Brooks Gives Back announced the disbursement of $110,000 as a part of its 4th annual cash awards to five local nonprofits: Any Baby Can San Antonio, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio, Presa Community Center, Ride Connect Texas and the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

“Programs don’t change lives, relationships do,” said David Marquez, Chairman of Brooks Gives Back. “Our Board has been intentional with this give, and these five nonprofits have truly made a difference in the lives of those in the growing Brooks area community.

As a result of discussions with representatives from area nonprofits, identified focus areas include convenient transportation, access to quality healthcare and mental health services, and education loss based on the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our mission at Brooks is to build a dynamic, sustainable and inclusive community … a community who recognizes the need to serve as a champion for those nonprofits supporting the people in our neighborhoods,”, said Leo Gomez, Brooks Gives Back President & CEO. “The work doesn’t end with the cash award. We’re looking forward to building a partnership and working together to move the needle for a more prosperous community.”

A three-year commitment totaling $75,000, each, was awarded to Any Baby Can and Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio. The funds will be designated to support additional families in the Brooks impact area, which is identified by three zip codes (78235, 78223, and 78214).

  • Any Baby Can San Antonio currently serves 280 families, in the Brooks area, to provide support for children facing serious health or development challenges.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio support nearly 1,000 youth, in the Brooks area, through after school and educational programming.

Three cash awards of $20,000 were also distributed to Presa Community Center, Ride Connect Texas and the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired.

  • Presa Community Center will utilize the award toward the Mariposa Program, which provides a variety of resources for youth, families, and seniors like the Emergency Food Pantry.
  • Ride Connect Texas has provided more than 1,000 rides for Brooks area seniors to help with independence and enhance the quality of life by coordinating convenient transportation services.
  • The San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired provides rehabilitation services as well as employment for the blind and visually impaired, which has included more than 2,000 services across the Brooks area, this year.

Brooks formed Brooks Gives Back after recognizing the need for a community-centric organization to support the mixed-use community’s mission of promoting and developing a dynamic, sustainable, and inclusive community. Brooks Give Back’s vision is for all who live, work, learn, play, and stay at Brooks to be vested in the ideals of the common good, generosity and aspirational growth for the entire Brooks family.

Since 2019, Brooks Gives Back has gifted more than $250,000.