LLyas’s drive for philanthropy stems from being a foster kid for 15 years, which inspired him to become a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP). LLyas is a 2013 Leadership Austin Essential Alum, a 2017 Austin Area Research Organization (AAROW) McBee Fellow, and in 2021, was awarded Austin Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fundraiser of The Year. Llyas’s first success at fundraising was with United Way in Greater San Antonio, where he worked as a Loaned Executive with a team that raised $44,000,000 for the community. Later in his career, he was instrumental in implementing a multi-year giving model for the End Youth Homelessness campaign at LifeWorks, and later at Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas.