An Area Foundation Update
Check out our blog posts, follow our work, our progress toward our goals, community impact and more.
Girl Power: Area Foundation Grants Empower Young Girls And Women
By Kiko Martinez SAN ANTONIO — Young women and girls across San Antonio are being empowered thanks to Youth Leadership Development grants awarded to youth-serving nonprofits by the San Antonio Area Foundation. Through these grants, nonprofit organizations like Girls Inc. of San Antonio and Girls Scouts of Southwest Texas are elevating the voices of the youth…
Area Foundation Supports Nonprofits Promoting STEM Learning
By James Courtney SAN ANTONIO — As we previously reported, the Area Foundation is proud to join UP Partnership to boost, via our first-ever Youth Leadership Development (YLD) grants and Artist Fellowship grants, nonprofit organizations whose work empowers and amplifies the talents and voices of young people across our community. In what we’re calling the YLD Spotlight Series…
$1 Million Thaw: Collaborative Campaign Aids Winter Storm Victims
By Edward Cortez SAN ANTONIO — Launched during the devastating February winter storm, the Community Pipe Repair Program (CPR) Fund continues to help San Antonians with emergency plumbing repairs. Following Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s direction, the San Antonio Area Foundation partnered with San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to set up the CPR Fund as a charitable…
Area Foundation Helps Unique College Accessibility Program Get Off The Ground
By Kiko Martinez SAN ANTONIO — Kaylah Smith has always loved animals, specifically marine life. She spent many summers with her family at the ocean off the coast of South Carolina. She shares her affinity for sharks with her father. “I want to be a marine biologist and work with animals,” said Smith, 19. “I…
Why I Started A Scholarship Fund With The Area Foundation
By Edward D. Esparza SAN ANTONIO — As the eldest of eight siblings and the first to graduate from college, I knew back during my days at Highlands High School in San Antonio that I would need scholarships to be able to go on to higher education. I applied for a number of scholarships, including a…
Investing In Our Youth Through Academic Success
By Hernán Rozemberg SAN ANTONIO – Tiffany Padilla always dreamed of getting a college degree to reach her career goal of becoming a youth counselor. But following her father’s stroke a few years ago, which took a definitive toll on the family’s income, she knew she would have to find a way to pay for…
To The Brink And Back: A Little Help Goes A Long Way
By Jorge Corona NEW YORK CITY — The acceptance letter was effusive: “Congratulations! Welcome to the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Film MFA program!” As much as I welcomed that news, reality soon sunk in: I had a gargantuan financial challenge ahead of me if I was going to be able to take advantage of…
Area Foundation Leader Wins Renaissance with the Stars 2021 and Supports Cause
By Angel Martinez SAN ANTONIO — “I’m Lisa Brunsvold, the VP of Development and Donor Services at the San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAFDN). It’s been my privilege to work alongside the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund (SAAAACF),” said Lisa Brunsvold on the opening of her pre dance video that played as she walked onto…
All Together Now: Advocating For Older Adults Through Collective Impact
By Hernán Rozemberg and Cecilia Martinez SAN ANTONIO — It doesn’t take long for anyone to realize that Jane Paccione is a bona fide force of nature. Her experience, knowledge and passion are just that palpable. Not only that, she also has just about the coolest job title one may have ever come across. Jane is…
Area Foundation Grant Helps Save Domestic Violence Survivors
TW // sexual violence, domestic violence By Crystal Chandler SAN ANTONIO — Domestic violence, which threatens the lives of vulnerable victims and the healthy development of thousands of families, had already risen to alarming highs in 2018 and 2019. As frontline responders during the pandemic, the Bexar County Family Justice Center (BCFJC) continued providing crucial…
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…