By MICHELLE I. ZAVALA AND SHANA PRICHARD
Corporate citizenship. Social
responsibility. Community
spirit. No matter what name
you give it, local philanthropy
makes lives better for San Antonians.
Area residents benefit from the efforts
of organizations large and small, and
many are dependent on these contributions
to take better care of themselves
and their families.
For most local organizations, giving
back to the community is a fundamental
part of doing business. In years past,
many companies simply wrote a check to
the cause of their choice. Today, however,
businesses are expanding their view
of corporate citizenship to include donations
of time and gifts in kind.
Most companies encourage their
employees to volunteer time to worthy
causes, and many even allow employees
to take time during the workday to contribute
in this way. This new corporate
social responsibility offers a structure for
companies to play a role in bettering the
lives of residents in San Antonio and
throughout the area.
PADGETT, STRATEMANN
& CO., L.L.P.
It’s not only large corporations that
take corporate giving seriously. Smaller
companies also have strong charitable
ties to the community. Many of these
companies have long-standing traditions
that make the lives of residents better
and offer them a future that's brighter.
Established in 1945, Padgett,
Stratemann & Co., L.L.P. (PS&Co.) is San
Antonio's largest locally owned CPA and
business advisory firm for middle-market
businesses in South Texas. PS&Co.'s
commitment to giving back to San
Antonio can be found in its vision statement:
We will be a "value-added"
resource to our community’s trade, civic,
and service organizations.
"We support organizations that provide
opportunities for youth and families
in our community," says Denise
Bendele, partner of PS&Co. "The
rewards of reaching out to those in
need are many, and we want to help
whenever possible."
The company has been the title sponsor
of the Alamo Area Boy Scouts'
Sporting Clay Tournament for the past
two years. In May 2007, this event raised
nearly $70,000 for the Scout Reach
Program, an in-school scouting program
for at-risk youth. PS&Co. plans to sponsor
the event again in 2008.
“The Boy Scouts provide quality programs
and life-long skills to the youth in
our community," Bendele says. "Ray
Berend, managing partner, serves as an
executive board member of the Alamo
Area Boy Scouts and is passionate about
offering young people opportunities
they may not otherwise receive.
“Throughout our firm, our team
members are actively involved in community
events, whether they participate
on committees and boards or volunteer
their time at special events. It is
exciting to see the level of commitment
and dedication our employees have
and to see how these experiences
enrich our lives.”
For a decade, PS&Co. has joined the
CPA Society to run booths at Funlympics,
which provides underprivileged youth
with a fun-filled day of games and sporting
activities. Employees also give to
needy families during the holidays
through the Family Service Association.
PS&Co. has served as a United Way
Pacesetter Company for more than a
dozen years, recently bringing in more
than $95,000 from its employee base of
130. It also started the Construction
Financial Management Association
(CFMA) Scholarship Fund to recognize
Cindy P. Dennis and her contributions to
the San Antonio Chapter of CFMA.
"For 10 years, the fund has been
used to provide financial assistance to
students majoring in business or construction
management," Bendele says.
"This gives us the opportunity to contribute
to the development of future
leaders in the construction industry. To
date, we have awarded nearly
$120,000 in scholarships."
 HUMANA OF SOUTH TEXAS
Humana, one of South Texas' largest
health insurers, has been supporting
worthwhile charities in San Antonio for
30 years. "Donations from local
Humana operations and from the
Humana Foundation, the philanthropic
arm of Humana Inc., have supported
and nurtured dozens of community
charitable activities that promote
healthy lives and a healthy community,"
says Linda T. Hummel-McAlpin,
chief executive officer of Humana's
South Texas region. "We believe that
improved health and education provide
the greatest opportunities for individual
and societal growth."
Humana lives out this belief through
its giving commitments to a number of
nonprofit organizations, including
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar
County. Hummel-McAlpin says United
Way is a key beneficiary of Humana's
charitable activities because it has considerable
impact on three important
areas: 1) improving early care and education
for children; 2) strengthening
families to help them become more
financially stable; and 3) developing individual
capacity for success.
In 1999 Hummel-McAlpin became a
founding member of the United Way's
Women's Leadership Council, a group
created to help women develop their
skills today and become the community
leaders of tomorrow. She has served on
the board of trustees since 2002, and
2008 marks the second time in five years
she will serve as chair for United Way's
Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Humana also supports Junior
Achievement and its Bowl-a-thon fundraiser.
The company has been the presenting
sponsor of the Business Hall of
Fame Laureate dinner since 2003.
"Junior Achievement does a phenomenal
job of providing hands-on experience
for young people to understand the
economics of life and prepare them for
the real world," Hummel-McAlpin says. “To know that we are helping mold and
educate the next generation of business
leaders is an honor I take seriously."
Humana also offers educational seminars
on health benefit options, wellness
and health screenings and free influenza
immunizations for at-risk members.
In 2006, Humana and The Humana
Foundation made 420 grants totaling
$7.8 million to nonprofit organizations.
Forty-one percent of this total was
donated to charities involved in health
and human services, 31 percent went to
nonprofit organizations involved in education,
and 28 percent was contributed
to charities committed to civic and cultural
development.
In November, Humana was recognized
by Corporate Responsibility
Officer magazine as one of the top corporate
citizens in the nation. The publication
ranked the "10 Best Corporate
Citizens by Industry," evaluating U.S.
publicly traded companies in five industries.
Humana ranked second in the
financial industry, behind Bank of
America Corporation.
THE CHANGING ROLE OF
WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY
Historically, women have used their
unique talents and influence to build
stronger families, communities and
nations. As women, we bear substantial
responsibility for shaping our society
into one defined by equality and
social justice. The past 30 years have
seen tremendous change and progress
in the nature of philanthropy throughout
the world. According to the Center
on Philanthropy at Indiana University, “The practice of philanthropy is taking
a turn, moving from the traditional
practices that historically have met
immediate needs and short-term goals,
to one of strategic or social-change giving,
with the long-term goal of ‘funding
change, not charity.’” One of the
factors bringing about this shift is the
ever-increasing role of women in managing
philanthropic projects.
Women have always been involved in
meeting the needs of the community
through charitable giving. However, in
the 1970’s, as they began to demand
greater equality in the home and workplace,
they also began to develop their
own role as philanthropists. In the 1980’s
women combined their efforts and
formed foundations to support causes
important to them. By the 1990’s and
early 21st century, women had become a
strong force in the philanthropic community,
frequently referred to as the “third
sector” of the economy.
 CARYN HASSLOCHER,
FOUNDER OF
FRESH HORIZONS
CREATIVE CATERING
Caryn Hasslocher is actively involved
in the local philanthropic community.
She says, “Giving back to others was
instilled in me through my family and
personal values at a young age. Through
the years, I have been blessed to be able to assist others and organizations as they seek to better themselves
and mankind through their efforts."
She began her community service by assisting the local
chapter of the National Association of Women Business
Owners (NAWBO) with An Income of Her Own (AIOHO), a program
designed to support and motivate teen women. She contributed
by underwriting portions of the food service for the
annual AIOHO conference and the holiday party. Eventually,
Hasslocher and Fresh Horizons Creative Catering became a
NAWBO corporate partner and formalized the amount donated
each year.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and Go Red for
Women Committee approached Hasslocher and asked her to
chair the Go Red for Women Luncheon in 2006-07. During her
tenure, the committee adopted a new fund-raising concept —
the Circle of Red Group (COR) for women who want to support
in a meaningful way the fund-raising efforts of Go Red for
Women. There are now 16 members of COR who each donate
$1,000 annually.
In November COR and AHA hosted a champagne reception
night of shopping at Duncan and Boyd Jewelers.
Duncan and Boyd donated 10 percent of sales through the
Christmas season to COR and AHA. Each year, the immediate
past president of Go Red for Women will serve a one-year
term as the chair of COR. Suzanne Wade fulfilled this
role during CORÕs inaugural year. June Bratcher, current chair
of the Go Red for Women luncheon, will take the helm of
COR when her term is complete.
 ALLISON DEPAOLI,
INDEPENDENT AFLAC AGENT
Allison DePaoli is another woman making significant
strides for women in philanthropy, currently serving as treasurer
of the IMPACT San Antonio Foundation, Inc. This is a
501(c)(3) foundation committed to expanding philanthropy
in San Antonio by empowering women as both donors and
decision-makers. The concept is simple: recruit as many
members as possible who each donate $1,000 a year and
then pool that money to make an annual grant to a deserving nonprofit organization. The group’s
objective is to make a substantial
impact on the San Antonio community
through the grant recipients. Thus,
IMPACT makes one large grant instead
of many smaller ones.
Modeled after similar groups in
Cincinnati, Austin and Pensacola, IMPACT
San Antonio’s 2008 goal is to recruit a
minimum of 100 members who donate
$1,000 a year to make an annual grant of
at least $100,000 to an area nonprofit
organization. Individuals may also join as
a friend of IMPACT San Antonio for $250.
These funds support the administrative
needs of the organization.
IMPACT San Antonio invites women
to participate as decision-makers in the
grant-awarding process. A review committee
is established for each focus area
to review grant proposals from agencies.
After the necessary due diligence, including
site visits and comprehensive financial
review, each committee will narrow
its choice to one deserving finalist who
will then makes a presentation at the
annual meeting.
Thus far grants have been awarded to
the Association of Retarded Persons of
Texas (ARC), to expand their adult day
care program, 2005; Christian Senior
Services to purchase a delivery truck for
their Meals on Wheels program, 2006;
and Jump Start Performance Company
for their Historias y Cuentas (Stories and
Tales) program, 2007. With the remaining
funds, IMPACT gave administrative
grants to Gemini Ink, San Antonio Kids
Exchange, Mitchell Lake Audubon
Center and Kinetic Kids last year.
Power of the Purse, the organization’s
first fund-raiser, will be held May
9 at Say Sí and will include an auction
of a variety of handbags. Proceeds will
provide an administrative grant for a
deserving nonprofit.
YOU CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN 2008
Here are some worthwhile local organizations
that would welcome volunteer
contributions of a little time and a lot of
enthusiasm:
United Way of San Antonio
and Bexar County: www.unitedwaysatx.org
Junior Achievement: www.jast.org
Alamo Area Boy Scouts: www.alamoarea-boyscouts.org
Family Service Association: www.fsasatx.org
For other volunteer opportunities,
visit www.volunteermatch.org.
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