An Area Foundation Update
Check out our blog posts, follow our work, our progress toward our goals, community impact and more.
New National Funding Boosts Equity For San Antonio’s Youth
Blue Meridian Partners Makes $8 Million Commitment The San Antonio Area Foundation welcomes a tremendous opportunity to lift up our youth by increasing and enhancing educational and economic opportunities through new national funding. National philanthropic organization Blue Meridian Partners awarded the Area Foundation as well as UP Partnership an $8 million commitment to ensure continued economic mobility…
Pandemic no obstacle for leadership program
More than a dozen executives complete our HOLT Values-Based Leadership™ training Congratulations to our HOLT Values-Based Leadership™ Program Fellows on completing the intensive training during these unprecedent times! The cohort began face-to-face classes in September of 2019 and transitioned to online learning this March after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic forced a hard stop…
West Side Families Count On Good Neighbors During Pandemic
House of Neighborly Service Still Strong After 100+ Years Even with restrictions gradually lifting on being out and about during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Estela Trujillo feels quite jittery about heading out of the house. As an older adult, she knows that unfortunately she’s in the primary target demographic for the dangerous virus. She does…
UP Partnership: Prioritizing An Equitable Recovery For Our Youth
In order to have a truly equitable post-coronavirus recovery, one key factor cannot be overlooked: academic systems serving young people can no longer work independently of one another. “The pandemic clearly showed us that as a city, we are extremely dependent on one another. Education systems, including schools and wrap-around student services, do not work…
Philanthropic Pivot: Partners Flourish During Pandemic
San Antonio’s success as a city is the result of how the community consistently comes together to address urgent needs and unique opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic has proved that “we are stronger together,” a principle by which the San Antonio Area Foundation operates. “With the pandemic, the philanthropic community had to mobilize quickly because we…
Keeping Immigrant Families From Falling Through Societal Cracks
When our region began feeling the pervasive impact of the quickly-spreading coronavirus pandemic in March, students suddenly saw their Spring Break extended by a few days. Then some more days. Weeks went by and students and their parents began hearing what seemed like the inevitable – classes would be cancelled for good for the remainder…
Former Scholarship Recipient Says Thanks and Pays it Forward
I had a conversation recently with a colleague about recognizing scholarship donors at our school and it caused me to reflect on my own experience – first as a scholarship recipient 25 years ago and then as someone who funds scholarships. As scholarship donors, my husband and I could choose to bequeath gifts to help…
Answering The Call To Serve
Dear Members of the Area Foundation Family, As the season changes to summertime in our new reality, we are creating new ways of celebrating one another, such as with virtual gatherings, drive-by parades and more. One of those joyous traditions includes our collective love for the San Antonio Spurs. Our Spurs bring us together as…
Joint Statement From San Antonio Area Foundation Board Chairman Theodore Guidry II and CEO Marjie French
Area Foundation Statement on Racial Injustice and Equitable Opportunities We join with community in San Antonio, across Texas, and throughout the country, in grieving the horrific killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and the countless others. The intensity of the anger and grief that Americans are expressing in the wake of these most…
Over 1,300 Students Awarded Scholarships
Dear Members of the Area Foundation Family, As our young people experience the rites of passage of high school graduation, announcing their college of choice and preparing for their first semester in the fall, it’s a time of great celebration and reflection – particularly in today’s environment of drive-through graduations, virtual celebrations and yard signs…
A Message from the CEO
Check out some updates from our CEO, Marjie M. French.
COVID-19 Response Fund Growth
Dear Members of the Area Foundation Family, We are so pleased to share the COVID-19 Response Fund has now reached $5 million in donations! A $500,000 challenge grant from renowned philanthropist Harvey Najim was matched by the John L. Santikos Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, increasing the fund by $1 million dollars. Harvey…
In Response to COVID-19
Dear Members of the Area Foundation Family, As we continue to chart a course through uncertain times, I have been humbled and overwhelmed by you – our community – your generosity, your compassion and your dedication. Please know that the Area Foundation is in this together with you. I am pleased to share these updates…
COVID-19 Grants and Updates
Dear Friends and Colleagues, We are indeed in challenging times as we work to flatten the spread of the virus, and keep our community safe. In the span of days, we have announced important initiatives to address not only the immediate needs of our community, but the long-term recovery that will be needed. The COVID-19…
Preparing for COVID-19
Dear Friends and Colleagues, As you are well aware there is much happening across the globe as communities prepare for the impact of the coronavirus. San Antonio is no exception as the Mayor declared a local public health emergency. As a result, Patricia Mejia and the Community Engagement and Impact team (CEI) have been monitoring…
2019 Year in Review
Dear Friends, What an amazing year it has been for the Area Foundation! We ended strong in 2019 thanks to your dedication and commitment to the success of this organization. Thank you for welcoming me to the team and walking alongside me as I learned the ropes of the Area Foundation. I appreciate the gains…
It’s Time for Annual Responsive Grants!
Dear Friends and Colleagues, It’s time for annual responsive grants! We are preparing for the first of two competitive funding cycles in the annual responsive grants program. The first cycle will provide funding to nonprofits related to our two new areas of impact – Youth Success and Cultural Vibrancy. Several information sessions have been planned for nonprofits to learn about the process,…
Get Your San Antonio Area Foundation Fiesta Medal
Dear Friends, From our new Fiesta medals to our community outreach, there’s much to share in this edition. Enjoy. Exciting News! Fiesta Medal Coming Soon We are so excited to offer Area Foundation Fiesta medals this year! The medal, pictured here, is scheduled to arrive in March and will be a fun opportunity to share…