporate acquisitions and dissolutions, and partnership matters for large and small entities, such as software development companies, entertainment industry clients, telecommunications and technology companies, advertising firms, manufacturers, and an Austin-based firm supplying services to local, county, state, and federal governmental entities. In addition, he acts in a general counsel capacity for a government consulting firm, as well as for a local food manufacturer for which he manages a portfolio of 35 to 40 trademarks.

John Bryan, who has served a total of 9 years on the Volunteer Services Council, returned in 2007. Mr. Bryan brings extensive knowledge of the financial markets and investment strategies. He is a past president of the University Area Kiwanis Club and is the current treasurer of the Austin Woods and Waters Club. Mr. Bryan holds an MS in Mathmatics from Northwestern State University and served in the US Army from 1968-1970 as a 1st Lieutenant.

Nadine Barth brings a wealth of information regarding fundraising, volunteer recruitment and public relations. Ms Barth has served as a volunteer for Family Eldercare, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels and Faith in Action Caregivers. Professionally, Ms. Barth has served as Executive Director and Director of Development at a number of nonprofits, including the San Mateo Medical Center Foundation and Bay Area Community Services (Oakland, CA).

Elizabeth Chalmers comes to the Volunteer Services Council from the Washington, D.C. area. She has extensive experience in the nonprofit development and legislative arenas. She served as an intern at the National Endowment of the Arts, a legislative aid for Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and as an intern for the Committee for a Democratic Majority. Ms Chalmers holds a BA in Political Science from George Washington University and is currently holds a position as a Development Associate in the Department of Communications at the University of Texas at Austin.

Karla Yunckers joined the board after serving as a volunteer for the 2007 ASH Dash 5K. Ms Yunckers has extensive experience in the media, having worked for Clear Channel in a number of capacities. Ms Yunckers brings energy, knowledge of the radio industry, and a history of results to the Volunteer Services Council.

For information about serving on the Austin State Hospital Volunteer Services Council,

call Barbara Kelly, LMSW at 512-419-2333.

Welcome to the Austin State Hospital Volunteer Services Council's website. We are the Volunteer Services Council (VSC) and our mission is to improve the quality of life of the children and adults who are patients at the Hospital.

The funds we raise go toward providing the Hospital’s patients necessities that make life more comfortable - from coats in the wintertime, to holiday gifts, and long distance calls to friends and family. Our compassionate volunteers and the money we raise directly enhance the health of patients. We like to think that we provide the other half of the healing process.

Do you have a friend or family member who is touched by mental illness? If so, or even if you just have a compassionate heart, we encourage you to explore our website. Here you can learn more about the Hospital, our upcoming events, and ways you can help make life better for the children and adults we serve.