Posted on

NBYC advances Mill Street Youth Center project

Nestled in the heart of downtown New Braunfels, the Mill Street Youth Center, located at the intersection of Mill Street and Academy Avenue, is making significant progress toward opening its doors to local youth.

Since its groundbreaking ceremony in October, which marked the start of the first phase of the project, the New Braunfels Youth Collaborative (NBYC) has made tremendous strides in renovating the gymnasium, repairing the foundation, and revamping the building’s interior.

Set to open in early May, the gymnasium has already seen substantial improvements, including HVAC, ADA compliance, new basketball hoops, a new scoreboard, and an updated fitness room with new equipment. With 40% of the gym complete, the NBYC is excited to continue its progress and open the gym doors this spring.

In just three months since the groundbreaking, the Mill Street Youth Center building is already 20% complete. The NBYC is currently focusing on foundation repair and stabilization, demolition, and asbestos removal. Following these improvements, the NBYC will begin working on HVAC replacements, ADA-compliant restrooms, a floor plan remodel, and a complete renovation of the bottom and first floors.

The Mill Street Youth Center is expected to be completed in early 2026.

Construction isn’t the only area where the NBYC has made progress. With the recent hire of Program Director Daniel O’Quinn, he and the Youth Advisory Council have been developing summer programs for the gymnasium. They are also planning a big summer bash event to kick off summer in early June.

Upon completion, the Youth Center will provide a safe environment for students in grades 6th through 12th, offering them the tools to grow, connect, and excel.

“The Mill Street Youth Center will fill a gap in our community by offering a wide range of high-quality programming during out-of-school hours,” said Executive Director Stacey Dicke. “This project preserves the history of the New Braunfels High School and ISD Education Center, while also providing a place for teens to thrive.

According to Dicke, the Youth Center will feature study rooms, a recording studio, an esports gaming area, a culinary kitchen, SAT prep, career development programs, tutoring, and several youth-focused programs.

As the project continues to progress, the NBYC is excited to breathe new life into the building, preserving the past while shaping a vibrant future for local youth.

For more information or to donate to the project, please visit www.thenbyc.com. Checks may also be sent to 801 W. San Antonio St., New Braunfels, TX 78130.

Posted on

Project 10:27 Honored with 2024 Community Choice Award by BHFSA

Project 10:27, an organization dedicated to combating loneliness and isolation among senior adults, has been honored with the 2024 Community Choice Award by the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio (BHFSA).

This distinguished award is granted to nonprofit organizations that go above and beyond in their commitment to serving the community—an honor made even more meaningful as it is peer-nominated by fellow nonprofit leaders.

In addition to receiving a Community Impact Grant, Project 10:27 was recognized with a surprise $10,000 award at BHFSA’s annual reception, a gathering celebrating the 109 nonprofit organizations awarded a collective $9.4 million in grants this year. The Community Choice Award, one of only two given, underscores the exceptional impact of Project 10:27’s mission to bring companionship, connection, and hope to senior adults in Bexar and surrounding counties.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio and our nonprofit peers,” said Shane Carter, Executive Director of Project 10:27. “This award is more than just an honor—it is a celebration of the collective effort of our team and community. It reaffirms our mission to bring companionship, hope, and connection to seniors and motivates us to expand our impact even further.”

The BHFSA Community Choice Award is a unique distinction, as recipients are nominated and selected by fellow nonprofit organizations in recognition of outstanding service and selfless dedication to others.

“BHFSA understands that small, localized organizations like Project 10:27 are just as capable of meaningful, life-changing work as their larger counterparts, and we are excited to invest in their continued success. We’re glad to see other organizations in the community recognizing how well Project 10:27 is meeting their mission,” said Brent Salter VP of Programs of BHFSA.

Since its formation in 2004, Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio has awarded over $100 million in grants to fund nonprofit healthcare initiatives across Bexar County and seven surrounding counties, furthering its mission to honor God by improving the health of the community.

Posted on

Choose Kindness: McKenna Foundation’s initiative to celebrate kind acts

As we say goodbye to 2024, the McKenna Foundation is excited to usher in the new year with a simple but powerful message: Choose Kindness.

Despite the countless acts of kindness that happen every day in New Braunfels and Comal County, they often go unnoticed, unrecognized, and unrewarded.

Determined to change that, the McKenna Foundation is launching a year-long “Choose Kindness” campaign to celebrate and highlight these acts of goodwill.

The McKenna Foundation will host the kick-off at 10 am on Friday, January 24 at the McKenna Events Center. 

The community is invited to attend this event, which will feature complimentary coffee and treats, as well as free stickers to spread around New Braunfels and Comal County. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a pledge activity, where they can write their name or a message on a smiley face and pin it to giant letters spelling out “KIND,” symbolizing their commitment to choosing kindness in 2025.

The campaign aims to celebrate the good things happening in Comal County and recognize our kind neighbors. The Foundation invites the public to nominate and submit acts of kindness that occur throughout the year, making the positive actions of our neighbors more visible.

Each week, these acts of kindness will be highlighted on the Choose Kindness social media pages (Instagram, Facebook) and on the campaign’s website.

Click here to let us know of a time when you or someone else chose kindness! 

As the year progresses, the Foundation hopes the community will embrace the campaign, spreading kindness far and wide. The Foundation also plans to host various Choose Kindness events in partnership with local nonprofits and businesses throughout the year.

If your organization has an idea for how you can encourage others to Choose Kindness, McKenna wants to partner with you! For more information, to submit an act of kindness, partner on a kindness event, or to sign up for the Choose Kindness weekly newsletter, click here.