Hill Country Telephone Cooperative Invests $10,000 in Each of 26 Local Schools

Hill Country Telephone Cooperative (HCTC) is putting $10,000 directly into each of the 26 schools across its service region, a move that underscores the economic and social role rural cooperatives play in Texas communities. Madysen McDonald of HCTC discussed the initiative on How Texas Youth Are Changing The Game at VentureFest, an episode of The Building Texas Show hosted by Justin McKenzie.

McDonald said the timing was right for the donations. "There's a lot of communities right now that need it," she said, adding that HCTC is "really excited to see how they can use that money to help them and help their students." The contributions are unrestricted, allowing each school to direct funds toward its most pressing needs.

The cooperative's commitment extends beyond dollars. On Friday nights, HCTC sets up a tent near the ticket gate at games such as Comfort vs. Ingram and Mason vs. Junction, handing out trinkets and prizes to fans on both sides. McDonald noted that kids often approach the tent to share that their parents are HCTC members. The effort reflects a deliberate strategy to connect with young people on their level and support members' children.

That same demographic was on display at Hill Country Venture Fest in Mason, where McKenzie served as emcee and where students pitched business ideas in front of hundreds of people. McKenzie said the experience builds resilience. McDonald echoed the enthusiasm: "I can't wait to see how these kids' brains are working." The event, covered in the episode, highlights how youth entrepreneurship is taking root in rural Texas.

HCTC's service area stretches from Ingram to Fredericksburg and out to Big Lake, including Mason, Sonora, Junction and El Dorado. The co-op began with landline service and has expanded into fiber and fixed wireless, the latter reaching ranch properties where running fiber from the gate is not practical. McKenzie noted that a landline can still be critical when cell service fails and someone needs to call 911. Residents can learn more at Hill Country Telephone Cooperative.

For McDonald, the cooperative difference is personal. HCTC employees live in the communities they serve, so members see them at the grocery store and at T-ball games. She said the best way to give back is to show up at HCTC events and stay connected through its social media pages. McKenzie closed on the cooperative spirit: when the business is local, the money goes back into the community's kids, teams and events like Hill Country Venture Fest. The full conversation is available on https://www.buildingtexasshow.com.