Winter Issue - National Founders Day

CHAPTER NEWS

San Antonio Alumni Kappa Alpha Psi Education Foundation – Making “Wishes and Dreams” Come True

T he, San Antonio Alumni Kappa Alpha Psi Education Founda- tion (SAKEF) partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas Chapter (MAW Foundation C&ST) to make “Wishes and Dreams” come true in San Antonio, Texas. The mission of the San Antonio Kappa Education is committed to transforming the lives of youths in our community through access to better edu- cation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s mission is to grant the wishes of every child diagnosed with a critical illness and holds the belief that a wish experi- ence can be a game-changer. This one belief guided both organizations to come together to fundraise in order to grant wishes, award scholarships, and donate funds to select benefactors. James Thomas, President, SAKEF, welcomed nearly 200 guests and volun- teers to the “Wishes and Dreams Bene- factor Dinner” inside the University of Texas San Antonio HEB Ballroom with an overview of the fundamental purpose of the foundation and goal to provide significant support to the benefactors. The SAKEF provided significant financial support in the form of schol- arships and donations to veterans represented by the Wounded Warrior Project, scouts from a local Boys Scouts of America troop, children aided by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, caregivers from Heal the Healer, and youth sup- ported by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated Guide Right Youth Devel- opment Program. Mr. Thomas introduced the keynote speaker, Nevil Shed, a member of the famed Texas Western College Miners (now known as the University of Texas at El Paso) who defeated the Kentucky Wildcats to win the 1966 NCAA Basket- ball National Championship. The 2006 Disney film “The Glory Road” chronicled the history making Miners team, which became the first to start an all African American lineup in a championship

game. The colorful testimony of Nevil Shed set the tone for an evening filled with countless dream fulfilling mo- ments. Introduced by William Brown, Executive Board Member, SAKEF and Member of the Governing Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish Foundation Central & South Texas, Kathrin Brewer, President, Make-A-Wish Foundation Central & South Texas, made remarks on the newly established and historic relationship between the organiza- tions. She expressed how families with critically ill children in San Antonio will never be the same due in part to the

efforts and hard work of the San Antonio Kappa Education Foundation to bring awareness of the availability of wishes to those in need. As an example of how wishes make life better for kids, Ms. Brewer brought to the stage one of the special guests of the evening, Jordyn, to expand on her life story. The Make-A- Wish Foundation Wish Kid benefactor, Jordyn, an eleven-year-old 5th grader, who is joined by her parents on stage, addressed the crowd with a heartfelt story of her diagnosis and struggle with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (an autoim- mune disease) and a lifelong wish is to travel to Paris, France.

82 |  WINTER 2019 ♦ THE JOURNAL

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