For Immediate Release
March 2026
Ark of Highland Lakes Receives State’s Highest Volunteer Honor
Marble Falls nonprofit named a 2026 Community Champion by the Texas Governor’s Office — recognized for uniting churches and volunteers to serve neighbors in crisis.
MARBLE FALLS, TX — Ark of Highland Lakes has been named a recipient of the 42nd Annual Governor’s Volunteer Award, receiving the Community Champion Award in recognition of its sustained, faith-driven work serving families in crisis across the Highland Lakes region of Texas. The award was announced by First Lady Cecilia Abbott, Honorary Chair of the Governor’s Volunteer Awards, and is administered by the OneStar Foundation.
The Governor’s Volunteer Awards represent the State of Texas’s highest recognition for volunteer service. Ark of Highland Lakes was selected from nominees across the state, honored for its exceptional leadership, community impact, and dedication to mobilizing churches, agencies, and volunteers in service to neighbors in need.
“This award belongs to every church, every volunteer, every donor, and every neighbor who has said ‘yes’ when someone needed help. We are deeply grateful for this recognition, but even more grateful for the community that makes this work possible. God has done immeasurably more than we could have asked or imagined — and we are honored to be His hands and feet in the Highland Lakes.”
From Floodwaters to Statewide Recognition
Ark of Highland Lakes was born in the aftermath of the 2018 Highland Lakes floods, when local churches and community members came together to respond to a crisis that threatened hundreds of families. What began as a disaster response effort has grown into a unified, mission-driven network of churches and partners serving the region year-round.
Today, Ark coordinates compassionate care across multiple ministry areas, including disaster response and long-term recovery, the Ark Warehouse, the Agape Community Dental Clinic, the Ark Commissary, a Foster Care Task Force, and Valley View Transformational Living — a transformational housing community currently under construction.
In 2025 alone, Ark’s network responded to the July 4 flood, supporting 554 households through long-term recovery, stewarding $1.4 million back into the community, distributing 18,300 meals, and training 840 volunteers for disaster response.
A Community Champion in Every Sense
The Community Champion Award recognizes organizations whose volunteer service is strengthening communities and inspiring others across Texas. For Ark of Highland Lakes, the recognition reflects not just what the organization does, but how it does it — by bringing churches together, removing barriers to service, and meeting people with dignity and hope.
Award recipients will be honored during National Volunteer Month in April at a special reception at the Texas Governor’s Mansion in Austin.
How You Can Get Involved
Ark of Highland Lakes invites the community to join its mission — whether through volunteering, giving, or simply spreading the word. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, donate, or find out how to get help, visit:
arkofhighlandlakes.org
About Ark of Highland Lakes
Ark of Highland Lakes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a united network of local churches working together to meet the needs of neighbors in crisis throughout the Highland Lakes region. Founded in the wake of the 2018 floods, Ark mobilizes churches, volunteers, and community partners to provide immediate relief and long-term restoration through Christ-centered compassion. Learn more at arkofhighlandlakes.org.
Press Contact:
Kevin Naumann, Executive Director
Ark of Highland Lakes
(325) 423-3662
kevin@arkofhighlandlakes.org
https://arkofhighlandlakes.org
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