A Publication of the Junior League of San Antonio, Inc.
Spring 2019 | jlsa.org
SCRAWLS
OUR MISSION The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joy Hermansen McGaugh President
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Yvonne K. Addison
Spring 2019
President-Elect
Dawn Walker Board Secretary
Courtney A. May Treasurer
Courtney Ringelstein Treasurer-Elect
Anne Edmunds Aguirre, Ed.D.
Letter From the President The Right Leaders for Every Time
4
The Social Buzz
5
2018 -2019 Volunteer Extraordinaire Gretchen Garceau-Kragh
6
Sustainer Spotlight Ariana Barbour
8
Vice President of Community
Emily Daugherty Vice President of Membership Development
Melanie Tawil Vice President of Communications
Katie Kinder DeBauche Vice President of Fund Development
Tara Shelton Vice President of Research & Development
Heather Blazi Vice President of Planning
Kristen Palme Board Member-at-Large
Community Partner Spotlight University Health System
10
GOAL and LeaderBOARD
12
¡VIVA! SA Race Pride and Accomplishment
14
FAME Awards
16
Community Projects of the Past, Present, and Future
18
Rummage Around Goodwill
20
AMIGOS: A Mission in Giving Others Support Birth and Marriage Announcements Accomplishments
24
Sara Briseño Gerrish Vice Chair of Training & Education
Stephanie Reese Bylaws Chair/Parliamentarian
Crystal Fuller Nominating Commitee Chair
Lauren Malitz Momentous Occasions Chair
Chrissie Johnson Assistant to the President
Debbie Callihan-Dingle, Ed.D. Sustaining Advisor to the Board
STAFF Lupita Castrejón Tijerina Managing Director
Alejandra de los Santos Financial Administrator
Kassie Szolkovy Membership Program Coordinator
On the cover: JLSA members rally around sustainer Erica Ellis and her daughter at the 7th Annual ¡VIVA! SA Race
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT The Right Leaders for Every Time Well, Junior League members have never shied away from a challenge. Starting this year, we are partnering with Clarity Child Guidance Center on our Centennial Signature Project. Clarity is the only non-profit in South Texas providing a continuum of mental healthcare, including for serious mental disorders, to children ages 3 to 17. For this project, the experts and physicians from Clarity will help our members develop a training program to help us teach children in 1st through 3rd grades how to maintain their mental health and support their own mental wellness. As a way to deepen the impact of this project, we will be funding a grant to help renovate a building on Clarity's campus into the Junior League of San Antonio Education Center, which will provide a space to help Clarity train the next generation of caregivers and to help those currently in the profession stay up-to-date on all the latest research and topics to better care for their patients. This center will include state-of-theart audio/visual equipment that will allow Clarity to share continuing education classes taught in the JLSA Education Center on online video platforms to spread the impact of our grant across the entire country. If you would like to support this initiative, please visit http://pavingnewpaths.swell.gives.
Ninety-five years ago, eleven women gathered, motivated to
work to improve San Antonio through the transformational leadership of trained women volunteers, and founded a Junior League chapter here in Bexar County. Long before the Junior League’s mission statement was written, memorializing our commitment to promoting the voluntary sector, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers, those eleven women were part of a movement that would forever change the nonprofit landscape here in our city. They were the right leaders at the right time to lay our foundation. Our footprint in San Antonio runs deep and wide. In 1929, JLSA members hosted opening night at the new Majestic Theatre, using the proceeds to purchase the King House, the cornerstone of our Bright Shawl Tea Room. Our members waitressed and ran the Tea Room for nearly seven decades in order to fund an incredible number of legacy projects. Those members were the right leaders for their time, guiding our organization and our city through a period of tremendous growth. Thanks to the right leaders making bold and innovative decisions a decade ago, this year we celebrated 10 years in partnership with Goodwill San Antonio, turning our members’ $750,000 worth of donations into more than $270,000 in Goodwill gift cards that we have distributed to dozens of local nonprofits. In the last fifteen years, our members have turned our Signature Projects into transformational ventures. Our first Signature Project in 2004, Walking for Women’s Health, helped create signage for the walking trails through Brackenridge Park. Ten years ago, we turned our children’s literacy project into a standalone nonprofit, SAReads, which is using science-based reading instruction to improve literacy rates among area students. Our campaign to reduce childhood obesity rates, Let’s Go San Antonio, has resulted in programs with the Boys & Girls Club and Girls Inc. Thanks to the right leaders right now, pushing us forward in search of the next significant impact, we have embarked upon a long-term fundraising campaign for the Signature Project that will take us through our Centennial celebration in 2024 and beyond.
Our legacy of innovation and action has propelled us through these first 95 years, and at the heart of every single one of our accomplishments are our members. We are building the next generation of women leaders by training our members to plan, fund, and execute community projects and programs. The empowerment and development of women, the support we provide each other, and the friendships we develop here are among the most important offerings of our organization. We are all strong, amazing women with diverse talents and skills. I have no doubt that, given our history, the women waiting in the wings to guide JLSA through the coming years will continue to be the right leaders for their time.
We know all too well, many of us first hand, about the mental health crisis affecting our country. One in 5 children will be affected by mental illness, which translates to nearly 100,000 kids in Bexar County alone. More than 60% of those children will not receive the care they need. Unfortunately, there is a national shortage of mental health clinicians in the country, and the average wait time to see a child psychologist is greater than 3 months. This leaves us asking, how can JLSA change the direction of this current situation? Spring 2019
Sincerely,
Joy McGaugh #JLSA95 #WeCan 4
www.jlsa.org
THE SOCIAL BUZZ Congratulations to Melanie Tawil, VP of Communications, who was recently inducted into the Texas State University Board of Directors!
Thank you to KSAT 12 & KSAT.com for highlighting our Centennial Campaign Project: Paving New Paths. Join the Junior League of San Antonio as we journey down the path toward our Centennial Anniversary!
JLSA is proud of our member Melisa Unsell-Smith on being featured in this month’s edition of Eleanora Magazine!
Congrats to the 2019 FAME Awards Winners! We were thrilled to award grants to these outstanding fine arts programs!
Congratulations to Junior League of San Antonio Sustaining Member Heather Haynes Smith on this fantastic honor. Dr. Haynes Smith continues to give back after her years of service with JLSA and is a true activist in our community.
We were so excited for our attendees to hear Dr. Biden's message about how she's pursued her passions in education, support of military families, and raising awareness about women's issues.
Congratulations, Megan Bluntzer! Megan was recently selected to be in the San Antonio Bar Foundation Fellows Class of 2019. Congratulations to former JLSA President Debbie Callihan-Dingle on being elected President of the National Association For District Supervisors of Foreign Language!
Congratulations to Taylor Cunningham, member of the Junior League of San Antonio, for this amazing nomination from the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County!
facebook.com/juniorleaguesa twitter.com/juniorleague instagram.com/juniorleaguesa Snapchat: JLSA1924 Spring 2019
5
www.jlsa.org
VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE Gretchen GarceauKragh membership to San Antonio. By 2004 she would earn an MBA in Sports Management from the University of Incarnate Word while she worked at the school as the inaugural Athletic Training Program Director, having been hired to establish the major. During her husband’s 2006 deployment to Iraq, she turned to her Junior League family for support and friendship, all while nurturing a record of community service and touching countless hearts through her JLSA leadership.
Each
year, the Junior League of San Antonio honors a Sustaining member who exemplifies the benefits of Junior League training through her continued volunteer contributions to the community. Our 2018-2019 Volunteer Extraordinaire Gretchen Garceau-Kragh exemplifies the true spirit of voluntarism. A Junior League member since 1997, Gretchen served as JLSA President from 2011-2012 and has been a Sustaining Advisor to various League committees and projects since the culmination of her Active membership in 2013, serving in Finance, development of the upcoming Centennial Signature Project, mentorship of other members, and the JLSA Nominating Committee.
Gretchen’s volunteer experience has touched not just San Antonio but has stretched across the country. Gretchen joined the Junior League in Orange County, New York, where she was nominated for Active member of the year. She later transferred to the Junior League of Fayetteville, North Carolina; JLSA was her third League, and Gretchen credits her Junior League membership with helping her meet new people and learn about her community in every new city she and John moved to. Gretchen took her vast knowledge about her Junior League experience to serve on the Association of Junior Leagues International’s nominating committee from 2013-2015, and she leveraged her knowledge closer to home by serving on the board of the King William Association and as a member of the 2018 NCAA Final Four Hospitality committee.
The Connecticut native received her Bachelor of Science degree in sports science from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire, and her Master of Education from Elmira College in Elmira, New York. She launched her career in New York as the Head Athletic Trainer at The Gunnery School and then the US Military Academy, West Point, New York. In 1999 she married Dr. John Kragh, an Army orthopedic surgeon, and they moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina the same year. In 2001, the Army moved them again, this time to San Antonio when John was stationed at Joint Base San Antonio -- Fort Sam Houston as an orthopedic surgeon and researcher at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. The new skills Gretchen acquired throughout her Junior With their move, she transferred her Junior League League membership helped her transition from a career Spring 2019
6
www.jlsa.org
as an athletic trainer to a successful career in the nonprofit sector, developing fundraising funnels for nonprofits in San Antonio including The Cannoli Fund, which she co-founded in 2011 and named after her beloved cat Cannoli. The Cannoli Fund, based in Southtown, provides resources and support to improve the lives of cats and dogs in King William and Lavaca neighborhoods. Gretchen is also an esteemed board member for the Animal Defense League of Texas, further incorporating her compassion for animals in her voluntary service. Gretchen is currently a grant writer for multiple nonprofits in south Texas and nationwide, where she has devoted her skills in organizing and fundraising to help bolster the ability of many organizations to fulfill their missions. She has also served the Alamo City Cancer Council, San Antonio Children’s Museum, Seton Home, and Guide Dogs of Texas throughout her career in the nonprofit sector. Gretchen is an avid sports fan who enjoys playing golf and going to Major League Baseball games with her husband. She has three cats and a multitude of other neighborhood cats she cares for. Her unwavering ability to give and serve genuinely knows no boundaries.
Spring 2019
7
www.jlsa.org
SUSTAINER SPOTLIGHT Ariana Barbour INTERVIEW BY SOPHIA DOVE
Ariana Barbour is the real-life representation of the League’s vision, which is apparent in our interview where she wore a “FEMINIST” necklace for her headshot. Barbour has embraced her newly appointed Sustainer status, as it allows her more time to spend with her husband Justin and 3-year-old daughter Anabel. Barbour has an interesting relationship with San Antonio. Her decision to leave for the University of Florida after graduating from Taft High School was an attempt to leave town in hopes of settling on the east coast. Instead, it turned into an adventure that led her right back to the Alamo City. As the Communications and Marketing Director for Meals on Wheels San Antonio, Barbour lives a life dedicated to public service.
voice, like speaking in front of people, but I made it through with the support of my friends. What advice do you have for Active members? If you’re an Active and you don’t know what you want to do, I think you need to try different things. Pursue leadership and be relentless about it. You may not get it the first or second time, but if you feel you have something, then go for it. Be willing to try. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, because you may not know what you will get back.
How has the League experience helped your personal life? The only people I knew were my husband’s coworkers and spouses of my husband’s coworkers. Oddly enough, it was Holly Pirruccello, a spouse of one of my husband’s coworkers, who told me about Junior League. She’s a Sustainer also. I really admire her and her passion for things. It’s just one of those things where you get to meet people from different walks of life that are as like-minded as you are, and it opens your eyes to opportunities and experiences. Personally, it deepened my love for San Antonio.
Who has been the most influential woman in your life? I have to say my mom, Marissa Caballero-Ollila. My parents divorced when I was 5 or 6, and my mother would take me
What has been your favorite League experience? Accomplishing and having planned from scratch the 5K in 2013. It was the first one, and it was because the New Members didn’t have a stable fundraiser. It was back in January, and we called it The Resolve for a Better SA 5K. We (the group planning the event) were all running a race a month that year, and then I did it for 2 more years after that, which was pretty cool. We did one race a month to understand what we liked and didn’t like about races. Afterwards, people who had run races before came up and said, “Wow, that was one of the best organized races I’ve ever done.” That felt really nice to know we had put all of that into it, because we were all doing it in addition to our existing board positions. Has there been a significant lesson you’ve learned in the League? I feel like I’ve grown so much because of being in the League. I was asked to be a leader when I wasn’t confident in my own Spring 2019
8
www.jlsa.org
to school at 5:30 a.m. for marching band practice before she went to work. She busted her butt. I think back and realize she instilled either a strong sense of responsibility or fear in me. I had things I had to do around the house before she got home from work. That stuff was done. Even if I was putting the last dish on the rack as she was walking in the door, that dish was on the rack and the sink was empty. Everybody loves her because she is so full of life. I sometimes wish I were more like her, like her ability to be outspoken. Sometimes I duck my head, but most of the time I admire it. She’s from Puerto Rico, and she would go to work really early or stay late to provide. She was the band mom while I was in high school. I appreciate her being there. She is super independent. She’s 73 years old and still mows her own lawn.
Let’s Get Technical
Going Local
1. Favorite app? Instagram
1. Favorite San Antonio Restaurant? Bliss
2. How much screen time do you get? 12 hours. 8 hours is for work.
2. Favorite outdoor space? Mission Reach, all of it
3. What 3 tech items can you not live without? Phone, Fitbit Versa, Car Bluetooth
3. Favorite San Antonio Urban Legend? The Menger Hotel Hauntings
4. Android or Apple? Apple
4. Favorite San Antonio event? King William Fair
5. What would your hashtag be? #ateam
5. San Antonio’s best kept secret? Government Canyon, state park that’s less than 10 minutes outside of 1604 on the northwest side of town
Spring 2019
9
www.jlsa.org
COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT University Health System BY HAYLEY CORNELIUS ALMARAZ
University
Health System (UHS) has served the San Antonio community for over 100 years as a celebrated pillar of the medical community. UHS fills the needs of our community as a nationally recognized teaching hospital and premier Level 1 trauma center for adult care. It is also the only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in South Texas that cares for children with serious burn injuries as well as having the only civilian-military trauma partnership in the nation. These accolades, along with University Hospital’s mission to strive to be compassionate and foster a culture of excellence, kindness, and respect for the San Antonio community, are some of the many reasons that the Junior League of San Antonio is proud to call UHS a Community Partner. The Junior League of San Antonio has partnered with University Health System since 2017 by giving volunteers the opportunity to interact one-on-one with children in the pediatric unit of the hospital. “During play therapy we might teach a child to play a board game, soothe a fussy baby, read funny stories or just talk about their interests,” says current placement chair Katy Schultz. Children often have a hard time articulating their emotions during stressful events such as hospitalization, so this play time with volunteers is a great way for them to express themselves and is key to keeping their spirits up.
“Our impact is immediately visible when you see the children’s smiles, but it doesn’t stop there. Parents routinely express their gratitude.” Katy Schultz, University Hospital Placement Chair UHS volunteers help to provide emotional support to patients and families during their time at University Hospital. Many of the patients' parents must juggle their jobs and taking care of their families while worrying about their child who is ill. The Junior League volunteers offer a welcome distraction in this stressful time, not only to the patients, but to their families as well.
Spring 2019
10
www.jlsa.org
This time with Junior League volunteers gives patients the ability to interact with someone who isn’t part of the traditional hospital experience. “Our impact is immediately visible when you see the children’s smiles, but it doesn’t stop there. Parents routinely express their gratitude,” Schultz said. For the past two League years, because the placement at UHS was new, volunteer opportunities were only available to Active Preferred and Active Elite members, but starting in 2019 2020, this experience will be available to all Active members! Volunteers are required to show proof of current immunizations (or be willing to receive missing immunizations) and should be available to volunteer on Wednesday afternoons/evenings, some Saturday mornings, and an occasional daytime session for special events. Past events that UHS volunteers have helped coordinate for patients include Saturday breakfasts for the patients and their families, movie nights, and holiday parties—most notably a Halloween party complete with costumes. While photos of the patients are understandably not allowed, the impact that this community placement has on participants will live in the hearts of volunteers for years to come. With the expansion of eligible volunteers in the League year to come, the Junior League of San Antonio is excited to watch this placement grow!
DONATING TO ALF SHOWS LOYALTY TO YOUR LEAGUE – THAT YOU BELIEVE IN THE MISSION OF JLSA AND YOU WANT TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. MAKE A $95 DONATION IN HONOR OF OUR 95TH ANNIVERSARY, AND WHEN YOU DONATE A DOLLAR AMOUNT EQUIVALENT TO OUR ANNIVERSARY YEAR EVERY YEAR THROUGH OUR CENTENNIAL IN 2023 - 2024, YOU WILL JOIN OUR CENTENNIAL
CIRCLE! CENTENNIAL CIRCLE DONORS WILL BE PROVIDED
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND WILL BE INVITED TO AN EXCLUSIVE DONOR RECEPTION IN OUR 100TH YEAR. FOR THOSE DONORS WHO JOIN OUR 1924
SOCIETY - $500 OR MORE DONATED DURING THE LEAGUE YEAR
- EVERY YEAR THROUGH OUR CENTENNIAL, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION AND BENEFITS AS A
LEGACY LEADER.
GIVE TODAY AT
JLSA.ORG
GOAL AND LEADERBOARD
GOAL and LeaderBOARD Chairs Sara Gerrish, Vice Chair of Training and Education Mary Beth Murphree, Leadership Academy Chair Rachel Bruno, Leadership Academy Assistant - GOAL
BY RACHEL BRUNO
Rachel Brehm, Leadership Academy Assistant Chair - LeaderBOARD
T
he 7th annual Growing Our Own Awesome Leaders (GOAL) conference took place January 19 & 20 in downtown San Antonio at Launch SA and the Drury Plaza Hotel. Twenty-two JLSA members gathered over the weekend to further develop their leadership skills. Participants were treated to a CliftonStrengths training seminar hosted by Jamie Thompson, director of student involvement at Trinity University. Other sessions were led by Past Presidents Lorena Peña and Gretchen GarceauKragh. The “League Leadership” panel included Active member Sarah Wannarka and Sustainers Erica Ellis and Delaina Harrison, also a past JLSA President. Participants put their leadership skills and strengths to the test in a group activity at the Escape Room San Antonio. Sunday was an exciting day of learning with presentations from Melanie Tawil and the public relations firm EHCÜ Public Relations. The "Future of JLSA" panel led by current Board members, including the President, President-Elect, and GOAL Participants Alanna Tan Anna Dwarshus Chelsea Lindsey Cournie Mercer Erinn Walker Heather Carleston Jennifer Marek Jill Jacobs
Katy Schultz Kimberly Maldonado Kristel Gonzaba Kristy Pacheco Laura Beth Garcia Laura Kalb Laurel Dixon
Mollie Dreibrodt Pamela Rodriguez Rebecca Knopp Rupal Patel Sharon Denson Sophia Dove Summer Kotson
Vice President of Planning, also provided valuable insight. The weekend was a great opportunity for our members to build and develop their leadership skills to advance their careers inside the League and out! As a community leadership development program, LeaderBOARD is a JLSA training program for League members, community members, and partner agencies to provide training on the operation and function of nonprofit boards. All participants who finish the program will be placed in a database and their names made available to community nonprofits. This year, the program included topics ranging from Social Media to Fundraising to Governance. We were fortunate to have Sustainers Marion Lee, Kristen Henry, Gretchen GarceauKragh, and Melissa Unsell-Smith present on topics such as Board Basics, Finance, Robert's Rules of Order, and Strategic Planning. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the 2019-2020 LeaderBOARD program, please feel free to reach out to LeaderBOARD@JLSA.org. The 2019-2020 program will take place beginning in September, and applications will open July 1st.
LeaderBOARD Participants
JESSICA SCHUEMANN
KELLY PRESTON
LESLIE SCHUEMANN
AMBER LESCH
PINK MARTIN
HAYLEY ELLISON
CRISELDA FARIAS
HILLARY EVERTS
Spring 2019
COURTNIE MERCER
ANNE CHILTON
HEATHER CARLESTON
TRACY CRITES
SHARON DENSON
RACHAEL CLUTTER
ROBERT OCHOA
RUBEN MEDRANO
SADIE SCHWEERS
DIANE MILNER
DIONNE FLAKES
JENNIFER FRAWLEY
MICHAEL RITTER
12
www.jlsa.org
SAVE THE DATE The Junior League of San Antonio presents
Fall INTO
fiesta
September 28, 2019 at Hemisfair ALL DAY FUN Family-Friendly Activities Kids’ Fiesta Parade Touch-A-Truck Food, Fun, Shopping ...and so much more! Supporting Childhood Mental Wellness
Spring 2019
13
www.jlsa.org
¡VIVA! SA RACE Pride and Accomplishment BY LAUREL DIXON With the swag bags waiting to be picked up, rain was in the forecast for the morning of Saturday, March 23, 2019. However, when 611 participants with family and friends gathered at Hemisfair Plaza near the banks of the San Antonio River for the start of the 7th annual JLSA ¡VIVA! SA Race, the sky was bright and sunny, and the mood was contagiously fun and upbeat, accentuated by excitement. “¡VIVA! had a fun, vibrant feel to it; full of families. It was a perfect day,” Vice President of Membership Development Emily Daugherty said.
Spring 2019
14
www.jlsa.org
The 5K race also represented the culmination of 8 months of training for participants in JLSA's new ¡Vámonos! initiative. JLSA volunteers met weekly at Hemisfair with girls participating in Girls Inc.'s after-school program for a 5K training program. Two of the Girls Inc. participants took top honors in the under-20 age category, with one of them thanking her "best friends from JLSA ¡Vámonos!" from the podium. All those who cross the finish line received a finisher medal this year, an addition to the event for 2019. Receiving a finisher medal with the iconic sneaker logo for ¡VIVA! was one of the biggest rewards from the day, delighting many. Once the race was over, a huge party awaited all with many food trucks, including Cousins Maine Lobster, a variety of drinks, and music orchestrated through I Heart Radio.
T
he route the runners took meandered along the banks of the beautiful Mission Reach of the San Antonio River. JLSA member Laura Kalb reflected on ¡VIVA! as not only a great event experience, but also as Kalb’s first race experience. “I’ve never signed up for a race, yet Pamela Rodriguez and her team put in so much amazing work that completing the ¡VIVA! SA Race was a must this year. It was all smiles and fun,” Kalb said. ¡VIVA! SA Race Committee member Mara Mauze said, “This is my favorite JLSA event. I love seeing the community come together, from runners and walkers to booth vendors and sponsors, to support the Junior League and our community partners. It is definitely a labor of love but so thrilling to hear what fun it is for everyone.” Spring 2019
“At ¡VIVA! there was something for the entire family,” ¡VIVA! Committee Chair Pamela Rodriguez said. Among the competitive race offerings were a 5K, 10K, and a Kids' Fun Run.
“¡VIVA! had a fun, vibrant feel to it; full of families. It was a perfect day!” Emily Daugherty , Vice President of Membership Development 15
As the event wrapped up, pictures and expressions of gratitude and joy were seen across participants' social media pages. Reflecting afterward, Rodriguez said, “Huge congratulations and thank you to the ¡VIVA! SA Race Committee for an amazing 7th annual event this morning. The weather was perfect, the turnout was incredible (611 registrants!), and the energy and excitement were contagious. We couldn’t be more proud or more grateful!” To top everything off, all participants got a t-shirt and swag bag full of great coupons and gifts, which included a free Pilates class courtesy of Pilates Platinum and a cycling class from JoyRide.
www.jlsa.org
5TH ANNUAL FAME AWARDS BY HAYLEY CORNELIUS ALMARAZ
On a night when most high school students are finalizing
their plans for prom, Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University was filled with the sounds of talented teens from all over the city. The countless hours of preparation paid off for all participants on the evening of April 7 at the 5th annual Funding Arts & Music Education (FAME) Awards. The participating groups were each awarded grants to benefit the performing arts programs by providing funds for costumes, master classes, royalties for music, and other departmental needs. First, second, and third place winners were awarded $2,000, $750, and $250, respectively.
Central High School, created a comedic, historical expedition scene, complete with wooden pallets and other creative stage props, performing a scene from "Men on Boats." The Brennan High School performers danced and sang their way to second place with their carefully choreographed performance of "Into the Woods." The theatrical category was closed out by a dark and dramatic performance of "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" by two students from Providence High School.
The ninety-minute competition showcased student artists in four different categories: Instrumental, Theatrical, Dance, and Vocal Performance. Each discipline had three finalists. The 12 groups were selected from submissions from around the city. The competition sounded off with the Winston Churchill saxaphone quartet as they performed the lively tune “Wedding Dance” by Jacques Press for the instrumental portion of the event. This group went on to win first place. Oliver Wendell Holmes High School's mariachi band won second place with their festive performance of “Las Indias, Huapangero” by Vargas/Fuentes, Caratecha. The dapper gentlemen from Ronald Reagan High School finished off the category with a performance of “Quatuor, II. Chercher” by Jun Nagao, winning third place. The theatrical portion of the evening transformed the stage into three different scenes from plays. First-place winner East Spring 2019
16
www.jlsa.org
Reagan High School made a second appearance, winning first place in the dance portion of the evening with a simple yet lovely performance set to the song “Sleeping at Last” by Atlas: Two. The black-caped dancers of Brandeis High School performed a dance set to “Until We Go Down” by Ruelle in effortless unison, winning second place in this division. Finally, the polished and poised dancers from Warren High School closed out the category in third place with a performance set to the popular song “Almost Lover” by A Fine Frenzy.
“I am blown away by the talent of San Antonio students." Joy McGaugh, Junior League of San Antonio President The final category of the evening featured a delightful collection of vocal performers. A sister duo from William Howard Taft High School dominated the category with a moving performance of “I Will Never Leave You” from “Side Show,” the musical by Bill Russell and Henry Krieger. Reagan High School sang harmoniously in their third and final performance of the evening of “Timshel” by Mumford & Sons. Two talented young men from Brandeis High School were awarded third place, singing “Lost in the Wilderness” by Stephen Schwartz. After all of the performances, there was a 15-minute intermission for the judges' deliberation. The four show judges were experts in each category, and needless to say, their decisions were not easy. All participants were invited back onstage by category and presented their awards. They each received grant checks and a trophy as they were celebrated by rounds of applause from the hundreds of attendees. Joy McGaugh, Junior League of San Antonio President, said, “I am blown away by the talent of San Antonio students," as she thanked all participants. Spring 2019
17
www.jlsa.org
COMMUNITY PROJECTS OF THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE BY CAITLIN IRWIN
For 95 years, the Junior League has been in the vanguard
of volunteerism in San Antonio. Our original emphasis was the Children’s Free Clinic, and over the years some of our more fascinating projects and placements have turned into fully supported and funded stand-alone programs. When the League was founded in 1924, and for many years following, placement opportunities were either at the Free Clinic or at the Tea Room. Starting off with a thriving Tea Room and two Rummage Sales our first year, the League has kept with traditions while also expanding our horizons. In 1924, Junior League of San Antonio pledged to create the Children’s Free Clinic, to be held in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church. By June 1924, the Clinic Committee was fully equipped, and members served in every capacity from clerks to doctors’ assistants. The League even started a motor corps to bring patients to the clinic or to bring services to those patients who were too sick to travel. By 1924, the Clinic had 12 doctors ranging from pediatricians to ENTs and surgeons. Volunteers from the League assisted doctors in all phases of the clinic’s programs for gynecological and pediatric care and counseling services.
San Antonio Zoo and the Witte Museum Docent Programs, where volunteers provided educational tours to visiting children. Zoo Docents had to attend more than 45 hours of college-level zoology training presented by professional Zoo staff before being able to educate the public. In the 1970s, JLSA created a Marionette and Puppet Program, where volunteers used puppets to entertain children and tell stories throughout the city and on televised programming. JLSA worked with the Children’s Hospital at Santa Rosa Medical Center to provide a puppet therapy program to help alleviate fears of children awaiting surgery.
In 1930, the League undertook complete financing of the Children’s Free Clinic and ran this program for 18 wonderful years of service to the San Antonio community. In the 1940s, the League took city officials on a Garbage Pilgrimage to see fly-infested dumps and put dye in the sewers to show how the dumps were contaminating the water. In 1951, the Junior League had an open meeting, inviting 150 Civil and Welfare Agency heads to the Witte Museum to view the film “V for Volunteers.” The League was a shining example of caring concern for the citizens of Bexar County and the community with a commitment to excellence in community service. In 1964, JLSA founded the docent program at the McNay Art Museum. By the 25th anniversary of the docent program, over 207,000 adults and children had been guided through the museum by more than 400 docents. The League has a history of creating successful docent programs, including the Spring 2019
18
The League also provided volunteers to Brighton School in the school’s initial operating days in the 1970s, teaching music classes, providing individualized attention to children, assisting staff, and furnishing administrative assistance. In 1974, May 5-12 was declared “Junior League of San Antonio Week” by Mayor Charles L. Becker in honor of JLSA's 50th anniversary. www.jlsa.org
JLSA had turned its attention to impacting literacy, the environment, and substance abuse prevention. The League focused on projects like Adopt-a-School, Family Literacy Project, and Summer Reading Camps. JLSA chose to impact the environment through partnerships with the Botanical Center Conservatory, Friedrich Wilderness Park, and the San Antonio Zoo. At the Botanical Center Conservatory, Junior League volunteers taught children about the environment through hands-on education and creative activities at the San Antonio Botanical Center. By 1989, JLSA’s children-oriented projects expanded with building the Children’s Playground in Hemisfair Park. Over 2,000 volunteers - men, women, and children - started construction on April 5, and the park opened to the San Antonio community on April 9, 1989. Junior League of San Antonio continued its focus on children through projects in the 1990s. Focusing on Children at Risk, ArtSMART, and Literacy, the League provided the community with options for education and counseling. In the early 2000s, the League focused in on women’s health with its first Signature Project, Walking for Women’s Health. This project focused on improving our city’s infrastructure to support walking paths at Brackenridge Park. We have also focused on important projects such as Literacy San Antonio in more recent years. Today, JLSA is continuing this legacy by partnering with Clarity Child Guidance Center for its Centennial Project in preparation for JLSA's upcoming 100th anniversary in 2024. Junior League of San Antonio and the experts and physicians from Clarity will develop a training program to help members teach and inform the community about how children and families can maintain mental health and support mental wellness. We are continuing our history of paving new paths and focusing on children's mental wellness so that future generations of children can benefit from the trails we blaze through our Centennial Project. Research assistance provided by Chala Cripps McDonald, 2017-2018 Historian, and 95 years of Historians who created the wealth of knowledge waiting to be discovered in the archives of the Junior League of San Antonio.
Spring 2019
19
www.jlsa.org
back to our community partners and their clients. Throughout the League year, the Goodwill Partnership Committee works tirelessly behind the scenes to record members' donations submitted via the Goodwill donation tracker and then to report the information back to Goodwill in order to account for the League’s share of gift cards for our community partners. The committee has also recently confirmed a change in the donation policy from previous years: Beginning March 15, 2019, donations may be made to Goodwill that will count for the following League year’s quota. This is great news for League members who have recently finished their spring cleaning!
GOODWILL RUMMAGE AROUND BY HAYLEY CORNELIUS ALMARAZ
In addition to the expansion of the donation window, the 2019-2020 deadline for submitting Goodwill donations and tracker information will be changed from January 31st to December 15th. League members are encouraged to donate early and often, as you can submit multiple donation trackers throughout the League year!
On February 23, the Junior League of San Antonio hosted the 95th annual
Rummage Around at six Goodwill locations around San Antonio. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the partnership between JLSA and Goodwill, as Goodwill began hosting the annual event in their retail stores in 2010. By the end of the day, 276 volunteer hours had been worked by Junior League of San Antonio members! Volunteers for Rummage Around helped to organize and sort donations, keep dressing rooms tidy, and help patrons find items that they couldn’t leave the store without. There was also a fashion show with JLSA members as models to show off the items donated throughout the League year for Rummage Around. According to Goodwill, stores see an average increase of 58% in their overall weekend sales due to Rummage Around. Throughout the year, JLSA members donated a record total of $147,109 worth of items to Goodwill, which in turn means that the League was awarded $40,000 in Goodwill gift cards to pass on to our community partners. This is the first time in the history of the League’s partnership with Goodwill that donations resulted in the maximum amount of gift cards per our agreement with Goodwill. Gift cards were awarded to eleven agencies this spring as a result of this partnership: Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas, Reaching Maximum Independence, Inc., Clarity Child Guidance Center, Endeavors, Chrysalis Ministries, SAMMinistires, disABILITYsa, the Arc of San Antonio, Good Samaritan Community Services, Magdalena House, and THRU Project. The agencies that receive the gift cards distribute the cards to their clients for redemption at local Goodwill stores, where they can purchase the items that they need. For every $3 worth of items donated by League members, $1 of Goodwill gift cards are awarded. The value of each member’s Goodwill donations directly impacts the League’s ability to give Spring 2019
20
www.jlsa.org
SATURDAY February 22, 2020 Shop at various Goodwill store locations Member volunteer opportunities
Spring 2019
21
www.jlsa.org
Spring 2019
22
www.jlsa.org
1924 SOCIETY
Thank you to the members of the 1924 Society, who have donated $500 or more to the Junior League of San Antonio during the 2018-2019 League year.
Karen Cantrell Lisa Howlett Cohick Elizabeth Forster Crystal Fuller Valerie Guenther Marion Lee Lauren Malitz Courtney May Chala McDonald Joy McGaugh Celina Montoya Kristen Palme
Lorena Peña Stephanie Reese Courtney Ringelstein Jenny Russell Cynthia Schluter Cassie Schneider Marissa Spencer Laura Talley Michele Torres Dawn Walker Mary Worth
$95 FOR 95 YEARS
Thank you to those individuals who have donated $95 or more to the Junior League of San Antonio during the 20182019 League year in honor of the 95th anniversary of our League’s founding. Yvonne Addison Katherine Adkison Andrea Aitken Stephanie Bailey Anne Ballantyne Ariana Barbour Teri Barney Lea Bauerle Carol Bayern Ann Biggs Melinda Biggs Lisa Blonkvist Alison Boone Sara Brouillard Anne Buckthal Jane Burnett Karen Cantrell Teri Cardenas HCA Caring Dianne Carlson Theresa Casey Diane Castillo Mary Cates Anna-Melissa Cavazos Judith Cavender Sandra Chidi Nwagwu Winifred Cocke
Spring 2019
Lisa Cohick Shannon Collins Laurin Cothren Lisa Cox Amanda Crouch Ryanne Dalton Marjorie Davis Carrie Davison Phyllis J. Dawson Laurel Dixon Betsy Dose Marguerite Dreiss Rena Dubose Sally Duncan Cathryn Eastland Anne Edmunds Marilyn Eldridge Rebekah Elliott Erica Ellis Cynthia Escajeda-Wade Joyce Fienman Leslie Fink Wilma Fleming Kinsey Fletcher Anna Floyd Stacy Foerster Alissa Foreman
Elizabeth (Liz) Forster Jennifer Frawley Patricia Frost Lilly Frost Janet Fuchs Crystal Fuller Bianca Garcia Antonia Goldsmith Suzanne Goudge Megan Gray Kathleen Griesenbeck Valerie Guenther Beverly Guerra Justine Hansen Delaina Harrison Bianca Nicole Hernandez Erin Highley Beya Jouini-Otieno Laurie Kaplan Jessie Kardys Tracey Krause Heather Kuhn Elizabeth Lakin Christi Lang Marline Lawson Marion Lee Cynthia Lee
23
Lenka Lehmann Elizabeth Lende Melissa Leonard Emily Littlefield Priscilla Lupe Kathy MacNaughton Steffany Malach Lauren Malitz Tamika Manns Courtney May Jenna Mayer Sheila Mayfield Peggy Mays Jacqueline McClellan Chala McDonald Joy McGaugh Barbara McGaughy Stacy Mellish Barbara Meyer Celina Montoya Gina Morando Kelley Moritz Lisa Munoz Kelsey Narvaez Shirley Neichoy Susan Nelson Liz Niemietz
Cynthia O'Connor Tina Ortega Kristen Palme Camilla Parker Laura Parr Harriet Peavy Janet Peavy Lorena Peña Becca Price Kelly Rankin Stephanie Reese Sarah Reeves Julianne Reeves Marie Reyna Courtney Ringelstein Meghan Rodriguez Madison Rogers Jenny Russell Katharine Schlosberg Cassie Schneider Sadie Schweers Tara Shelton Sandrine Shelton-Denbow Margaret Sherburne Marsha Singleton Beverly Smith Kelsey Smith
Sally Sohn Marissa Spencer Caroline Spencer Kelsey Stewart Jocelyn Straus Angela Strickland Mary Pat Stumberg Laura Talley Melanie Tawil Judy Tesoro Tesoro Pam Thomas Michele Torres Terry Touhey Jeanie Travis Jill Vassar Dawn Walker Lucy Walters Shelley Weber Sandra Whipple Margaret White Sarah White Brandy Williams Jean Winchell Shelia Wolfe Suzanne Word Mary Worth Mollie Zachry
www.jlsa.org
AMIGOS: A MISSION IN GIVING OTHERS SUPPORT
Spring 2019
24
www.jlsa.org
Birth and Marriage Announcements
Accomplishments Catherine Hynie was promoted to active duty Air Force Major Sharon Denson was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army.
Clockwise from top left Anna Koalenz welcomed a baby girl in January. Kristen Peterson welcomed a baby boy in April. Julianne Reeves welcomed a second baby boy in December. Stefanie Nitschke welcomed her baby boy on November 30. Catherine Hynie got engaged in December. Lisa Lautenschlaeger got engaged in December.
Spring 2019
25
www.jlsa.org
UNSTOPPABLE: PASSION WITH A PURPOSE LUNCHEON BY LAUREL DIXON
Members
of the Junior League of San Antonio are often asked why they joined the League. Overwhelmingly, members say they wanted to give back to their community by joining together with diverse women who all have the same goal: to make a difference while inspiring each other, learning from one another, and supporting each other in friendship and purpose. The difference starts with the vision for an event, hours of work, and pulling together to make it happen, and happen it did with elegance and impact at the first annual Unstoppable: Passion for a Purpose Luncheon on April 5, 2019, in the Stars at Night Ballroom at the Henry B. González Convention Center. This year's guest speaker was the inspirational former Second Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden. According to Luncheon Co-Chair Julianne Reeves, Dr. Biden voiced the message of how good it feels to help others: "She was able to tie that back to our JLSA mission, which was heartfelt." Spring 2019
“In addition to talking about her personal and professional life as a college professor and Second Lady, Dr. Biden spoke about the military community in San Antonio and their families. This is a personal issue for her, and it was very impactful,” Speaker Luncheon Co-Chair Madelyn Duffey said. President-Elect Yvonne Addison added, "One thing that stuck with me that Dr. Biden said was that we have the opportunity to become the leaders we want to follow." Sometimes you can see the impact of an event by the number of people it reaches. This fundraising event touched hundreds, from the organizers, to those who bought a table, to those who bought a single seat, and to those who volunteered. “The space looked magical and was seamlessly executed,” Vice President of Membership Development Emily Daugherty said. JLSA President Joy Hermansen McGaugh shared, “Dr. Biden’s message that women who empower each other 26
are unstoppable was such a timely and pertinent message. Our Luncheon Committee put their whole hearts and souls into this event, and I could not possibly be prouder to have watched their hard work come to fruition in such a spectacularly beautiful way.” www.jlsa.org
Successful committees putting on major events require a great deal of faith and trust in one another. “Having 30 women working together on an event has the potential to be dramafilled, but our committee wasn’t like that at all. We worked together to get the job done, and I think everyone saw that at the event. Everyone on the committee’s goal was all the same, to throw a successful fundraiser for the JLSA; and we not only accomplished it, but we knocked it out of the park,” Reeves said. “When women support each other, we are truly Unstoppable,” Vice President of Fund Development Council Katie Kinder DeBauche said. “I would like to thank Julianne, Madelyn, the Luncheon Committee, and everyone who supported the event with their time, talent, and treasure. Fourteen months ago, this event was just a dream; it has now become a reality.”
Spring 2019
27
www.jlsa.org
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
95TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON SPONSOR
DIAMOND SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
Anne Edmunds Aguirre, Ed.D. Mark & Sarah Philpy and Liza Philpy Spring 2019
28
www.jlsa.org
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
INTERVAL SPONSOR
PACE SPONSORS
TEMPO SPONSORS Rodriguez Holland & Co., P.C. Certified Public Accountants and Consultants
STRUTTER SPONSORS
Spring 2019
29
www.jlsa.org
COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL Melanie Tawil Vice President of Communications
Megan Bluntzer Vice President-Elect of Communications
Brandis Davis E-Blast Coordinator
Rebekah Perez Graphic Designer
Cassie Alford Graphic Designer
Caitlin Irwin Historian
Lisa Lautenschlaeger Layout Editor
Joyce Watson Print Publications Assistant
Laura Tannenbaum League Photographer
Jessica Lofton Print Publications Manager
Amanda Gentis Public Relations Manager
Elizabeth Pomager Social Media Coordinator
Meredith Balzen Website Manager
Hayley Almaraz Writer / Council Liaison
Laurel Dixon Writer / Council Liaison
Sophia Dove Writer / Council Liaison
Spring 2019
30
www.jlsa.org
OUR VISION We are a community of women realizing and cultivating our gifts, passion, and purpose. We will advance San Antonio through bold female leadership in positions of responsibility and influence.
Non-Profit Org. 100 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 101 San Antonio, Texas 78216
U.S. Postage PAID San Antonio, Tx Permit No.144
T: 210.225.1861 F: 210.225.6832 www.jlsa.org
UPCOMING EVENTS September 28, 2019 Fall into Fiesta at Hemisfair November 1, 2019 JLSA Membership Applications for 2020-2021 Open February 22, 2020 Rummage Around Goodwill March 4, 2020 2nd Annual Unstoppable: Passion for a Purpose Luncheon at the Witte Museum featuring Kendra Scott April 4, 2020 8th Annual ยกVIVA! SA Race at Hemisfair April 5, 2020 6th Annual FAME Awards at Trinity University's Laurie Auditorium