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| Archbishop José H. Gomez and Las Misiones Campaign Chair Bill Klesse smile at a Nov. 24 press conference in which the fundraising effort received $2 million.
Photo provided |
SAN ANTONIO • The Las Misiones campaign took two major steps toward its halfway mark Nov. 24 as they accepted a $1 million pledge from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation and Silver Eagle Distributors and also announced an additional $1 million grant from Houston Endowment Inc. These donations brought the campaign’s total to more than $7.4 million. Las Misiones’ goal is $15.5 million.
“The future of the Old Spanish Mission is more secure today, thanks to these generous gifts,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez as he received the donations at Mission San José. “I thank the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, Silver Eagle Distributors and the Houston Endowment for their commitment to help us preserve these historic treasures.”
The archbishop said a sincere debt of gratitude is owed to all who have given, and will continue to give to the Las Misiones campaign. “The $7.4 million we have raised is made up of donations, large and small, that represent the faithful stewardship of many who want to ensure that the Old Spanish Missions will never become mere relics or silent ruins, but they will always be living signs of history, culture and faith,” Archbishop Gomez said. “We must preserve them so that they will continue to play a vital role in our understanding of our past and our future.”
The archbishop prayed that the example of the generosity shown that morning would be a symbol of hope that would motivate others to invest in the missions.
“This is our moment in time to act quickly and responsibly in order to preserve these magnificent memorials,” emphasized Archbishop Gomez. “What we do here today, and in the years to come, will be a sign of our love and respect for these places of historical, religious and cultural significance.”
The goal of the Las Misiones campaign is to restore, preserve and ensure the future of the historic mission church structures of Mission San José, Mission Concepción, Mission Espada and Mission San Juan.
At the announcement, an oversized check was presented by Don Johnson, vice president of national retail sales at Anheuser-Busch and John Nau III, president and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors. The $1 million donation consists of $666,000 from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation and $334,000 from Silver Eagle Distributors, and is payable over three years beginning in 2008.
“The role the Old Spanish Mission sites play in the local culture is significant,” said Dave Peacock, president of Anheuser-Busch. “The gifts from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation and Silver Eagle will help restore the missions and ensure our friends in San Antonio and visitors from around the world will continue to experience the rich heritage of this important Texas landmark.”
“Silver Eagle Distributors is proud to join the Anheuser-Busch Foundation in support of the Las Misiones Campaign,” said Nau, who is also chair of the Texas Historical Commission. “These missions are important cultural and historical treasures of Texas that must be preserved for future generations to experience. The missions tell the story of the courage, faith and strength of the people who paved the way for the Texans of today.”
Las Misiones Campaign Chair Bill Klesse of Valero Energy Corp., also announced that the Houston Endowment, Inc., a philanthropy endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Jones, had awarded a grant for $1 million to the Las Misiones campaign. The endowment was established in 1937 to help develop institutions and organizations that would nurture Houston and beyond. The endowment donates more than $70 million annually.
Father David Garcia, director of the Old Spanish Missions, voiced his gratitude to all who have given to the campaign to date. Since this phase of the Las Misiones campaign started this past February, it has received $1 million donations from the Goldsbury Foundation, Valero Energy Corp. and Bill Klesse.
Other major financial donations have been given by the McCombs Foundation, USAA Foundation, Epco, Inc., H-E-B, Chris Cheever, the Scanlan Foundation, Charlie Cheever and The Mays Foundation. “The generosity of these individuals and institutions, and many others, will help us to preserve for generations to come, the living legacy that the Old Spanish Missions represent,” he said. “It is with a sense of urgency we continue our campaign in order to ensure their future.”
The National Park Service operates the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in collaboration with the archdiocese. The Park Service is responsible for all the secular elements of the four compounds, including non-church buildings, landscape and visitor centers. The archdiocese continues to care solely for the church buildings.
For more information, contact the Old Spanish Missions, Inc., at (210) 357-5602, e-mail: old.spanish.missions@hotmail.com; or visit their Web site at www.oldspanishmissions.org.