The Rock Haus Foundation is inviting the community to share their voices, experiences, and insights to better understand the needs of individuals with special needs.

Rock Haus is seeking input from those who know these needs best: individuals with disabilities, their families, caregivers, and the service providers who support them. By completing a community survey, participants can help identify gaps in local services, highlight the most urgent areas of support, and guide future efforts in Comal County and surrounding areas.

The feedback gathered will play a vital role in shaping upcoming programs, strengthening partnerships, and initiatives that better serve our community.

The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RockHaus and will remain open through March 20. 

The Rock Haus Foundation encourages anyone committed to strengthening resources for individuals with special needs to participate and share the survey with others.

“We want to learn what is working and what still needs attention,” said Rock Haus Foundation Executive Director Bill Barry. “This survey is an opportunity for our community to help impact what comes next.”

The Rock Haus Foundation is dedicated to fostering a community where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are welcomed and encouraged to participate in meaningful activities. According to Barry, this survey is an important step toward that vision.

Rock Haus currently offers a variety of programs for individuals with special needs, including music, art, dance, and chair-based Zumba. They also host parent advocacy groups, a service provider coalition, and bi-monthly Rock-The-Haus dance parties.

To learn more about the Rock Haus Foundation, visit rockhausfoundation.org, or follow on Facebook and Instagram at @rockhausfoundation.

The McKenna Foundation, through a collaborative effort with Early Matters San Antonio, the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce and the Greater New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation, has launched this initiative with the ultimate goal of enhancing the brain development of the local community’s youngest humans through supporting families and the childcare workforce.

Read the full story here.

Early Matters-New Braunfels is an initiative that will benefit families and support child care providers to expand and improve their quality of service.

Read the full story here.

Canine Classmates began in 2006 as a program designed to support at‑risk children who struggle with reading. Since then, it has expanded to Canines in the Courthouse, an initiative where dogs provide comfort for traumatized victims while they prepare to testify, offering support both before and after testifying.

Read the full story here.

The McKenna Foundation is excited to announce that three schools from New Braunfels Independent School District (NBISD) and three from Comal Independent School District (CISD) have been selected as award recipients for their outstanding participation in the Foundation’s We Give Video Contest.

Building on the success and heartfelt response to last year’s Choose Kindness Video Contest, the McKenna Foundation launched its follow-up We Give contest on November 19. Despite having just three weeks to produce their submissions, students and staff from both districts created 18 unique, thoughtful, and creative videos.

“We had such a great response last year that we felt compelled to bring the contest back with a new theme and award another $35,000 to local schools to use as they see fit. For both districts, first place received $10,000, second place $5,000, and third place $2,500,” said McKenna Foundation CEO Alice Jewell.

The winning schools from NBISD included: (1) Carl Schurz Elementary; (2) Lone Star Early Childhood Center; and (3) Legend Point Elementary.

Winning schools from CISD included: (1) Freiheit Elementary; (2) Pieper High School; and (3) Johnson Ranch Elementary.

This year’s first-place winners, Carl Schurz Elementary and Freiheit Elementary, stood out for their creativity and heartfelt messages. Carl Schurz produced a spirited bilingual video highlighting that giving can mean hope, love, friendship, and even a simple hug.

Watch the video below:

Freiheit Elementary’s winning video left a memorable impression by showcasing the idea that “everyone can give something,” whether it’s a helping hand, leadership, or encouragement.

Watch the video below:

The McKenna Foundation would like to thank and congratulate all participants for their incredible efforts in creating these videos and their commitment to the spirit of giving.

You can watch all winning videos on the McKenna Foundation’s YouTube or on Instagram at @mckennafoundation.

As many Comal County nonprofits face falling funds and growing demand, they remain committed to providing unwavering support to the people they serve.

Read the full story here.