San Antonio, March 28, 2007 – The second annual Shots, chips and salsa with the stars took place on March 27 at the Westin La Cantera Resort … and WOW, what a success! Defending Champion Eric Axley and The Westin La Cantera Resort hosted current and prospective sponsors of the Valero Texas Open, as well as 66 charitable organizations from our community that had applied for grants from the Valero Texas Open.
PGA TOUR players Robert Gamez, Rocco Mediate, Jason Gore, Frank Lickliter and rookie, Anthony Kim, were on hand to help Eric Axley and the GSA staff kick-off the 2007 sponsorship season in style. Under sunny skies and spring temperatures, guests enjoyed great food and drink, networking with each other, and interacting with the TOUR players as they showcased their talents and fun-loving, off-course personalities.
Greg King, President of Valero Energy Corporation explained the business benefits that Valero has received for their sponsorship and emphasized that “a part of our reason for being here tonight is to encourage San Antonio companies to get involved, and to join forces with one of the fastest growing events on the PGA TOUR. There’s tremendous value for your business and your community.”
Not only does a partnership with the Valero Texas Open make business sense, it makes philanthropic sense. The Valero Texas Open and Golf San Antonio also surprised four of the San Antonio Charities present by awarding them each a $100,000 grant from proceeds of the 2006 tournament.
Tom Stephenson, Publisher of the San Antonio Express-News and Volunteer Chairman of the Valero Texas Open elaborated on the community benefit explaining that these funds “...represent the largest single contributions we make from proceeds of the Valero Texas Open.” In addition to the large grants, the remaining 62 charities received checks augmenting their fundraising efforts during the 2006 Valero Texas Open, efforts which helped the Valero Texas Open become No. 1 on TOUR in charitable giving in 2006.
GSA’s Charity Committee, headed by Tony Cherone, General Manager of the Westin La Cantera Resort, was diligent in their review of the applications. Grants were awarded to organizations that the committee felt best met the application criteria – a compelling story, a clear description of the specific use for donated funds, the number of individuals that would be impacted by the contribution and the organization’s fundraising results in our Birdies for Charity program.
More than 8,000 lives will be touched through the contributions made to this year’s grant recipients: Family Service Association, Medina Children’s Home, Mission Road Ministries, and San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind.
After the grants were awarded, Phil Crane, the new Charity Chairman of Golf San Antonio, announced that the Golf San Antonio Charity Committee will begin accepting applications on November 16th for grant awards generated from proceeds of the 2007 Valero Texas Open at La Cantera. Applications will only be available to charities and schools participating in the Birdies for Charity® and Chip In for Schools programs that have raised a minimum of five hundred dollars.
Followed by several days of dreary weather, the sun shone not only in the sky but also in the eyes and minds of attending San Antonio business people when they realized that the taste of fun they experienced at the Shots, chips and salsa with the Stars event, would actually translate into a sound business and community investment come October!
About the Grant Recipients:
Family Service Association will utilize their grant to continue the mission work at The Neighborhood Place, which provides immediate relief for children and their families and teaches them skills and tools necessary to alleviate immediate needs and sustain success. According to Shannon Nisbet, Director of Development, “The number of lives we will change through this grant is so incredible! Children will be healed from abuse. Mothers and fathers will learn to become parents. Families will lead more productive lives. So many people served by The Neighborhood Place are now indebted to a wonderful group of golfers and tournament sponsors they’ll never know, but who nonetheless are responsible for changing their lives. We are honored and proud to be one of your community partners.”
Medina Children’s Home will use their funds to increase the number of safe haven facilities where single adult women and their children can learn basic life skills; giving them hope for a better life. Additionally, the single mother is educated and taught job skills to enable her to become a productive part of society and to eliminate her need for financial support from outside government sources. George Rose, CEO commented, “It was such an honor for Medina Children's Home to be one of the selected charities to receive this generous grant. These funds will assist in providing a safe haven for many children and single mothers who do not have a home of their own. On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff and residents, I would like to express our deep appreciation to all of those individuals who have made this wonderful gift possible. The Valero Texas Open has been a real blessing to our community.”
Mission Road Ministries ministers mentally retarded individuals and others with developmental disabilities; preparing them to live as independently as possible. Funds will be used to remodel their current gym, transforming it into a multi-purpose building that will provide a place to teach life skills in the areas of grooming & hygiene, health and wellness, financial concepts and pedestrian safety, and more. "We are overwhelmed with joy and the generosity of Golf San Antonio and the Valero Texas Open. We wish to thank Valero and all the tournament sponsors across the country for helping us provide quality care to children with developmental disabilities," according to Suzanne Letch, Vice President of Development and Public Relations.
