Four Austin area families are opening their homes to the public Sunday for The American Association of University Women’s Tour of Homes.

The AAUW’s Tour of Homes takes place every other year, raising funds for scholarships awarded to local students who plan to attend Riverland Community College.

Event co-chairwoman Liz Richardson said the last tour brought in $3,000, and they hope to meet or exceed that amount this year.

The AAUW is a national organization whose mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

The homes will be visited from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Two of the homes are located in town, and two are in the countryside.

“These homes have been chosen for their varied and unique features,” Richardson said.

House 1: A worldly Cape Cod style home in northwest Austin offers more than just architecture to admire. Owned by Rick Matter and Jim Churchill, the home houses antiques acquired from travels and an art collection that includes paintings created by Matter. A newly remodeled kitchen has a wine refrigerator and lighted glass cabinets. A second-floor balcony looks out over a yard, landscaped with gardens, ponds and fountains.

 House 2: North of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, on County Road 2 is Gus and Ann Maxfield’s home. The yard resembles a park with its series of ponds in which the owners sometimes swim amongst fish. Inside the home, animals that were hunted during their travels are mounted. Work from local artisans LaVonne Jondahl, Mary Weis and Chris Schmid decorate the home. Stonework by David Peterson is abound inside and out.

House 3: Don and Judy Ransom’s home in southwest Austin is a new five-bedroom rambler, built in 2007 by Hanson Construction of Lyle. Outside, the home is styled with a circle drive wrapping around a garden of mums, and cherry woodwork and columns adorn the house. Family heirlooms, including paintings by Judy’s grandmother, will be on display. An array of paintings, glassware, linens and antique furniture decorate the home.

 House 4: Tom and Mary Graff call 53 acres southeast of town home. It is the old Woodson property, and the couple once lived in an old farmhouse there that has since been sold and moved. Today, their home is a mix of antiques, heirlooms and new construction. A door from the old farm house is now used as a pantry door and a railing from the old St. Paul’s Church is used above their staircase. Landscaping includes a pond, other buildings and gardens.

The tour will fund scholarships for three women this year, Richardson said.

Tickets for the Tour of Homes are $15. They can be purchased from AAUW members, at Hy-Vee, 1001 18th Ave. N.W., or the Coffee House on Main, 329 N. Main St. Tickets will also be available at each of the homes on the day of the tour. Children under 10 are not allowed to take the tour.

Those interested in showcasing their homes on a future tour can contact Sonia Larson, 433-8719.