This is Our Fight Song! This video features patients and families at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio who are inspired each and every day by Rachel Platten’s #MyFightSong. Each child finds victory in life’s small and large struggles daily and continues to inspire and amaze us with their strength, courage, and fight. This goes out to all of our fighters at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. As a non-profit organization, we rely on philanthropic support to continue to meet the needs of our patients. Make a generous donation today and give the gift of healing. To learn more about The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation, visit our website.

Be a Hero to a Hospitalized Child When you support the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation, you become a hero to hospitalized children. You help save lives and give local children the chance to grow up healthy and strong – and we, along with their families, can never thank you enough! Today, if it’s at all possible, please make a donation to help more children. We could never do this work without you. To learn more about the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation, visit our website.

Honoring Margie & Bill Klesse The Friends of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Foundation recently held its Fifth Annual National Speakers Luncheon. The event honored Margaret and Bill Klesse with the Beacon Award for their passionate service to our community and featured Chris Lowney as the keynote speaker. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit programs supported by the Friends Foundation at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospitals. From left: Bill and Margie Klesse, Chris Lowney, and John Bel This year’s Beacon Award celebrated the contributions of Margaret and Bill Klesse. Bill is the former chairman of the board, chief executive officer and president of Valero Energy Corporation. During his tenure at Valero, Bill was the chief proponent of volunteerism and regularly challenged his employees to return the blessings they enjoy by helping those in need. Bill has served as a board member for the San Antonio Food Bank, chairman of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, and chairman of the Las Misiones Campaign. Margaret Klesse has served on various community boards including the Cancer Therapy & Research Center Cabinet,  the Library Foundation, the Catholic Community Foundation, and the Ecumenical Council. She has also served as president for the San Antonio Junior Forum and Friends of the Ronald McDonald House. Together, the couple established the Klesse Foundation to give even more back to the community. It has supported many worthy causes such as the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and the city’s historic missions, and continues to make a positive impact for charitable, civic and social organizations. Keynote speaker for this year’s event was Chris Lowney, chair of the board for Catholic Health Initiatives, one of the nation’s largest health care systems. He is a one-time Jesuit seminarian who later served as managing director for J.P. Morgan & Co. Lowney is a popular keynote speaker who has lectured in more than two dozen countries on leadership, business ethics, decision-making and other topics. He has authored four books, including the best-seller, “Heroic Leadership,” which has been translated into eleven languages and was named to the Commandant of the Marine Corps recommended reading list. His latest work, “Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads,” has been referred to as “an invaluable gift” and “a book of ages.” Lowney also founded Pilgrimage for Our Children’s Future, which funds education and health care projects in the developing world. Proceeds from the National Speakers Luncheon will benefit programs supported by the Friends of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Foundation.

Allstate Foundation Gifts $20,000 to Children’s Hospital of San Antonio The Allstate Foundation granted $20,000 to the The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation, where a group of 20 Allstate agents helped lift spirits by volunteering their time helping with a themed carnival for patients and their families. Each agent who volunteered received the Agency Hands in the Community Award. Allstate agents and employees have a proud history of putting their good hands to work supporting Texas communities, promoting volunteerism and providing financial resources to enable local organizations to help others. Allstate agents host carnival for patients “The Agency Hands in the Community Award celebrates the spirit of service. Commitment to our communities is a natural extension of what we do every day – protecting people and making their lives more secure,” said Allstate Agent Mindy Jackson. “With support from The Allstate Foundation, we’re able to help make our hometown a better, safer place to live. Volunteering our time at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio was a heartwarming experience, and one that we were proud to be a part of.” “We are grateful to Allstate for their generous monetary gift and their volunteer time,” shared John Bel, president, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation. “This gift will help ensure that every child receives life-saving, world-class medical care they deserve, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.” The Allstate Foundation awards more than $1 million every year to nonprofit organizations across the country in honor of dedicated Allstate agency owners who give back. To be eligible for nomination, Allstate agency owners must volunteer, mentor or lead a nonprofit of their choice.

Help Children Grow Up Healthy and Strong On average, 191 boys and girls from San Antonio and South Central Texas enter our doors every day. We’ll care for nearly 50,000 children this year. As a non-profit, we depend heavily on our friends to help us provide compassionate, world-class medical care. Would you please consider making a generous gift to our Annual Fund to Save Children? We’re trying to raise $69,000, and your gift will help these boys and girls grow up healthy and strong. Thank you for being a HERO for hospitalized children!

Walmart and Sam’s Club Associates Making Miracles Happen The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio partnered with 57 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across San Antonio, Victoria and Laredo to raise $483,303 for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals). Because of an additional incentive of $25,000 to the hospital in the market that raised the most funds, the total gift to The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio totals $508,303. The Laredo Walmart on San Bernardo Ave. raised $67,282 and was the top fundraising store in the nation. The gift will help the Children’s Hospital advance its mission to bring an unprecedented level of pediatric health care to San Antonio and its entire service area, including Laredo. The store’s fundraising campaign was championed by Walmart associate Jody Perez. Perez, who has worked for Walmart for 13 years, led store associates in various fundraising events, in addition to the in-store Miracle Balloon sales. “Working for Walmart gives me the opportunity to not only give our customers the best service in store, but also, to support the needs of the communities and children we serve. I thrive when I’m able to help others, especially when my family is able to join and support noble causes like this one,” said Perez. “Offering low prices to our Walmart customers is just one way that we help our community,” said Travis Bailey, Laredo Walmart Market Manager. “Participating in the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign is another way we strive to help the children and families in our community. Our associates rally behind this cause every year to make a difference in the lives that we serve. I’m proud to be a part of this wonderful group of associates that find that helping children in need is just a part of their everyday routine.” “The funds collected at the Walmart and Sam’s Club’s stores will help fund medical care, research and education at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio,” stated John E. Bel, President of The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation. “With the support of our community we are improving lives of children treated at our hospital and we are truly grateful for their continued support.” Walmart and Sam’s Club associates helped raise more than $800 million for sick and injured children since partnering with Children’s Miracle Network in 1987.

Treat Yourself and Help Local Kids We are always grateful when organizations, like the Milan Institute of Cosmetology, choose to host fundraisers that benefit the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation. Tomorrow is your chance to pamper yourself with a day at the salon. Proceeds from your visit will help patients at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. Make your appointment today!

What is Miracle Marathon? Miracle Marathon isn’t your everyday marathon.  In fact, it’s a marathon that anyone can complete. You, your teammates, and even your family can walk, run or simply move one mile every day, for 27 days – and complete a Miracle Marathon!  A marathon is 26.2 miles, so why the extra day? Because it’s a marathon, plus an extra mile for the kids!  Starting Sept. 1 and continuing until Sept. 27, we invite you to get active and help local kids get well by raising funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. How to sign up! We want you to join us!   Here is how: Visit www.MiracleMarathon.org, click “register” and follow the online instructions. Register as a Miracle Maker, for $27.20, and receive your starter kit full of great prizes. Then, you can either : Join an existing team Start your own team Register as an individual Choose a hospital you would like to support.  Our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital is the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. Finish the registration process, to receive your personal, online fundraising page. Once you are registered, you will receive more information about Miracle Marathon, and the children you will be helping at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  To learn more about Miracle Marathon, or to get registered today, visit www.MiracleMarathon.org.