After gathering over 1,000 community nominations, the McKenna Foundation presented three local nonprofits with grant awards during its annual Christmas Breakfast.

The Foundation also gave a bonus award to a New Braunfels organization for its collaboration with Mental Advocacy Partners (MAP) in sparking community conversations surrounding mental health.

Read the full story here.

The New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership New Braunfels class and the McKenna Foundation are set to focus on the importance of volunteerism in the community. To support this initiative, they will host a volunteer fair for both New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce members and the general public to visit with non-profit organizations and civic groups as a way to get more involved in the community.

The Volunteer Fair will be held at the McKenna Events Center on December 17, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

The event is aimed to connect local non-profits and groups with community members eager to volunteer. Participants in the volunteer fair will have an opportunity to learn about various organizations, their missions, and discover how they can contribute their time and skills to make a difference.

Not only is this fair a chance for organizations to recruit volunteers, but it also provides individuals with meaningful ways to get involved in the community.

The fair will initially open to the Leadership New Braunfels class, with access extended to other members of the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce and the general public shortly after 3:30 pm.

Whether you are passionate about helping others, contributing to community development, or exploring other areas of interest, there is a place for you to make an impact!

Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved and contribute to the well-being of New Braunfels.

The event will take place at the McKenna Events Center, located at 801 W San Antonio St., from 3:30 to 4:30 pm on December 17.

The McKenna Foundation is thrilled to announce that one school from New Braunfels Independent School District (NBISD) and one from Comal Independent School District (CISD) will each receive $10,000 as part of the Foundation’s final grants of the year.

As we approach the festive season, with Christmas and the New Year just around the corner, the Mckenna Foundation is eager to spread a message of kindness throughout our community. We are calling on schools to show us how they will ‘Choose Kindness!’

With $20,000 up for grabs, the Foundation invites each school in both NBISD and CISD to participate by creating and submitting a video.

The guidelines are simple: (1) one video per school, no longer than 60 seconds; (2) show us how you Choose Kindness; and (3) be creative!

After all submissions are received, a select panel of community judges will evaluate each video, considering creativity, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, originality, and the level of student involvement. One winner from each district will then be decided.

The contest opens on December 2, 2024, and the deadline for submissions is December 13, 2024. The winners will be announced prior to Winter Break!

“We are excited to gift $10,000 to one school from each district this year,” said McKenna CEO Alice Jewell. “Typically, our grants are awarded to local nonprofits serving our community, but we know our schools work so hard and make an extreme impact on our community, too. Our board felt that this is another way we can make some meaningful community investments while also getting the students and staff involved in something fun.”

The awarded funds are unrestricted, allowing the winning schools to allocate the $10,000 where it is most needed. This is an opportunity to not only win a substantial grant but to inspire and uplift our community through acts of kindness.

The McKenna Foundation looks forward to seeing the innovative and heartfelt ways our local schools plan to make a positive impact through kindness!

For more updates and information, please visit www.mckenna.org and follow the Foundation’s social media channels @mckennafoundation.