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2024 was a milestone year for the New Braunfels-based McKenna Foundation, breaking admission records for the Children’s Museum, surpassing $30 million in lifetime community grants, and awarding grants to local schools for the first time in the Foundation’s history.

The McKenna Children’s Museum, which has won the Herald-Zeitung’s Best Children’s Attraction award for several consecutive years, welcomed nearly 126,000 visitors in 2024—a record high. The museum also hosted 300 educational events, further enriching the experiences of its young visitors.

In addition to its successes with the Children’s Museum, the McKenna Foundation also had a remarkable year supporting nonprofits, building relationships, and advancing the well-being of the greater New Braunfels community.

Awarding nearly $1.7 million in 2024, the Foundation has officially surpassed $30 million in grants since its inception. Some of its largest grants in 2024 included $100,000 for NB Housing Partners First Footing Program and $100,000 for Hill Country MHDD Center’s Crisis Care in Comal County Program.

In total, the Foundation awarded grants to 38 local nonprofit organizations.

2024 also marked the first year the Foundation awarded grants to local schools, distributing $35,000 across six schools (three from New Braunfels ISD and three from Comal ISD). These schools were recognized for their creativity in producing videos that showcased how they choose to be kind.

In addition to its grantmaking, the McKenna Events Center hosted nearly 1,000 nonprofit events, ranging from training opportunities and coalition meetings to various fundraisers and galas. Through these events, nonprofits raised more than $1.9 million.

“It is an honor to be able to provide our nonprofit partners not only with funding, but also with a space to gather, raise funds, learn, and grow,” said McKenna CEO Alice Jewell. “2024 has been a record year, not only for the McKenna Foundation but also for our partners and community.”

Looking forward to 2025, the Mckenna Foundation has kicked off a year-long campaign surrounding the idea of Choosing Kindness. Officially launched on January 24, the campaign aims to highlight the positive actions happening in Comal County and bring the good deeds of our neighbors to the forefront. Find out more or get involved by visiting www.choosekindnessnb.org, or follow the campaign on Facebook and Instagram.

These initiatives, along with the Foundation’s 2025 grantmaking, will further set the course for a healthier, thriving community.

Learn more about the McKenna Foundation by clicking here, or on Instagram at @mckennafoundation.