Local Impact

We have awarded over $525,000 since 2005

2011 — Christian Assistance Ministry

Christian Assistance Ministry will use its $100,000 grant to extensively renovate its outdated facilities as follows: bring both upstairs restrooms to ADA compliance and repair plumbing fixtures; create a men’s restroom and a family restroom; and build a much-needed ramp for improved access for physically disabled clients and parents with strollers. The four other semi-finalists (Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas; The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas; San Antonio AIDS Foundation; and SAY Sí) each received $5,250 each.

Dawn White, Executive Director, Christian Assistance Ministry:

CAM is humbled and honored to be selected; this is a life-changing gift that will ensure that we can continue to serve our clients with dignity, safety and grace. CAM is a grassroots non-profit created to serve people in our community, and is truly made possible by San Antonio citizens coming together to serve their neighbors. Impact SA bestowing this grant on us is just another example of the power of working together to make a difference—a REAL difference! Funding from Impact San Antonio for those important repairs to our building will mean long-time sustainability, and CAM won’t have to use dollars for continued repairs that can instead now be used to serve people.

2010 — Daily Bread Ministries

Daily Bread Ministries used its $100,000 grant to buy a refrigerated truck to redistribute more food to the hungry of San Antonio.

Chuck Farmer, Executive Director, Daily Bread Ministries:

Prior to receiving this grant and purchasing the refrigerated truck, Daily Bread Ministries was limited to the amount of food we could pick up, an abundance of food is thrown away in our city. Because of the Impact SA grant, we are able to give hope, love, and feed the many that are hungry…to the tune of 4.9 million pounds of food year to date. We enjoyed the simplicity of the grant process, and its procedures. Each and every one of the Impact members is special, and we are forever grateful.

2009 — San Antonio Youth Orchestra

San Antonio Youth Orchestra’s $100,000 grant supported their project to bring a new orchestra program to elementary school students on the west side of San Antonio, in partnership with the Good Samaritan Community Center.

Steven Payne, Executive Director, YOSA:

The grant from Impact San Antonio allowed YOSA to develop a project focused on bringing a comprehensive music program of daily after school violin and cello lessons to more than 100 students at San Antonio’s West Side Good Samaritan Center. These students from Title I schools experience classical music for the first time in their life. They then have an opportunity to participate in other YOSA programs consisting of students from all over San Antonio, thus engaging with students from outside their own neighborhood.

The process for the grant application is certainly different than those of many other sources of funding YOSA receives. As we worked on putting together our presentation, we really tried to focus on telling the story of the students in the project. As this meant including our teachers together with the students and their families also being involved in the presentation, it really opened their eyes to what it takes to secure funding for a project like this. It was particularly rewarding to see the students reaction as the realization sunk in that they had been a vital part of helping YOSA secure funding for the project from which they benefitted.

2008 — St. Jude’s Ranch for Children (transitional living program)

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children used $100,000 to move its young adult program to San Antonio; the funds completely furnished a home, purchased computers and vehicles for this project. Checks for $1,250 each were given to the other semifinalists: Youth Orchestra of San Antonio; Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word, Headwaters Coalition; Mitchell Lake Audubon Center; and TeamAbility.

Erika Boyd, Community Relations Manager:

This grant was so important to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. It enabled us to move our Transitional Living population into the San Antonio community, where our young adults were closer to work, school and opportunities to really practice independent living skills and master them. Thank you, Impact San Antonio!

2007 — Jump Start Performance Company

Jump Start Performance Company put its $52,000 to good use in its Arts and Education Program to expand the Historias y Cuentas (Stories and Tales) project into two new elementary schools and to develop a curriculum guide for teachers.

Sabine Zenker, Development Director, Jump-Start Performance Co.

Jump-Start has truly been “impacted” in the best way from the Impact San Antonio grant we received. Smart Art, the lesson plan guide that was created as part of the project, has been a real boon for teachers and students alike. It’s also been a tool to help us leverage additional funding for the Historias y Cuentos program.

2006 — Christian Senior Services (Meals on Wheels)

Christian Senior Services spent $33,000 to purchase a new truck.

Sharon Baughman, CEO, Christian Senior Services:

With our grant from Impact SA, Meals on Wheels was able to purchase a delivery vehicle to replace one of the trucks on our fleet that had become unreliable and expensive to maintain. Because so many vulnerable seniors absolutely rely on home delivered meals to maintain their health and independence, these trucks are, quite literally, their life line. Our friends at Impact SA, we are truly grateful for their support.

2005 — The Arc of San Antonio

The Arc of San Antonio used its $25,000 grant to rehab a daycare room for children with disabilities.

Beth Green, Director of Development, The Arc of San Antonio:

In 2005, Impact San Antonio graciously granted The Arc of San Antonio $25,000 to help convert office space into six new classrooms for children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This expansion added an additional 4,500 sq feet and increased our program by 48%. This expansion was vital to our program as we have remained a source for working parents who need specialized after-school, summer and holiday care for children with disabilities, as well as the increasing number of young adults who are transitioning out of school-based programs. Impact SA is a wonderful organization of women who are committed to helping non-profits in San Antonio continue their missions. The grant process is easy to complete and Impact members are always available to help answer questions.