A Play for Mexico's Bicentennial

Two hundred years ago, a Mexican priest held mass and delivered the Grito de Dolores, also known as the battle cry for the Mexican War of Independence. Although Mexico’s independence from Spain was not recognized until a decade later, September 16 is celebrated as Mexico’s Independence Day, and the priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is considered the “Father of the Nation.”

The inspiring life story of Padre Hidalgo is the subject of a new play written and performed by Teatro ALAS. Say Si's newest program, Teatro ALAS involves students in a high school performance company and middle school troupe who

“draw from their own experiences, observations, and insights to produce theatre of relevance to their lives and their communities.”

El Padre: The Story of Hidalgo's Revolution will be performed September 17th, 18th, 19th, and 24th. Details are here >>

SAY Sí is one of 27 affiliates of theFund. Donations to theFund help provide financial operating support to qualified arts and cultural organizations.

The Life of a Bexar County Workplace Campaign for theFund

The fundraising cornerstone of theFund is the Workplace Giving Campaigns in which employees are asked to make contributions to community arts and cultural organizations affiliated with theFund. Since 2005, Bexar County employees have participated in the campaigns. This year, led by coordinating team, Linda Sue Guajardo, Laura Jesse, Yvonne Escamilla (pictured here), they raised over $28,000. This post gives you a sense of how a campaign works and how you organize one at your own workplace.

For more photos of the campaign, see our Picasa album here >>.

On March 1, 2010, the sixth annual Bexar County Workplace Campaign began with a meeting between Rod Rubbo, President and CEO of theFund, and Yvonne Escamilla, the overall County Campaign Coordinator; they established a plan with goals and a time-line of events. Yvonne has organized the County campaign since the first in 2005, but this year she passed the hat to Laura Jesse, Public Information Officer.

A couple weeks later on March 16, theFund presented campaign plans to Commissioners Court for approval of theFund Campaign 2010. The campaign launched on April 28 at a leadership lunch with elected and appointed officials and hosted by County Judge Nelson Wolff. The next week, Campaign Coordinators from each county department attended a training workshop over lunch with theFund to learn how to make presentations. Presentations for the staff began the next day, May 6.

The fund-raising campaign took place over the next two months, and on July 15, they began closing out the campaign. The results were assessed, and contribution forms were turned in to the Auditor’s Office for processing. On August 24, theFund delivered a report with the campaign results to the Commissioner’s Court. After more than 55 presentations and many people’s help and support, the campaign ended with a ceremonial awards presentation.

This year, theFund established three awards of appreciation for workplace-giving campaigns: an Award for Most Funds Raised, an Award for Largest Percentage Increase from Previous Year, and an Award for Highest Percentage of Employee Participation. Each winning department received an original work of art contributed by a funded art affiliate.

"And the Award goes to"

For Most Funds Raised, Bexar County Infrastucture Services. Director Joe Aceves and Coordinator Kerim Jacamen were acknowledged for once again inspiring their department to raise the most funds. Their award Cityscape, painted by Brackenridge High School student Chrysanthemum Brown, was donated through the Blue Star Contemporary Art program MOSAIC.

For Largest Percentage Increase from Previous Year, Bexar County Planning and Resource Management. Campaign Coordinator Nancy Soto accepted the award, a Texas Mission watercolor painted by student John Darrin with SAY Sí.

For Highest Percentage of Employee Participation, the Bexar County District Clerk’s Office. Director Margaret Montemayor and Campaign Coordinator Joan Schaffer accepted the award, a framed linocut of a meadowlark on handmade kozo paper created by Linda Draper of Southwest School of Art and Craft.

Acknowledgments

TheFund greatly appreciates all the consistent and generous participation of Bexar County employees in the Workplace Giving Campaigns.

We thank Blue Star Contemporary Art, SAY Sí, and Southwest School of Art and Craft, three funded art affiliates who donated artwork produced in their programs.

TheFund would also like to thank Ms. Rose Avila of Piedras Negras Café for her contribution of tacos for the Bexar County Information Services taco sale to supplement the department’s contributions. Rose’s contribution allowed Information Services to donate 100% of the proceeds to theFund.

And a special thanks to Olivia Morales, a violinist and former YOSA student, for her performances at the District Attorney’s offices.

How to have a workplace campaign:

1. Call us at 210- 212-8303 to set up an information meeting,
   
2. Identify an On-Site Coordinator and schedule a presentation(s),
   
3. And/Or have an Open House with displays and live performances by our funded affiliate organizations.

Tonight: Free Screening of Award-Winning Documentary, LIBBY, MONTANA

Gemini Ink, in partnership with SAY Sí, kicks off an ongoing PBS POV (point-of-view) documentary series with a screening of Libby, Montana. Previously aired on PBS’ popular P.O.V. series, this documentary follows the tumultuous and shocking struggle of a small town whose health and security was sacrificed by the mining company that fueled their economy. Summer faculty member and the film’s director and producer, Doug Hawes-Davis, will be on hand to take questions following the screening. The event is free and open to the public.

7pm, Friday, July 16
SAY Sí • 1518 S. Alamo

Watch the film’s trailer here >>

P.O.V. is broadcast on public television station KLRN, Tuesday evenings at 10:00. Check out the P.O.V. line-up here >>

Gemini Ink, SAY Sí, and KLRN are among the 27 affiliates of theFund. Donations to theFund help provide financial operating support to qualified arts and cultural organization.