Big Give 2020

The 24-hour online giving day is back for a seventh year with opportunities to support hundreds of area nonprofits

LASTING LEGACY: HOW FIVE NONPROFITS HONOR THE PEOPLE WHO INSPIRED THEIR MISSIONS COLLABORATING FOR GOOD: ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT

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2020 A publication by San Antonio Magazine in partnership with The Nonprofit Council

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BIG GIVE A publication produced in partnership by San Antonio Magazine and

2020

The Nonprofit Council 2020 / Vol. 4 SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE 200 E. Grayson St., Ste. 107 San Antonio, TX 78215 210-268-1100 / sanantoniomag.com Publisher & Editor in Chief Rebecca Fontenot Cord Executive Editor Kathleen Petty Art Director David G. Loyola Photo Assistant Brenda Piña Contributing Writers Jennifer Herrera, Katherine Stinson Copy Editor

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Patsy Pelton Associate Publisher Julie Kunkle Advertising Director Christina Olivarez

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Account Executives Robert Blake, Lindsey Granberry, Jasmine Allgood Ward Events & Sponsorships Manager Macaulay Hammond Digital Advertising & Circulation Coordinator

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Abigail Stewart

COURTESY UNITED WAY; IAN’S FOUNDATION; SAY SI; FAMILY TAPESTRY; NATALIA SUN

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How the organizers of the Big Give are spreading the word about making an impact.

Two organizations are working to grow the next set of San Antonio philanthropists.

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Local nonprofits partner to tackle mental health access and foster care.

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N O N P R O F I T N EWS

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Area charities are moving, expanding services and more— all thanks to support from donors.

From board members to longtime Big Give partners, these locals share why they support nonprofits.

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Learn about the people who inspired the missions of these five organizations.

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PROMOTIONAL SECTIONS

PR OFI LES

Get to know some of the nonprofits participating in this year’s Big Give.

DIRECTORY

Discover organizations whose causes match your passions and interests and find links to their Big Give donation web pages.

David Hassmann THE NONPROFIT COUNCIL 1150 N. Loop 1604 W., Ste. 108-511 San Antonio, TX 78248 210-229-0333 / tncouncil.org Chief Executive Officer Scott McAninch Chief Operating Offier Mercedes Alhaj Chief Marketing Officer Jerry W. Moore Board Chair Mike Gilliam, president/CEO, San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind & Vision Impaired Copyright 2020 by San Antonio Magazine.

All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher.

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Why We Big Give The Big Give would like to thank the following partners for making this year’s giving day possible Sponsors Genevieve and Ward Orsinger Foundation John & Florence Newman Foundation The Ewing Halsell Foundation The Najim Charitable Foundation McKenna Foundation City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture Schriver|Carmona LLC Zeledon-Castillo LLC Wave Healthcare Argo Group Employer Flexible G&A Partners Presented by The Nonprofit Council Community Partners New Braunfels Area Community Foundation McKenna Foundation

The Big Give March 26 Giving opens early, March 19-25 thebiggivesa.org facebook.com/biggivesa @thebiggivesa #BigGive2020

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S C O T T M CA N I N C H C E O, T H E N O N P R O F I T C O U N C I L S C OT T M @ T N C O U N C I L .O R G

COURTESY THE NONPROFIT COUNCIL

Thank You

It’s hard to believe Big Give is now seven years old! Over the last six years, this annual giving day has raised over $25 million for nonprofits in Bexar County and 15 surrounding counties.

Since 2014, over 100,000 donors have participated in Big Give. And in 2019, nearly 50 percent of donors who gave were new to Big Give. This is just one of many reasons the local 24-hour giving day is so important to our nonprofits—it gives them the ability to acquire new donors and to have the opportunity to convert them into long-term supporters and volunteers.

Big Give has become a vital fundraising tool for our local nonprofit community, with 12 percent of participating nonprofits reporting in 2019 that Big Give funds accounted for at least half of their annual operating budget. In 2019, participating agencies also saw continued success in that almost half of them either raised more money or connected with more donors than they had in the previous year.

We continue to explore and expand avenues to market Big Give to the general public in an effort to increase the overall donations and number of donors visiting the website. To that end, in 2019 we started the Big Give Business Fundraisers program to reach more potential donors. We know from national reports that an ever-growing number of young professionals want to give to causes they care about, and there is no better way to connect with them than through the Big Give website. Thanks to GiveGab’s easy-to-use platform, employees of these businesses can search hundreds of local nonprofits and find one that speaks to their personal philanthropic passion. Participation in this program takes almost no work on the part of the business—there is zero cost, no ongoing payroll deductions and no minimum level of employee participation to be involved. All the company has to do is say, ‘yes,’ sign up and spread the word to their staff. We know many other cities across the country are experiencing growth in their giving days by engaging the business community in similar programs, and we’re confident that with our continued outreach, more companies in San Antonio, New Braunfels and Boerne will start supporting Big Give as Business Fundraisers.

Those of us who are involved with a nonprofit, whether as an employee, volunteer or board member, know that there are limited funds available from local foundations and from city, state and federal funding sources. Funding guidelines and priorities can also shift on short notice. Although this is part of the reality that all nonprofits (even Big Give) live with, the uncertainty is a constant source of frustration and can severely impact the service delivery of many nonprofits. This is why individual giving is such a vital part of nonprofit funding.

The ability to build the support of individual donors is what Big Give is all about. It provides people the opportunity to go online and identify one (or more) nonprofits they are passionate about, and to support them with gifts starting at only $10.

Our community is very caring and giving and Big Give helps to connect everyone to a cause they care about—there is no other place or event that brings over 500 local nonprofits together on one website (TheBigGiveSA.org), during a single day to celebrate the great work each of them does.

I ask you to spread the word about Big Give this March 26. Help us help those who do good in our community.

Thank you,

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Gifts at Work How 3 nonprofits are using your Big Give donations to meet community needs

COURTESY THE ARC OF SAN ANTONIO; WEST AVENUE COMPASSION

Ride to Opportunity The Arc of San Antonio went into the Big Give 2019 with the goal of raising enough to make a down payment on a wheelchair accessible bus.

The vehicle would provide the transportation required for adults with special needs to get more involved in the community by volunteering at places like Meals on Wheels, The Ronald McDonald House and the San Antonio Food Bank. With $17,688 raised— the most the organization has raised through the Big Give— the nonprofit was able to make a down payment and with the help of an additional gift from the Valero Energy Foundation was able to cover the full cost of the vehicle.

Moving Forward In a typical year, funds raised through the Big Give for West Avenue Compassion go toward food products for the nonprofit that supplies families in need with food, clothing and other services. But in the last few years, director Amy Aguiñaga began to notice an alarming trend—the number of families they served each week at the food pantry was on the rise. In 2018 they saw around 185 families a week and in late 2019 they were serving closer to 270. The growth in need was mostly among those between the ages of 19 and 40. Aguiñaga says many were searching for employment or working a part-time job and struggling to make ends meet. So Aguiñaga and her team decided to develop a job and education center. An area church donated funds for 10 computers and Aguiñaga says they’ll use some of the money raised through this year’s Big Give to fund GED and ESL classes plus resume writing workshops and more. Once clients have secured a job interview, Aguiñaga says they’re able to supply them with professional attire through their job readiness clothing program. “We do a great job of meeting immediate needs,” says Aguiñaga, adding that the organization is also an agency of the San Antonio Food Bank. “Now we want to expand the focus to helping people move forward.”

Supportive Note Texas Children’s Choir has a long tradition of singing to honor veterans and military personnel. The 18-year-old choir that’s comprised of over 50 youth, ages 8-18, has performed at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, during Veterans of Foreign Wars conventions and at a ceremony in France on the 70th anniversary of D-Day. This June, the group has been asked to provide music at Pearl Harbor during its commemoration of the Battle of Midway. Students already have been saving to make the trip, as well as to pay for rehearsal space, and donations made during the Big Give will help them reach their fundraising goal.

In 2018, the nonprofit, which is run by volunteers, received a bonus prize during the Big Give and used its funds to purchase music scores, education materials for the students and a Smart Board that has been used to help youth learn scores more quickly and to have the chance to review, and in turn, improve, their performances.—KATHLEEN PETTY M A RCH 26, 2020

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Nonprofit Bulletin F R O M N E W FA C I L I T I E S T O F R E S H L E A D E R S H I P A N D N E W N A M E S , T H E S E 7 T I D B I TS A R E J U S T A S A M P L I N G O F T H E G R OW T H TA K I N G P L A C E I N S O U T H T E XA S ’ N O N P R O F I T C O M M U N I T Y

O N L I N E FU N D R A I S I N G P L AT FO R M G I V E G A B N OW AS S I S TS W I T H OV E R 1 4 0 G I V I N G D AYS

When foundations are grappling with whether to launch a communitywide giving day, GiveGab CEO and co-founder Charlie Mulligan likes to share one statistic with them: Charitable giving as a percentage of disposable income in America has remained relatively flat over the last four decades.

But with the advent of giving days, or 24-hour fundraising drives like the Big Give that focus on a community or region, nonprofits are finding new donors. “Giving days are growing by 30 to 40 percent each year,” he says.

“That is a huge difference maker.

We’re helping nonprofits raise money in a way that they don’t have the ability to do on their own.”

The Big Give, which initially partnered with GiveGab to host its 2017 campaign, was one of GiveGab’s first giving day clients. In 2019, the company assisted with over 140 giving days, over half of the total giving days that exist nationwide.

Laryssa Hebert, senior product manager with GiveGab, says the growth comes in part because of their focus on giving days in recent years, but also because the number of giving days held across the U.S. has skyrocketed. “It’s been great to see people thrive and grow,” she says.

Part of the reason they’re a success for nonprofits is because of the sheer magnitude of organizations that participate, she says. If one nonprofit holds an online fundraiser plus an event to promote it during the day, its

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regular volunteers and maybe some of their friends would notice. When the organization does that in partnership with hundreds of other nonprofits, they receive media attention, recognition from their own network and exposure to a whole host of donors on social media who they might never have come in contact with.

Hebert adds that many nonprofits that participate in giving days also haven’t previously engaged much in online giving. They may have added a “donate now” button to their website, but they often haven’t made a concerted effort to reach potential donors through social media, email campaigns or other online mediums.

Giving Days are unlike almost any other task when it comes to online traffic because they rely on websites that receive hardly any traffic the bulk of the year and then hundreds of thousands of visits in a few days (The Big Give reported 512,239 pageviews in an eight-day period last year). To manage that, GiveGab have staff monitoring sites throughout the day on giving days and often have employees on-site to handle any issue the moment it comes up. “We want nonprofits to love the experience and for donors to have a great experience,” Mulligan says.

And while GiveGab has already seen growth in the number of giving days, Mulligan says there is still plenty of potential for more. “The vast majority of the country still doesn’t have giving days,” he says.—KP

After 25 years near the King William Historic District, SAY Sí announced in November that it will relocate to a larger campus on the West Side in late 2020. The new facility will allow the nonprofit arts education program to expand the number of students it serves as the building will be roughly four times as large as its current headquarters.

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Frates Seeligson became executive director of the San Antonio River Foundation last summer after more than 10 years with the foundation in other roles. He replaces Robert Amerman, who stepped down in June.

In August, ChildSafe moved into its new $26.5 million Harvey E. Najim Children & Family Center near Salado Creek. The new facility allows for ChildSafe staff, Child Protective Services workers, police and sheriff’s officials and members of the District Attorney’s office to all work in the same place, making the process of getting a child and family through the court system following abuse or neglect as seamless as possible.

The Christian Hope Resource Center (CHRC) officially changed its name last fall to the SA Hope Center. The nonprofit is still ministrybased but leaders say the name more accurately reflects their mission than the CHRC acronym they were most-often known by. The organization works to address the root causes of poverty, whether through food or childcare resources, senior services, counseling or workforce development.

Child Advocates of San Antonio moved last fall from its longtime San Pedro location to W.W. White Road so that it would have more space to train volunteer advocates and to provide resources and services to children in foster care. The nonprofit is leasing the building through an agreement to purchase and has a goal of raising $5 million by 2022 to cover the costs of its building and an expanded staff.

Dog owners can now support Footbridge Foundation, a San Antonio pet rescue and adoption organization, just by using the Walk for a Dog app by WoofTrax every time they put their pup on a leash. After downloading the app, locals can select a nonprofit to support every time they walk, bike, hike or run. WoofTrax will donate funds to nonprofits based on the number of miles walked for them.

Sabina Carr assumed the role of CEO at the San Antonio Botanical Garden in November after more than 15 years with the Atlanta Botanical Garden. She replaces Bob Brackman, who retired as executive director earlier in 2019. —KP

COURTESY SAY SI; SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Giving Day Growth

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Engaging the Next Generation

A COURTESY UNITED WAY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY

United Way and SA2020 connect young professionals to philanthropy

As director of community impact for SA2020, Kiran Kaur Bains is well aware of the needs in the community.

But even after two years with the nonprofit that measures and works toward progress on issues ranging from poverty to education, it had never once crossed Bains’ mind to apply to serve on another organization’s board of directors. “I am a woman of color under the age of 40—in many ways I am the person that is lacking when we look at demographics on nonprofit boards,” she says.

“But it never occurred to me to serve.”

The sentiment was one Bains held closely as she and staff at SA2020 collaborated with nonprofits last year to host the first installment of its new program, The Board Game, which aims to train future leaders and connect them with philanthropic organizations. An idea SA2020 had long talked about as part of its civic engagement goals, the program came about after a 2018 survey of nonprofits revealed there were nearly 400 openings on nonprofit boards in San Antonio.

Too often, Bains says, young professionals have the idea that board service is for someone else—someone older or wealthier or from a certain part of town. In reality, she says, the best boards are those that represent the whole community.

So they set out to connect with those under 40 and let them know they were needed. “We want them to understand how nonprofit board service

BY KAT H L E E N P E T T Y

is an opportunity to make an impact,” Bains says. as more experienced professionals—to make a They worked to keep the training class diverse difference—but United Ways around the counand also focused on including individuals who try realized they needed to be more intentional live in under-represented city council districts. about connecting with those younger givers.

Last September, around 130 people completed “We needed to find a way to engage the next the training, and 86 percent of them have since generation and to engage them in a way that was been matched with 47 nonprofits. Applications meaningful to them and the community,” he says. for the second training class will open in the Connection is what Hannah Zunker, chair of coming months. “Every time we’re in conthe Emerging Leaders Council, says she found versation with younger folks, there’s by becoming involved. She first was an intuitive understanding of how exposed to the United Way when interrelated we are and how we she volunteered to help fundraise can (all) do good,” Bains says. for its annual campaign at her Get Involved Engaging young adults is workplace, Valero. A coworker Emerging Leaders Council, something the United Way recommended she volunteer unitedwaysatx.org of San Antonio and Bexar with the Emerging Leaders SA2020’s The Board Council and Zunker says it County also has made a priorGame, sa2020.org ity in recent years through its has become a place for her to Emerging Leaders Council. engage with like-minded people Avery Lawton, vice president of and to serve at events she might resource development and the Emergnot have participated in on her own. ing Leaders Council, says the council started The goal in growing the group, she says, is in 2014 with 22 young adults from some of United to ensure the people who will one day lead San Way’s top corporate partners and the network Antonio and its companies are invested in the has since grown to include 3,200 members who community. “We want people who are eventugive to the United Way, volunteer together, and ally going to lead the community to care about it,” she says. “And educating people who are in attend professional development and networking events. that age bracket about the greatest needs in the United Way President and CEO Chris Martin community allows them to be thinking about it early on so we can work to fix it.” says young professionals want the same thing M A RCH 26, 2020

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COURTESY SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN

We asked locals why they support area nonprofits

When Daniel Anastasio founded Agarita Chamber Players along with three other local musicians, he wanted to ensure that music and the arts were available to everyone. It was March of 2018 and the San Antonio Symphony had just survived the near cancellation of its 2017-18 season. Even with a major orchestra like the symphony providing classical music, Anastasio and the other Agarita Chamber Players believed there needed to be more options for the public to enjoy and support the arts.

In addition to Anastasio, a pianist and an instructor at San Antonio College, Agarita also includes viola player Maris Bushman, who is part of the San Antonio Symphony; Ignacio Gallego, a cellist who has his own studio and is assistant director of strings at Alamo Heights High School; and violinist Sarah Silver Manzke, who also plays with the San Antonio Symphony.

The more the four began exploring their options for collaborating with other artists, the more they realized that San Antonio had a thriving arts scene. They put together an inaugural 2018-19 season that included four free concerts that

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WHY I GIVE

Daniel Anastasio, artistic director and pianist, Agarita Chamber Players

COURTESY SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN

NATALIA SUN

Jorge Zeledon-Castillo, CEO and president, Zeledon-Castillo LLC

featured live music played alongside everything from a live culinary arts demonstration to a visual art exhibition.

They returned for a second season in 201920 that includes six free concerts featuring collaborations with other creatives, such as spoken word artists and fashion designers. The reason they volunteer their time, Anastasio says, is because they believe arts is for everyone.

And by teaming up with artists that specialize in something other than classical music, the group is reaching an audience that might not have considered attending a concert in the past.

The Big Give, he says, helps them continue that work. “The success of Agarita and its creative mission relies on funding through drives like The Big Give, and Agarita is continually grateful to have such support in its community,” he says.

“Why do we participate and support the Big Give? It’s easy—because we love our community and it provides a simple, fun and effective way to give big,” says Jorge Zeledon-Castillo, CEO and president of Zeledon-Castillo LLC, which prints the branded materials used by the Big Give during its annual fundraising day as well as sponsoring prizes for participating nonprofits.

Zeledon-Castillo says they know that prizes are a major reason nonprofits have success during the Big Give so he joined Big Give leaders at their headquarters during the 2019 giving day to announce on Facebook Live the winner of the afternoon prize block that Zeledon-Castillo LLC had sponsored. The video not only brought great news to one organization, it also was shared over 30 times, which led to greater exposure for the Big Give.

“It’s our stance that every one individual should have a desire to help make our community a nurturing and culturally rich environment, through volunteering or donations,” he says.

“As a business, we are in a unique position to lead by example.”

Linde Murphy, board member, San Antonio Botanical Garden “I’ve had the honor of being on-site at the Botanical Garden many times and have witnessed the growing smiles and awe of children as they race into the garden. The Botanical Garden is a community gem that brings joy to children and peace to so many of us. It fulfills the need we all have to connect with nature.”

David Snowden, SVP of communications, Argo Group “At Argo, we take pride in being part of the San Antonio community, and Big Give is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate this commitment by encouraging employees to donate to the local causes that matter to them most,” says David Snowden, senior vice president of communications for Argo Group, which participates in the Big Give’s Business Fundraisers program and matches its employees’ donations. “Last year, Argo employees raised more than $13,500 for Big Give, which totaled $33,850 following the company’s match.”

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Local nonprofits are amplifying their impact by working together

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Clockwise from lef t: F a m i l y Ta p e s t r y adoption event, Je w i s h Fa m i l y S e r v i c e ga t h e r i n g , Mo r ga n’ s Wo n d e r l a n d c e l e b r a t e s Adoption Day with F a m i l y Ta p e s t r y , F a m i l y Ta p e s t r y a n d Te l e m u n d o ’ s a d o p t i o n phone bank fundraiser

COURTESY FAMILY TAPESTRY; JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE

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Students in South San Antonio Independent School District now have access making mental health care more accessible, having clinicians on campus to licensed mental health professionals thanks to a creative collaboration decreases the stigma that can be associated with seeking help. “I think this between six area nonprofits. is going to be the model of the future,” she says.

The idea for what’s known as the Mobile Mental Health initiative was The power of collaboration can also be seen among agencies serving still in its earliest stages when a group of students at South San High children in foster care.

School began in the spring of 2019 to advocate for more mental health Last February, the state named The Children’s Shelter its lead organization services within their district. Jessica Weaver, CEO for Communities in for Bexar County in Texas’ new Family Tapestry model, which is working to create community-based care systems.

Schools, noticed their efforts and got in touch with Talli Dolge, Jewish Family Service’s CEO, to see what could be done to help. Along with leaders “Although The Children’s Shelter (through Family Tapestry) is taking from four other nonprofits—Clarity Child Guidance Center, Rise Recovery, the lead on this initiative, this is truly a community effort and a community Family Service Association and Children’s Bereavement Center of South collaboration,” says Annette Rodriguez, president and CEO. Texas—the women got to work and expedited the By having a local organization contract with the initiative so that it could launch in the fall semester. state to coordinate services, Family Tapestry is “ T he b e s t pa r t o f t he Mobile Mental Health opened at Athens working to better serve foster children in their own Elementary in November 2019 and has since county—and to move them less often to other cities co l lab o ra t i o n is to b e expanded to what’s called the South San Care for care. “The goal is to transform the system so pa r t o f t he s i x ag e nc i e s that it’s tailored for the children and families that Zone, a program that serves all 17 South San ISD schools. Providing services to every campus was we’re serving in our community,” Rodriguez says. w o r k i ng to g e t he r to a goal the nonprofits initially didn’t think they Through this new model, The Children’s Shelter would reach until year two, but when they saw as the lead for Family Tapestry has established p rov i d e t he s e me n t al the need they brought together staff from each of over 140 contracts with different agencies in Bexar heal t h s e r v i ce s .” their organizations to make it work. Through the County, and around the state of Texas, to provide Care Zone, a licensed mental health professional assistance and resources to children living in foster from one of the six participating nonprofits is now available to students care placements. each weekday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Rodriguez says over 3,000 children in Bexar County were matched with “The best part of the collaboration is to be part of the six agencies foster care or adoptive placements within the first 10 months of the program. working together to provide these mental health services,” says Dolge, Because of the new model, more of those children were able to stay closer whose organization is spearheading the effort. “It’s something that nobody to home than would have been the case in the past. Rodriguez says they else is doing right now, and honestly it seems simple, but it’s a really complex hope to only see improvements going forward. program.”

“The first four to five months were bumpy, because we can train and Already, Dolge says they have more referrals for services than they can prepare but it’s not until you’re actually in it and living it, that you start handle and they’re working to expand further this year. seeing where things can be different and where things can be better,” Jessica Knudsen, CEO of Clarity Child Guidance Center, says along with Rodriguez says.

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Legacies of Love Get to know the people and stories that inspired these five nonprofits

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C Paying it Forward

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Before then 25-year-old Mona Patel decided to have her leg amputated below the knee, she wanted to hear from another female amputee about how the surgery had impacted her ability to raise children. How had she cared for a newborn with one leg? Did her amputation hold her back from being the mom she’d hoped to be?

Patel couldn’t find a support group, but eventually connected with a woman who’d had three kids following an amputation and she assured Patel, who hoped to be a mom one day, that she could do it. “That was all I needed to hear, and I vowed that once I got back on my feet, I would start a support group,” she says.

That was over 20 years ago, and the support

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group Patel founded in 1997 is still going strong.

In 2014, she expanded her work into an official nonprofit, San Antonio Amputee Foundation, which hosts a monthly support group as well as providing education and peer support throughout the community. For her efforts, Patel in 2017 was named a CNN Heroes top 10 finalist.

Now a mom to two teenagers, Patel was initially injured in 1990 when a drunk driver hit her, sending her flying into the air and eventually pinning her between the car and a railing.

She lost half of her foot due to her injuries and then endured 20 limb salvage surgeries over the next seven years to save her leg. She decided to amputate after the surgeries failed to provide

her the movement and quality of life she desired.

With her prosthesis, Patel not only runs her nonprofit while working full time as a social worker, she also is on her way to scaling the highest peak in every state. Through the foundation, she and a group of local amputees hiked Mount Kilimanjaro in 2016, along with a film crew that documented the trip. Patel says her love of hiking has only grown since then. “You don’t have to hike these tall mountains, but I want to remind people that with the right mindset you can climb the mountains in your life,” she says. “It wasn’t my time when I was 17 and I’m determined now to earn this life and, for me, part of earning my life is paying my blessings forward.”

COURTESY MONA PATEL

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A Chance Connection

COURTESY LINDA NEMEC; CIBOLO NATURE CENTER

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Linda Nemec had never owned a horse, but when her son Chance made an instant connection with her niece’s horse back in 2014, she decided it might be time to reconsider.

Chance, now 23, lives with special needs and often struggles to relate to others. If a horse could help him thrive, Nemec was all in. She logged online and began her search, eventually finding two horses for sale, Katie and Grande.

They needed some TLC, she says, but were still healthy enough to ride. She went to look at the animals and eventually brought them back to her New Braunfels ranch to stay.

Katie was older and Nemec says when she would approach, the horse would make it clear who was in charge. If Nemec were riding her, Katie often decided to go in her own direction. With Chance, though, she was different.

“When Chance would walk up, Katie would put her head on his chest. She never took a sidestep with Chance on her back,” Nemec says. “It was like she knew.”

In need of a new saddle a few months later, Nemec went back online for secondhand gear, but instead stumbled upon another horse in need of a loving home. Nemec couldn’t say no and her nonprofit, Happened By Chance Horses, was born.

Nemec and her 13 loyal volunteers now care for around 40 horses at a time, taking in animals that are surrendered by owners, referred by veterinarians or other nonprofits or found in need at auction. About 170 have been rescued since 2014, many of which have been adopted after rehabilitation.

If they’re unable to fully rehabilitate or too old to go to a new home, the horses are left to live out their life in peace on Nemec’s property. “The greatest reward is when they trust you and realize, ‘I’m safe now,’” says Nemec, who still works full-time and uses her own salary to purchase feed when donations don’t cover the cost.

Katie has since passed away, and Chance is not as involved with the horses as he once was, Nemec says, but the impact of Katie’s bond with him remains. Happened By Chance also is working with a special needs education program that Chance once attended in hopes of providing volunteer opportunities.

“The horses show so much compassion to those with special needs,” Nemec says, adding that she’s seen it with other kids as well as with veterans suffering from PTSD. “I don’t know why they feel it, but they do and it’s amazing to watch.”

Preservation Matters

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CA R O LY N C H I PM A N E VA N S A N D C I B O L O C R E E K N AT U R E C E N T E R & FA R M

Growing up in San Antonio, Carolyn Chipman Evans relished the day trips they would take to her family’s land along Cibolo Creek in Boerne. “My mother had grown up there and it was really a cherished place in our family,” she says. “Nature has helped me all through my life to feel connected and feel happy.”

At 18, she moved to Boerne to be near the creek but by the time she had children and began taking them to the place she loved, it was deteriorating. “The most beautiful part of the Cibolo had been neglected and forgotten,” she says.

Evans wanted her own kids, and those who would come after them, to experience the land the way that she had, so in 1988, she approached the city about restoring part of the marshland. The initial park—the beginnings of what’s now Cibolo Creek Nature Center & Farm—opened on Earth Day in 1990 thanks to work by Evans, her husband, Brent Evans, and friends. In the 30 years since, the nonprofit has only grown.

Established on what was Herff Ranch—land that has been in Evans’ family since 1854 and the place she still lives—Cibolo Creek Nature Center now welcomes over 100,000 visitors a year, including hundreds of children who participate in camps and education programs. Funds raised during the Big Give help to provide scholarships for students from low-income schools to have access to the nature center.

Evans says some of her initial young visitors are now returning with their own children, and they’re also seeing a whole new group of regulars as Boerne’s population grows.

If they hadn’t acted to preserve the land when they did, she says, it likely would have been swallowed up by development. “We were a handful of friends who wanted to clean up a natural area and do a few programs with kids,” Evans says. “We had no idea that it would grow to this, but we’re glad it did.”

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Carrying On

W

When Stephanie Fincke walked into an elementary school where she’d helped hand out helmets the year before, she hoped to see the gifts they’d provided still in use.

It was October 5, 2017—the ninth anniversary of her son Ian Christopher Fincke’s passing— and as she watched the children at the campus’s annual bike rodeo round the corner, she saw a “whole sea of kids” wearing the purple helmets she and volunteers with Ian’s Foundation had distributed. “It brought tears to my eyes. It was very touching,” she says. “Purple was Ian’s favorite color.”

It’s been just over 11 years since Ian passed away at the age of 16 following a skateboarding

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accident in which he hit his head on the sidewalk.

He wasn’t wearing a helmet and his parents, Stephanie and Christopher, wanted to do something to honor Ian while also preventing other parents from suffering such a tragic loss.

They began in 2010 with a memorial soccer game between Reagan and Johnson High Schools, since Ian loved soccer and had attended both schools. They hoped the event would allow Ian’s peers and four siblings to grieve and remember him. The games, which also provide scholarships in Ian’s name, still continue, but in 2015, the Finckes decided they wanted to do more. They filed for nonprofit status and began fundraising to provide children with bike helmets.

They participated in bike events at schools and in the community, asking youth to sign Ian’s Pledge, a promise to act safely and to wear helmets. They have given out 1,500 helmets to date and this year are hoping to distribute 3,000 to children in need. The eventual goal, Stephanie Fincke says, is to have a law passed in San Antonio requiring children of certain ages to wear helmets. Similar laws already exist in places like Austin and Dallas.

Giving back, Stephanie Fincke says, is precisely what Ian would be doing if he were still here. “Ian was a very free spirited, very loving, very, very giving child,” she says. “One of the things I remember the most about him is his always wanting to provide for other people.”

COURTESY IAN’S FOUNDATION

I A N C H R I S T O P H E R F I N C K E A N D I A N ’ S FO U N D AT I O N

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A Story of Friendship

COURTESY DR. MATTHEW P. ROWAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

M AT T H E W A N D S U N D AY R OWA N A N D T H E D R . M AT T H E W P. R OWA N M E M O R I A L FO U N D AT I O N

Sue Rowan knew what had happened before the confirmation ever came. Her son Matt and his wife of five months, Sunday, had gone for a hot air balloon ride that July morning in 2016.

The excursion had been a birthday gift to Matt from Sunday.

Matt was usually quick to text his mom photos from his latest adventures and by midday Sue, who lives in College Station, had still heard nothing. Then in the car that afternoon, she heard a radio broadcast about a hot air balloon accident that had occurred in Maxwell. Her heart sank.

Back in San Antonio that afternoon, Matt’s friends were getting ready for a volleyball tournament and starting to worry that he hadn’t shown up. “That was not like him so we all kind of had this feeling,” says Melissa Calata, who once coached Matt in beach volleyball.

News reports would confirm later that night what Matt and Sunday’s friends and family had feared. They were among the 16 killed in a hot air balloon crash. Sunday left behind a 5-year-old son.

The next few days were a blur for Sue as she and the family planned and held services for the newlyweds. Days after the funeral, she was looking at Facebook days later and saw a group photo of more than 100 people at Matt’s service. She soon learned the group was his volleyball community and the people who’d long supported him in San Antonio, where he worked as a researcher in burns and trauma at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.

One of the friends called Sue while she was cleaning Matt and Sunday’s condo a few days later and asked if they could meet with her. They wanted to host a volleyball tournament in Matt and Sunday’s honor. Sue agreed and asked what she could do to help.

The first tournament was held that fall. Along with attracting over 200 players from around the region, Sue says the tournament gave her and the rest of Matt’s family the chance to hear from friends about the kind of competitor he was and, more importantly, about the loyal friend he’d long been to so many.

The event raised nearly $30,000 and led to the creation of the Dr. Matthew P. Rowan Memorial Foundation. Held annually since 2016, the tournament—called the Boomtown Memorial Tournament since Matt often yelled “boomtown” after a great play—raises funds for other amateur beach volleyball players to further their training. The money has helped young athletes pay tournament dues, attend camps and travel to compete in major events, among other things, says Calata, now president of the all-volunteer foundation. “Because of the person that Matt was, one tournament was not going to be enough,” she says.

Always competitive, Matt came to volleyball late in life when he was looking for a way to make friends as a young adult in a new city. When he and his first wife divorced, Sue says it was his volleyball crew that got him through, and it was those same friends who brought Sunday and her son, Jett, into their fold when she and Matt began dating.

A golf tournament that supports a scholarship at Texas A&M University, Matt’s alma matter, also has been held through the foundation.

“This foundation and Matt’s story is not just a story about my son dying. It’s a story about what true friendship is really all about,” Sue says. “They have taken me under their wing, and I feel like I’ve gained another 200 kids who I didn’t have before. They are the true definition of what it means to be a friend to somebody.”

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PROMOTIONAL

It’s year seven. Help us make it the biggest Big Give yet! Learn about the missions, leadership and services provided by area nonprofits you can donate to during the Big Give on March 26.

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PROMOTIONAL

FVPS, The Battered Women and Children’s Shelter ❖ MISSION

To break the cycle of violence and to strengthen families by providing the necessary tools for self-sufficiency through delivery of emergency shelter, transitional housing, education, effective parenting education and specialized intervention with youth and the elderly.

❖ KEY SERVICES PROVIDED

Over the past 43 years, Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc./The Battered Women and Children’s Shelter has developed one of the most comprehensive array of services and programs in the state of Texas, to provide assistance to adults and children victimized by abuse. Accredited by the Health and Human Services Commission to serve this population, FVPS offers professional counseling, case management, legal services, child care, education, medical and dental care to all. A Child Protective Services Liaison Program offers linkage and assistance so victims can navigate through the complexities of that system. Those in need of further assistance can benefit from Transitional Housing and Rapid Rehousing opportunities. Non-residential services at our Broadway office include counseling for adults and children, legal help, and parenting classes. There is also help for those who abuse, through a Batterer’s Intervention/Prevention Program (BIPP),

one of 25 such interventions in Texas and the only one in Bexar County with full accreditation from the Criminal Justice Department. The Legal Access to Military Personnel (LAMP) provides specialized legal assistance to victims of violence. The Court and Military Liaison Program assists court involved victims with seamless referrals to all agency programs.

FVPS continues to explore ways to further meet the needs of victims.

Construction of a gym facility was recently completed. A pet shelter offers help so families do not have to factor their pet’s safety into their decision to leave an abusive situation.

FVPS’s mission remains to provide the tools towards the dignity and self-sufficiency of adults and children victims of domestic violence.

❖ EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES Annual Honoring Mothers Luncheon Friday, May 8, 2020 Annual Purple Run Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020 Annual Nutcracker Sweets Monday, Dec. 7, 2020

❖ LEADERSHIP Marta Prada Peláez President / CEO

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ family-violence-prevention-services-inc-the-battered-women-and-children-s-shelter

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PROMOTIONAL

Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children ❖ MISSION

Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children promotes early identification and intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and helps them develop their maximum potential through listening, spoken language and literacy.

❖ KEY SERVICES PROVIDED

Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children is a listening and spoken language school comprised of three specialized learning and support programs designed to provide children who are deaf/hard of hearing the finest care. The Newborn Hearing

Evaluation Center is a full audiological diagnostic testing site for babies.

In the Parent Infant Program, advisors guide parents through the initial diagnosis and the acquisition of auditory verbal strategies to help their baby learn to listen and talk.

Early Childhood and Elementary school programs offer individualized instruction, small classes, expert teaching staff, and several support services to assist each child in developing optimal listening and speaking skills.

Sunshine Cottage is accredited by AdvancEd and OPTION Schools, Inc., a TEA approved non-public school, and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization.

❖ LEADERSHIP

Belinda Pustka, Executive Director Jeffrey Bryan, Principal Sabrina Dannheim, Finance Director

❖ EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer opportunities are available by contacting our in house social worker Angela Legarreta at 210-824-0579, ext. 145.

We benefit from the support of gracious volunteers for tutoring and special events.

Two major fundraising events are held annually. This year Noche del Sol will be held on March 26, 2020.

Please contact Miriam Elizondo at 210-824-0579, ext. 211 and help support our mission.

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ sunshine-cottage-school-for-deaf-children

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603 E. Hildebrand Ave. San Antonio, TX 78212 210-824-0579 sunshinecottage.org

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PROMOTIONAL

Salvation Army ❖ MISSION

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.

❖ KEY SERVICES PROVIDED

For 130 years, The Salvation Army has provided vital supportive services to the residents of San Antonio and Bexar County. We are here to provide immediate solutions in times of crisis and assist individuals and families with the necessary resources to better their lives. We provide more than 500,000 residents each year with shelter, food and fellowship, as well as human development and enrichment programs, homeless prevention programs, disaster services, and seasonal assistance. All services are provided in a compassionate and nurturing environment to restore hope and dignity.

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ the-salvation-army-sa

521 W. Elmira St. San Antonio, TX 78212 210-352-2000 SalvationArmySATX.org

San Antonio Humane Society ❖ MISSION

Our mission is to protect and improve the lives of dogs and cats by providing shelter, care, adoption, rescue, spay and neuter programs and community education.

❖ KEY SERVICES PROVIDED

Every year, the San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS) shelters, medically treats and rehabilitates thousands of dogs and cats in our community. Many of these pets have been injured, abused, surrendered by their owners or found as strays. Through our adoption, volunteer, foster and education programs, we remind the public of the importance of responsible pet ownership, microchipping and spaying/neutering. In 2019, the SAHS conducted over 20,000 spay/neuter surgeries on pets in our community.

4804 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78229 210-226-7461 SAhumane.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ san-antonio-humane-society

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PROMOTIONAL

San Antonio Threads ❖ MISSION

Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing shopping experience for teens (ages 12-21) who are homeless, in the foster care system, in emergency situations, or otherwise referred to the nonprofit. With increased social skills, confidence, and the right attire, teens served

by San Antonio Threads are supported in reaching their education and career goals. In addition to allowing teens to focus on their education and careers, San Antonio Threads alleviates the stress on families to afford basic necessities.

❖ KEY SERVICES PROVIDED

San Antonio Threads is the only nonprofit in the state of Texas providing each referred teen with a genuine shopping experience of new items where they can select two complete outfits, full size toiletries, five pairs of underwear, five pairs of socks, a backpack, a hoodie, and a pair of shoes—all for free! San Antonio Threads also works with several underserved school districts, helping to keep students properly clothed and in school. To refer a teen, visit sanantoniothreads.org/referrals.

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ san-antonio-threads

10446 Sentinel St. San Antonio Texas 78217 210-600-3989 SanAntonioThreads.org

San Antonio Zoo ❖ MISSION

Inspire people to love, engage with, act for, and protect animals and the places they live through sharing our passion for animal care, education and conservation.

❖ KEY SERVICES PROVIDED

If you share our passion for animal care, education, and conservation, we ask you to please share in our mission. Whether big or small, your contribution will help us continue doing groundbreaking work that will have an impact on the animal world. Creatures come in all shapes and sizes, and donations do too! As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we rely on donors like you to help us inspire people to love, engage with, act for, and protect animals and the places they live.

3903 N. St. Mary’s St. San Antonio, TX 78212 210-734-7184 SAZoo.org

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ san-antonio-zoo

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PROMOTIONAL

A Kitty’s PURRsuit of Happiness ❖ MISSION

Non-kill emergency rescue dedicated to helping kitties live nine lives regardless of age, medical issues or disposition in an unique feline-only cage-free rehabilitation sanctuary. ​ .O. Box 1011 P Spring Branch, TX 78070 210-528-1907 kpoh.org

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/kpoh

AugustHeart ❖ MISSION

The mission of AugustHeart is to provide free heart screenings to teenagers to identify selected heart abnormalities in an effort to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death.

903 Basse Road San Antonio, TX 78212 210-841-9207 augustheart.org

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ august-heart

Baby Education for South Texas (B.E.S.T.)

Brackenridge Park Conservancy

❖ MISSION

❖ MISSION

PO Box 692147 San Antonio, TX 78269 best4baby.org

P.O. Box 6311 San Antonio, TX 78209 210-826-1412 brackenridgepark.org

B.E.S.T. is a collaboration of doctors, health care professionals, and community members whose mission is to decrease infant mortality and to promote healthy development through providing education, advocacy and resources.

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ baby-education-for-south-texas-b-e-s-t

The Brackenridge Park Conservancy is a steward of and an advocate for the park and an instrument for preserving and enhancing the park’s natural, historic, educational and recreational resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ brackenridge-park-conservancy

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PROMOTIONAL

Charming Pet Rescue ❖ MISSION

To provide rescue, rehabilitation and new loving homes for dogs that have been living on the street, abused, abandoned and removed from high-kill shelters.

8430 Flint Rock Drive Boerne, TX 78006 210-843-8326 charmingpetrescue.org

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ charming-pet-rescue-humane-society-inc

Inspire Community Fine Art Center ❖ MISSION

Inspire nurtures the creative potential of our community through art-making that enriches, transforms and connects. We offer classes in studio and provide outreach to locations throughout San Antonio. We are a nonprofit 501(c)3.

1943 N. New Braunfels Ave. San Antonio, TX 78208 210-829-5592 inspirefineartcenter.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ inspire-community-fine-art-center

Project MEND

Project Quest

❖ MISSION

❖ MISSION

Project MEND is committed to improving the quality of life for individuals living with disabilities and illness through the refurbishment, reuse and distribution of medical equipment and other assistive technology.

5727 I-10 W. San Antonio, TX 78201 210-223-6363 projectmend.org

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ project-mend

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Project QUEST strengthens the economy and transforms lives by preparing individuals for in-demand, living-wage careers.

515 S.W. 24th St., Ste. 201 San Antonio, TX 78207 210-630-4690 questsa.org

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ project-quest-inc

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PROMOTIONAL

San Antonio Botanical Garden

San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition

❖ MISSION

❖ MISSION

Established 40 years ago, the San Antonio Botanical Garden’s mission is to inspire people to connect with the plant world and understand the importance of plants in our lives.

555 Funston Place San Antonio, TX 78209 210-536-1400 sabot.org

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ san-antonio-botanical-garden

We are an all-volunteer organization dedicated to reducing the overpopulation of outside cats within Bexar County through rescue, adoption and TrapNeuter-Return (TNR).

P.O. Box 692308 San Antonio, TX 78269 210-877-9067 sanantonioferalcats.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ san-antonio-feral-cat-coalition

SJRC Texas

TEAMability

❖ MISSION

❖ MISSION

1400 Ridge Creek Lane Bulverde, TX 78163 210-843-3294 sjrctexas.org

1711 N. Trinity St. San Antonio, TX 78201 210-733-9050 teamability.org

To offer healing and hope to children and families affected by abuse, abandonment or neglect. Our vision is that abused and neglected children will be empowered to grow up to be happy, productive and caring adults.

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ sjrc-texas-st-judes-ranch-for-children

TEAMability works in collaboration with communities and families, giving children with complex disabilities opportunities to achieve their potential and experience the joys of meaningful participation in life.

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ teamability-learning-center

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PROMOTIONAL

Texas Children’s Choir

Thrive Youth Center

❖ MISSION

❖ MISSION

Provide service to the community by training children from diverse backgrounds to prepare and perform high-quality choral music for events by charitable, civic and military organizations.

8409 Corto Circle San Antonio, TX 78239 210-804-1804 texaschildrenschoir.org

Thrive Youth Center’s mission is to provide a safe, effective, and supportive center for homeless LGBTQ youth, so they may become productive, skilled, educated, and successful adults with the ability, opportunity and possibility of achieving their dreams.

Thrive Youth Center 1 Haven for Hope Way San Antonio, TX, 78207 210-212-2935 thriveyouthcenter.org

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ texas-children-s-choir

➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/organizations/ thrive-youth-center

Nonprofit Directory

Discover nonprofits to support during the Big Give by the causes they serve AugustHeart Causes: Health and Wellness 903 Basse Road | San Antonio, TX 78212 210-841-9207 | augustheart.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/august-heart

A Kitty’s PURRsuit of Happiness Causes: Cats ​P.O. Box 1011 | Spring Branch, TX 78070 210-528-1907 | kpoh.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/kpoh

Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation Causes: Health & Wellness, Seniors, Veterans 5100 John D. Ryan Blvd. | San Antonio, TX 78245 | 210-568-3206 | afvgiving.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/air-force-villages-charitablefoundation

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Baby Education for South Texas (B.E.S.T.) Causes: Education, Youth, Health and Wellness P.O. Box 692147 | San Antonio, TX 78269 210-310-4281 | best4baby.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/ baby-education-for-southtexas-b-e-s-t

Boerne Community Theatre Causes: Arts and Culture, Education, Youth Programs 907 E. Blanco Road | Boerne, TX 78006 830-249-9166 | boernetheatre.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/boerne-community-theatre-inc

Brackenridge Park Conservancy Causes: Arts and Culture, Environment, Community Advocacy P.O. Box 6311 | San Antonio, TX 78209 210-826-1412 | brackenridgepark.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa. org/organizations/brackenridge-parkconservancy

Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center Causes: Seniors, Hunger, Health and Wellness 30280 Cougar Bend | Bulverde, TX 78163 830-438-3111 | bsbac.com ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/bulverde-spring-branchactivity-center

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PROMOTIONAL

Charming Pet Rescue Causes: Animals 430 Flint Rock Drive | Boerne, TX 78006 210-843-8326 | charmingpetrescue.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/charming-pet-rescue-humanesociety-inc

Courage Ranch Causes: Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Health and Wellness 3292 Hwy. 97 W. | Floresville, TX 78114 830-216-4284, 832-721-3874 courageranch.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/courage-ranch

FVPS, The Battered Women and Children’s Shelter Causes: Women’s Issues, Youth, Community Advocacy 7911 Broadway | San Antonio, TX 78209 210-930-3669 | FVPS.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/family-violence-preventionservices-inc-the-battered-women-andchildren-s-shelter

Inspire Community Fine Art Center Causes: Arts and Culture, Education, Health and Wellness 1943 N. New Braunfels Ave. | San Antonio, TX 78208 | 210-829-5592 | inspirefineartcenter.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/inspire-community-fine-artcenter

Let’s Go to the Show!

Causes: Arts and Culture, Youth, Community Advocacy P.O. Box 781912 | San Antonio, TX 78278 210-452-3138 | letsgototheshow.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/let-s-go-to-the-show

Project MEND Causes: Health and Wellness, Seniors, Youth 5727 I-10 W. | San Antonio, TX 78201 210-223-6363 | projectmend.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/project-mend

Project Quest Causes: Education, Community Advocacy, Veterans 515 S.W. 24th St., Ste. 201 | San Antonio, TX 78207 | 210-630-4690 | questsa.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/project-quest-inc

Salvation Army Causes: Homelessness & Housing, Poverty and Hunger, Disaster Relief 521 W. Elmira St. | San Antonio, TX 78212 210-352-2000 | salvationarmysatx.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/the-salvation-army-sa

San Antonio Botanical Gardens Causes: Environment, Health and Wellness, Arts and Culture 555 Funston Place, | San Antonio, TX 78209 210-536-1400 | sabot.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/san-antonio-botanical-garden

San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition Causes: Animals P.O. Box 692308 | San Antonio, TX 78269 210-877-9067 | sanantonioferalcats.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/san-antonio-feral-cat-coalition

San Antonio Humane Society Causes: Animals, Education 4804 Fredericksburg Road | San Antonio, TX 78229 | 210-226-7461 | SAhumane.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/san-antonio-humane-society

San Antonio Threads Causes: Youth, Community Advocacy, Emergency Response 10446 Sentinel St. | San Antonio Texas 78217 210-600-3989 | SanAntonioThreads.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/san-antonio-threads

San Antonio Zoo Causes: Animals, Education, Environment 3903 N. Saint Mary’s St. | San Antonio, TX 78212 | 210-734-7184 | sazoo.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/san-antonio-zoo

SJRC Texas Causes: Caring for Children in Foster Care 1400 Ridge Creek Lane | Bulverde, TX 78163 210-843-3294 | sjrctexas.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/sjrc-texas-st-judes-ranchfor-children

Special Olympics Texas Causes: Sport Training and Competition, Health and Wellness for Youth and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities 45 N.E. Loop 410, Ste. 180 | San Antonio, TX 78216 | 210-530-9898 | sotx.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/special-olympics-texas

Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children Causes: Education, Youth, Health and Wellness 603 E. Hildebrand Ave. | San Antonio, TX 78212 | 210-824-0579 | sunshinecottage.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/sunshine-cottage-school-fordeaf-children

TEAMabillity, Inc. Causes: Youth, Health and Wellness, Education 1711 N. Trinity St. | San Antonio, TX 78201 210-733-9050 | teamability.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/teamability-learning-center

Texas Children’s Choir Causes: Arts and Culture, Youth, Education 8409 Corto Circle | San Antonio, TX 78239 210-804-1804 | texaschildrenschoir.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/texas-children-s-choir

ThriveWell Cancer Foundation Causes: Patient Assistance, Diva & Dude, Research 4383 Medical Dr., Ste. 4078 | San Antonio, TX 78229 | 210-593-5949 | thrivewell.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/thrivewell-cancer-foundation

Thrive Youth Center Causes: Homelessness & Housing, Youth 1 Haven for Hope Way | San Antonio, TX, 78207 | 210-212-2935 | thriveyouthcenter.org ➥ Give on March 26: thebiggivesa.org/ organizations/thrive-youth-center M A RCH 26, 2020

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stats

Big Give by the Numbers

12% of 2019 participating nonprofits reported that funds raised during the Big Give account for at least half of their budget

2017

$4,681,522 43,400 donations

2018

43% of donors were new to the Big Give in 2019 62% of participating organizations transitioned new Big Give donors into recurring donors 93% of Big Give 2019 gifts were made online and the website received 512,239 page views between March 21-28, 2019

$5,110,741 43,834 donations

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2019

$25+ million

Since the Big Give was founded in 2014, more than $25 million has been raised for area nonprofit organizations.

$4,334,561 39,394 donations $4,302,417 40,400 donations

Nearly 200 donors gave to an organization during the Big Give 2019 that they weren’t previously familiar with

Meeting the Community’s Need

$2,095,606 21,909 donations

2016

42% of nonprofits raised more money in 2019 than they did in 2018

2015

was raised in 2019 from 28,102 donors for 545 nonprofits

2014

$4,711,825

History of Giving

$4,711,825 28,102 donations

DATA PROVIDED BY THE NONPROFIT COUNCIL, WHICH SURVEYS PARTICIPATING DONORS AND NONPROFITS

Roughly 1 in 6 families in Bexar County live in poverty

15.1 percent of Bexar County residents were uninsured in 2017

31 percent of San Antonio students failed to meet a level II satisfactory on their third grade STAAR Reading Test

66 percent of adults 25 and older in San Antonio don’t have a college degree

58,000 individuals are served each week through the San Antonio Food Bank. Of those, 35 percent are children, 46 percent of households have at least one working adult and one in five have a member who is enlisted in the military or previously served.

DATA FROM COMMUNITY INFORMATION NOW, SA2020, SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS

COURTESY WEST AVENUE COMPASSION

2019 Quick Look

WEST AVENUE COMPASSION

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