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An emergency fund driven by three local philanthropic organizations has raised more than $3 million since it launched a week ago.
The Let’s Help SA fund, organized and administered by the Morgan’s Wonderland Inclusion Foundation (MWIF), collected $3.16 million in donations as of Monday, according to a news release.
Money from the fund will be distributed to the three nonprofits selected as the fund’s beneficiaries: the San Antonio Food Bank, Haven for Hope, and SAMMinistries.
The fund set a Feb. 28 deadline for donations, but was still collecting pledged money that was committed before the deadline, said Leslie Mouton, director of marketing and social media at MWIF.
Mouton said the Let’s Help SA fund has not finalized the total amount received from donors or the amount that will be distributed to each nonprofit. The San Antonio Food Bank, Haven for Hope, and SAMMinistries will have their needs met based on what each organization prioritized, instead of simply dividing the emergency fund by three, she said.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the amount received during the past week, and the good news is that donations are still coming in to provide even more assistance to those in distress throughout the community,” local philanthropist Gordon Hartman said in a news release. Hartman founded Morgan’s Wonderland and the Morgan’s Wonderland Inclusion Foundation. “We are sincerely and deeply grateful to everyone who gave so quickly and generously to the emergency fund. The donated dollars will help our neighbors in need of food, water and shelter get back on their feet.”
Mouton said 50 percent of the funds will be distributed Monday and the rest will be disbursed by the end of the week. A check presentation ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Much of the fund’s donations came from major contributors like Valero Energy, which gave $500,000, the largest gift to Let’s Help SA, Mouton said.
“We accepted Gordon Hartman’s call to action as so many people in San Antonio are suffering hardships through no fault of their own,” Valero Chairman and CEO Joe Gorder said in a statement. “Despite the historic challenges our business faced this past year, our company has been blessed, and we’re happy to support Let’s Help SA and provide food, shelter, fuel, and other basic needs so important to everyday life but never more critical than during extreme weather events.”
Other major donors included the Greehey Family Foundation, the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation, the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, and philanthropist Harvey E. Najim.
“San Antonio once again has clearly demonstrated what a caring, supportive community it is through Let’s Help SA,” Najim said in a statement. “This swift outpouring of support to help people with food, shelter, and utilities makes me truly proud to be a San Antonian. May our neighbors in tough circumstances recover from the winter storms as quickly as possible.”
Valero Energy, the Greehey Family Foundation, and Harvey Najim are financial supporters of the San Antonio Report. For a full list of business members, click here. For a full list of individual members, click here.
