One man, 1,800 miles, six weeks—Kenneth Anderlitch is nearing the final stretch of his incredible run from Washington D.C. to San Antonio and will be running down San Antonio Street soon.

Join us at the McKenna Events Center the morning of October 31 to line the streets to cheer him on! You can even run with Anderlitch for the stretch between the Brauntex Theatre and McKenna!

His estimated timeframe is between 8 a.m. and noon. Please visit mapcomal.org or follow @mapcomal on Instagram and Facebook for the most up-to-date information and his time of arrival.

Averaging around 45 miles a day, Anderlitch began this extraordinary journey on September 20, driven by a mission to raise awareness and funds for Families in Recovery. This new program offered by Haven for Hope allows parents and guardians in a substance use disorder recovery program to remain with their children.

Having lost his mother to addiction at just 20 years old, Anderlitch struggled with substance use and found himself homeless at a young age. As a former client of Pay it Forward, which offers recovery support after drug and alcohol rehabilitation, he discovered that running helped him in his recovery journey, keeping him focused on his physical and mental health.

Now, eight years sober and working with Haven for Hope—San Antonio’s largest homeless shelter— Anderlitch has raised over $33,000 for the new program through his run halfway across America.

“I feel strongly about giving back to those who helped me when I needed it the most. I wish my mom would have found help and healing and was with us today. Her memory keeps me motivated and I hope we will help many families with this new program,” Anderlitch said.

In partnership with Lifetime Recovery, Pay it Forward SA, and Haven for Hope, Ken hopes to raise $50 for every mile he runs, aiming for a total of $90,000 for the Families in Recovery Program.

The ambitious run from Washington D.C. to San Antonio is not Anderlitche’s first big achievement as a runner. In November 2022, he embarked on an 840-mile run across Texas to raise awareness for the same cause; recovery. Averaging 44.2 miles a day and running through 19 pairs of shoes, Anderlitch completed the route in just 19 days (about two and a half weeks), raising $56,897 for Pay it Forward.

You can watch “The Road to Recovery: Ken’s Journey Across Texas” documentary on YouTube.

At over 1,500 miles of his 1,800-mile trek, Anderlitch is quickly approaching New Braunfels and his ultimate finish line at Haven for Hope in San Antonio. Keep up to date on his current location by visiting www.runkenrun.org. Donations for the Families in Recovery Program can be made on the site as well.

We invite you to be a part of this monumental moment as Ken nears the finish line, bringing hope and help to families in recovery. It is projected that he will run down San Antonio Street sometime between 8 a.m. and noon on October 31. Join us at the McKenna Events Center to line the streets, or join him on the run from the Brauntex Theatre to McKenna!

Visit www.mapcomal.org or @mapcomal on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on his estimated arrival time in New Braunfels.

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.

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.

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.

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.