Posted on

Get ready for Wurstfest at SMKSR Foundation’s Wurst Bingo event

In the leadup to Wurstfest, the Sally M. Kingsbury Sarcoma Research (SMKSR) Foundation is preparing for its first-ever Wurst Bingo fundraising event to support sarcoma research.

The SMKSR Foundation will host the Wurst Bingo fundraiser on October 16, 2024. This fun, family-friendly evening will provide attendees with the chance to enjoy music from the Lederhosen Junkies, participate in a silent auction, win cash prizes, and compete in a Masskrugstemmen contest.

The event will also feature special celebrity guests announcing the bingo numbers including New Braunfels Mayor Neal Linnartz, 2024 Wursfest President Sherman Krause, and more. Jason Hurta will be the MC for the evening.

The silent auction will feature items such as golf packages, Das Rec passes, Wurstfest packages, Yeti and Shiner Bock products, and more.

Get your tickets here.

Since its inception 17 years ago, The SMKSR Foundation has donated over $500,000 to sarcoma cancer research institutions, such as the Torres Laboratory at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The Foundation primarily raised these funds through its annual knock-out rose sale. However, this year, the SMKSR Foundation is excited to turn the page and start a new chapter of fundraising.

“I was thinking, this would be a great event. Everyone is getting excited for Wurstfest, people are dressing up,” said SMKSR board member Cesar Castilleja. “I figured that this is an event that we could pull off, to start up the next chapter of fundraising. That’s just where it all evolved. We have had a lot of excitement for it on all ends.”

The event offers a top sponsor package which includes a front table for up to eight guests, two bingo cards per person for each game, one dauber per person, a swag item, plus a bier and bratwurst.

VIP and reserved seating packages are also available. The VIP package provides a reserved table for eight, one bingo card per person for each game, and a bier and brat. The reserved seating sponsorship includes a first-come, first-seated at a reserved table, one bingo card per game, and of course, a bier and brat.

By sponsoring or participating in this event, you will further the SMKSR Foundation’s mission to raise funds for sarcoma cancer research.

The SMKSR Foundation was founded in memory of Sally M. Kingsbury; a beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister, and teacher, who was a pillar in the New Braunfels community. Diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma at the age of 51, Sally faced her illness with dignity and courage but lost the fight to sarcoma cancer on December 16, 2005.

It was her wish that the search for a sarcoma cure would persist beyond her lifetime. By supporting this event and the SMKSR Foundation, you help realize that wish.

The SMKSR Foundation invites you to join the battle, in Sally’s memory, against sarcoma cancer at the Wurst Bingo fundraiser at Krause’s Cafe on October 16, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. German attire is highly recommended.

“It’s just like having an appetizer at a dinner party. You have your little Wurstfest appetizer and then you’re ready!” said Foundation board member Jan Kingsbury.

Posted on

MAP to hold free screening of The Upstanders at the Brauntex Theatre

After a remarkable attendance and response to the first two films of an award-winning Mental Health trilogy, Mental Advocacy Partners (MAP) is hosting a free screening of the concluding film, The Upstanders, at the Brauntex Theatre on Monday, September 23 at 6:00 pm.

To reserve your free seat, please visit click here. 

The Upstanders is a film that is both unsettling and uplifting, prompting viewers to examine their behavior while inspiring us to do better, be better, and stand up against victimization and cyber-bullying. The 56-minute film delves deep into bullying, presenting the perspectives of bullies, their victims, and bystanders, while also opening a conversation among local families, community leaders, and experts.

The film interweaves true stories with the latest scientific and medical research, offering strategies to empower our community to stand up against bullying. Central to The Upstanders is the first-hand account of the Molak family from San Antonio, whose tragic loss inspired new legislation to turn the tide against the bullying epidemic.

“Today, with the quick push of a few buttons, the bullies have the ability to persistently harass, humiliate and degrade their peers 24/7. We are eternally grateful to the Molak family who let us document their journey, as they channeled their grief into tangible change: the creation of David’s Law,” said iNDIEFLIX Filmmaker and CEO Scilla Andreen.

As a staple in social and emotional learning programs in educational institutions worldwide, MAP recognizes the positive impact The Upstanders can have and is excited to present the free screening for our community.

“The Upstanders is an extremely revealing and influential film. The heartbreaking loss of David Molak not only shook San Antonio and the community here in New Braunfels, but it resonated across the whole country. It brought cyber-bullying to the forefront and The Upstanders further opens that crucial conversation and can educate our community about its effects, while also demonstrating how to stand up against it,” said Kristen Fain of MAP.

The screening will be followed by a presentation and discussion with local specialists, including Jennifer Nieto from Hill County, Comal County DA Jennifer Tharp, and Jennifer Kerr from David’s Law Foundation.

The free screening of The Upstanders is scheduled for Monday, September 23, at 6 pm at the Brauntex Theatre.

For more information or to watch the trailer, click here.

Posted on

The Big Give: McKenna Foundation offers Match Minutes of up to $5,000

Note: This is the final of three articles aimed at raising awareness around the impact, importance, and struggles of nonprofits in the lead-up to The Big Give on September 18-19, 2024.

The 24-hour online giving day is nearly here. The annual Big Give event, which showcases and celebrates the enormous impact of personal philanthropy, will observe its eleventh anniversary from 6:00 p.m. on September 18 to 6:00 p.m. on September 19. Early donations are now open.

As our neighbors contribute to their chosen organizations and causes, gifts of $5, $10, or more can collectively raise millions. Since its inception, The Big Give has amassed over $45 million for nonprofits across South Central Texas, all thanks to the generosity of more than 262,000 donors.

This year, the McKenna Foundation will offer Match Minutes between 8:11 am and 8:16 am on September 19. Any online donation of up to $100 made within that timeframe will be matched dollar for dollar. The matching pool is set at $5,000.

Click here to donate or to learn more.

In the wake of the pandemic, nonprofit organizations have experienced a decline in donations; faced with additional obstacles brought by inflation and presidential election years. The Big Give offers a chance to support these organizations and counteract this trend.

Individual giving remains the predominant form of philanthropy in the U.S., accounting for over 62% of all donations, totaling $374.4 billion in 2023, according to Giving USA. Nonprofit organizations also reinvest in the local economy, often more than for-profit organizations. In 2022, for example, nonprofits reinvested $68 million into our local economy.

Overall, nonprofit organizations signify a dedication to a better society; a socially and economically enhanced community. Despite the decline in charitable giving and philanthropy, they continue to push forward, allocating every last resource to the well-being of our community.

Now is your opportunity to contribute to a brighter future and counteract a trend that greatly impacts the lifeline of nonprofits. With more than 400 outstanding nonprofits to choose from, the choice is yours to determine where you want to make an impact. Your donation will be utilized effectively and in various ways, will benefit you in return.

Unsure where to begin? We suggest supporting our partners, all local to Comal County, who support our community and reinvest in our local economy.

Those eligible for the McKenna Foundation Match Minutes include: Any Baby Can, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Comal and Guadalupe Counties, 1HOPE for Kids, Project MEND, Kinetic Kids, RCBC Helping Hands Food Pantry, Friends of New Braunfels Public Library, Connections, EdenHill Communities, CASA of Central Texas, New Braunfels Christian Ministries, Comal County Habitat for Humanity, Hope Hospice, Rock Haus Foundation, Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation, and Family Promise of Greater New Braunfels, Family Life Center, CRRC of Canyon Lake, Canine Classmates, Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center, SJRC Texas, Headwaters at the Comal, RecoveryWerks!, Chosen Care, The Salvation Army New Braunfels, New Braunfels Youth Collaborative, River City Advocacy, STEPS, Communities in Schools, NB Housing Partners, and Steve’s Pantry.

Donate here. The Foundation recommends filling out the donation form a minute or two before the start of the Match Minute window so that when time hits, donors can submit and have the best chances of being matched.

Posted on

McKenna Foundation launches early childhood care initiative

The McKenna Foundation, in collaboration with Early Matters San Antonio and the New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation, has officially launched the Path Forward for Early Learning and Care initiative following the inaugural session on August 24.

The event marked a significant milestone, uniting over 20 local childcare providers and 25 local business leaders in two separate but parallel sessions. These sessions provided a platform to voice concerns, share knowledge, and initiate the development of an improved early childhood ecosystem in New Braunfels.

In the session for providers, they were guided to posters on the walls displaying statements regarding the current state of early childcare in New Braunfels and tasked with identifying which ones resonated most with them. One of the statements that resonated most was, “The System is broken – it costs parents too much and we cannot pay educators enough.”

The numbers support this reality. In Comal County, an average of 11.5% of a family’s income is allocated to childcare, significantly surpassing the 7% threshold considered to be affordable. This was underscored by one provider who noted that a colleague could not afford childcare for their child at their center. Another highlighted that low wages are driving employees away from the sector, often to the food service or retail industries, where the pay is higher and the work less demanding.

Regarding employment, guest speaker Sara Redington of The Best Place for Working Parents highlighted to local business leaders the advantages of investing in childcare policies, noting that 83% of millennials would switch jobs for one that offers stronger family support and policies.

The assembly of childcare professionals also expressed concerns over a lack of awareness of the crucial brain development in the earliest stages of life. This topic was not only prevalent among the childcare providers but also among local business leaders who attended the corresponding session.

During the meeting with local business leaders, Pre-K 4 SA CEO Sarah Baray emphasized that 90% of brain development occurs before age five. This period is marked by a surge in synapse development, crucial for learning and memory formation. Within this realm, childcare professionals voiced concerns that their pivotal role in this stage is not widely recognized, emphasizing that they are seen as babysitters rather than educators.

Local providers further shared their worries about the increasing complexity of regulations, mandates, and certification demands. “The regulations that they have make it nearly impossible to take care of a child,” stated one local provider. Another added that we “need to find a way to regulate it without squeezing our necks.”

Mark Larson, the Executive Director of Early Matters San Antonio, supported these concerns. He noted that as of the beginning of April, only three of the 26 centers in New Braunfels will be eligible to accept scholarships and subsidies due to stringent regulations come October 2024. Specifically, centers will have to achieve a Texas Rising Star rating to receive scholarships, a process that is lengthy and expensive.

Though these initial discussions focused on brainstorming and education, they laid the groundwork for tackling the challenges faced by the early childcare sector in New Braunfels. With a draft of goals, strategies, and actions set into motion, future sessions will focus on implementing measures to advance this initiative and enhance the early childhood environment in the community.

McKenna would like to extend its gratitude to the following stakeholders and providers for sharing your expertise and perspectives in the first Path Forward for Early Learning and Care session: First Protestant School, CRRC, The Pillars Christian Learning Center, Gruene Tree Learning Center, Learning Their Way, Triple L Ranch, the Family Life Center, St. Paul Lutheran, Belong, the New Braunfels Food Bank, Ms. Debbie’s Darlings Preschool, the City of New Braunfels, and all else involved.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 5, from 10 am to 1 pm at the McKenna Events Center. If you did not attend the first session but would like to participate in the upcoming sessions, RSVP by emailing kfain@mckenna.org.

Posted on

When are donations just not enough?

Note: This is the second of three articles aimed at raising awareness around the impact, importance, and struggles of nonprofits in the lead-up to The Big Give on September 18-19, 2024. Read the first article here.

The business model of nonprofit organizations presents unique challenges, particularly during a time when inflation and political landscapes are shifting. For many local nonprofits, a downward trend in community contributions is beginning to threaten their most vital lifeline.

 Donations are a lifeline

 

Charitable donations and philanthropy are the driving forces for nonprofit organizations. These two distinct actions are crucial for supporting the mission of a nonprofit and are essential for its survival.

However, relying on donations and grants presents unique challenges. These funding sources are inconsistent and unpredictable, making it difficult for nonprofits to financially plan for their operations and programs. In many ways, nonprofit organizations rely on the community for support so that they, in turn, can support the community.

Donating to a local nonprofit is a voluntary expense for individuals, corporations, and foundations. So, why should the community support nonprofits in this way?

The main reason is to ensure that nonprofit-based services, which are intentionally poised to sustain and improve lives, can continue. For instance, a local nonprofit that serves senior citizens heavily depends on donations to combat senior isolation and food insecurity.  A recent decline in donations and volunteers has jeopardized services, which provides over 85,000 meals to 570 local seniors annually. Without community support, seniors could be neglected and even go hungry. In no instance should anyone in this community allow this vital nonprofit to disappear.

Similarly, another local nonprofit provides care to families with children with special healthcare needs and offers autism education and bereavement support for those who experience the death of a child.  This organization served around 527 individuals and families in New Braunfels and Comal County in 2023. Their mission is alive due to donations, events and philanthropy. As financial support for this niche service model declines, a reduction in care for the community’s most vulnerable families follows.

A downward trend

 

Money coming into nonprofits has been on a gradual decline since the pandemic. Despite 2023 recording the highest tidal wave in charitable contributions ever at $557.16 billion nationwide, overall giving dropped by 2.1% after adjusting for inflation, according to Giving USA 2023. In 2022, after inflation adjustments, contributions fell by 10.5%.

Downturns, due either to global shifts or donors’ financial situations, have a direct impact on nonprofit organizations.  Like the donors, nonprofits are also hit by inflation and economic uncertainty. Their vulnerability, however, is heightened because they depend on donations and grants, but unlike for-profit businesses, they cannot increase prices.

Presidential election years also pose unique challenges for nonprofits. In times of uncertainty, donors may hesitate when considering who, where and how much to give due to shifting priorities and fear of what may come. The inevitable fluctuation of public opinion further complicates an unpredictable giving cycle. When donors hold back, nonprofits encounter increased competition for dollars on top of the complex fundraising programs they must execute to acquire those funds.

Nonprofits involved in prominent, higher-profile issues often receive more funds, which leaves other critical organizations competing for the remaining resources. In the face of inflation, an election, and dwindling donations, the capacity of nonprofits diminishes significantly, while the demand for their essential services grows exponentially.

Moving forward in faith

 

Despite downward trends in giving, local nonprofit organizations continue to push through tough times to give back to the community that has stood by them. Amidst economic uncertainties and political distress, these organizations remain optimistic about the future. They move forward in faith that the community they aid will continue to support their work.

Thankfully, fundraising initiatives such as The Big Give offer nonprofits a chance to increase outreach, tell their stories, and further engage with the community to raise needed funds. As they navigate difficult times, please lend your support. Your donations and volunteer efforts give them a lifeline to do things like feed hungry seniors and support our most fragile families.

Posted on

McKenna Foundation awards education and health grants

The McKenna Foundation’s Board of Trustees has approved $564,000 of grant funding across 18 partner organizations within the Education and Health Portfolios.

In the second grantmaking session of the year, trustees voted to distribute $70,000 among two local education organizations, Canine Classmates and the New Braunfels Youth Collaborative. Additionally, $494,000 was distributed between 16 organizations under the Health Portfolio.

With a focus on an integrated health model, the Acacia Medical Mission in the Bulverde area is set to receive $17,500 to support its mobile mental and physical health care and outreach initiatives. Over the past year, Acacia has seen a significant increase in demand for mobile medical care in rural Comal County, which now represents 37% of its clientele. This funding is aimed at assisting Acacia reach our rural neighbors who are uninsured, face long commutes for medical care, or are experiencing homelessness.

Trustees also approved a $45,000 grant for recovery-oriented partner RecoveryWerks!, which has reported a significant increase in young adults and their families seeking services. Between January and May 2024, they assisted nearly 50 additional community members and provided 499 more services compared to the same timeframe in 2023. Given the ties between substance use disorder and mental and physical well-being, this funding is anticipated to enhance their group meeting, individual counseling, and sober social activity programs.

Three additional nonprofit partners dedicated to mental and physical health care for local individuals, families, and children are set to receive funding to support their initiatives. Hill Country MHDD Centers will receive $100,000, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Comal County will be granted $35,000, and River City Advocacy and Counseling is set to receive $40,000.

All 18 of the McKenna partners approved for grant funding are committed to providing valuable services to our neighbors and continue to work together as needs in our community grow.

This second round of grantmaking for the year focused on the Foundation’s Education Portfolio, aimed at improving the quality of life through quality education and social support. It also covered the Health Portfolio which supports mental and physical health, health care support, and access to care.

The application window for the Family Relationships Portfolio is now open. Applications are to be submitted by September 9.

The Foundation accepts applications from verified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Comal County residents. In 2024, the Foundation is accepting applications from previously funded grantees. For more information please contact us at 830-606-9500, email grants@mckenna.org, or visit our apply for a grant page.

Posted on

Mobile Integrated Health program graduates first frequent 911 caller

Six months into the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program, the New Braunfels Fire Department celebrated a significant achievement by transitioning their first 911 super-utilizer to a life of self-sufficiency.

Fire Chief Ruy Lozano announced on August 15 that this milestone signifies six months without the need for 911 assistance from the individual, who had previously used the service over 20 times in 2023. Now, thanks to the MIH program’s support and guidance, this individual is living independently without official assistance.

The program, which was launched in January 2024, is housed out of Fire Station No. 2 in New Braunfels and is in collaboration with the McKenna Foundation. The program aims to alleviate the burden of 911 emergency services by addressing high volumes of non-emergency calls.

In 2023, officials received approximately 1,300 emergency calls from residents who frequently call, some dialing 20-30 times a year. These calls often involve non-emergency situations such as requests for transportation, healthcare access, or insurance issues.

The MIH program allows specialists to visit these callers regularly to address their healthcare needs. Through analyzing incoming calls, the MIH program intervenes when necessary to not only aid these individuals, but also avoid excessive use of emergency services, reduce costs, and provide resources that might not otherwise be available to them.

With the implementation of the program, there has been a notable decrease in 911 calls from the 58 identified frequent callers, and officials are optimistic about transitioning more participants towards self-reliance.