be_ixf;ym_202502 d_14; ct_50

From Our Heart to Yours: Why Your Support Means Everything

I’ve been sitting with some powerful insights about our nonprofit community in San Antonio, and I wanted to share them with you – not just as our valued donors, but as partners in creating positive change.

What’s happening in our city right now touches my heart deeply. While we’re seeing beautiful growth in our nonprofit community – 109 new organizations since 2018 who share our passion for serving others – we’re also facing some real challenges that keep me up at night. Half of our fellow nonprofits simply can’t keep up with the number of people coming through their doors asking for help. Behind each of those numbers is a real person, a family, a story.

The Importance of Non-Profits

Let me share something that really moved me from Kim Jefferies, who leads Haven for Hope. She said, “If we lose nonprofits, we lose some of the fabric that makes San Antonio so great in such a compassionate city.” When I read that, it struck me because you – our incredible supporters – are the threads that keep this fabric strong!

The truth is… things are getting tougher. As pandemic-related funding winds down, more of our neighbors are struggling. Nearly half of families in Bexar County are just one unexpected bill away from crisis. It breaks my heart to think about parents having to choose between buying groceries or paying rent, or seniors deciding between medicine and utilities.

But here’s what gives me hope: YOU. Your generosity isn’t just about dollars and cents – it’s about showing our community that someone cares, that help is available, and that hope is real. When I see the impact of your support, I see children getting the resources they need, families finding stability, and seniors receiving care with dignity.

The landscape of giving is changing dramatically. Recently, United Way had to make the heartbreaking choice of how to distribute $15 million when local nonprofits needed $59 million. Behind each unfunded dollar was a program that could have helped someone in need.

But you’ve shown us, time and time again, that you understand the power of coming together. Your support isn’t just a donation – it’s a lifeline, a helping hand for someone who needs it desperately. When you give, you’re not just supporting an organization; you’re wrapping your arms around our entire community.

Yellow cursor icon

Read more about the growing nonprofit sector in San Antonio and Bexar County.

Serving San Antonio For 30 Years

City Year San Antonio has been serving the students of San Antonio for 30 years now. While the number of schools, students, and AmeriCorps members can be counted, the impact is immeasurable. The impact of every Corps member, staff member, and partner has rippled further than we can imagine. All of that has been possible because of your commitment and continued investment.

As we continue this journey together, I want you to know that your compassion creates ripples of change that reach further than you might imagine. Every time we’re able to say “yes” to someone in need, it’s because you first said “yes” to support our mission.

From my heart to yours, I want to express my deepest gratitude. Every day, I witness the profound impact of your generosity – both in the resources you share and the precious time you give. When someone asks me what makes San Antonio special, I tell them about people like you. People who don’t just hope for a better community but roll up their sleeves to create one. Through your financial gifts, your volunteer hours, or often both, you show what it means to truly care for our neighbors. This isn’t just a city we’re building – it’s a family we’re growing, strengthened by every act of kindness, every hour given, every hand extended to help another.

Together, we’re writing a story of hope, one chapter at a time.

 

Chelsea Steele
Managing Director of Development
City Year San Antonio

 

 

Related stories

My name is Angel Rodriguez, and I proudly serve on the Valero AmeriCorps team at Lanier High School. I want...

Read more about Why I Serve: Angel Rodriguez

City Year San Antonio hosted our annual Opening Day, on Thursday, September 19th at the San Antonio Zoo. Our new 51 AmeriCorps members have dedicated so...

Read more about CYSA Opening Day 2024

City Year San Antonio hosted its annual Ripples of Hope event, on Thursday, May 2nd at the Tobin Center Ripples...

Read more about CYSA Ripples of Hope: The Prism Effect

In 2022, City Year, in partnership with Rick Cavender and  Harvey Najim, introduced our annual Bridge Builder Award which is...

Read more about City Year San Antonio | Bridge Builder Awardees
National Strategic Partners
National Partners