Zunker Family Foundation

06/15/2026

Happy heavenly 12th anniversary to Reece and Paula Joe. We know you are celebrating while watching over us all. Your legacy continues to live on in the many lives each of you touched. Thank you for being a wonderful example of love!

05/25/2026

Congrats to President! We know Reece is proud.

Congratulations to President Calamaco on being named the winner of the 2026 Reece Zunker Impact Award at last night’s Kerr County High School Sports Awards.

This award recognizes a student who truly makes a difference through leadership, character, and positive impact both on and off the field, and President Calamaco exemplifies all of those qualities.

05/20/2026

Earlier Today, we had the honor of presenting the inaugural "Play Like Lyle" Award to a very deserving student at Hunt Elementary. See the full description of our award honoring the beloved Lyle Earl Zunker below:

The Play Like Lyle Award honors a student who leads with heart, shows courage in all they do, and brings joy to those around them. It recognizes a child who approaches each day with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to give their very best.

Lyle lived with a spirit that was both strong and kind, meeting challenges with determination while never losing sight of the people beside him. He played with energy and purpose, encouraged others along the way, and made every space brighter through his presence.

This award celebrates a student who reflects that same balance of heart, courage, and joy someone who includes others, lifts up teammates and classmates, and leads not just by ability, but by the way they treat people. It is given to a student who plays fair, works hard, and chooses kindness, even in moments that require strength.

A student who carries this spirit makes a lasting impact on their classroom and community.

Being a leader, a teammate, and a friend all at the same time.

Special thanks to all those partners and community members who helped make this possible:
Guad & Co. - embroidery on the hats
Dough Re Mi Bakery & Design - cookies
Lyle Zunker’s entire family
The entire Smajstrla family - livelovenaynay.org
Brooks Bowen - golden trophy
The entire Hunt Elementary School and staff, administration and teachers - HuHunt ISD

05/16/2026

05/10/2026

This Mother’s Day, we remember Paula and honor the women who helped shape Paula and Reece into the people they became.

We’re grateful for the incredible women on our board and the community partners who help us continue this work and reach those who need it most.

Today we celebrate the love, strength, encouragement, and legacy of women everywhere.

05/08/2026

Last week, we had the honor of awarding scholarships at Tivy High School - Kerrville ISD in the names of the individuals who inspire our mission - Reece, Paula Joe, Lyle, and Holland Zunker - to eight outstanding graduating seniors:

· Reece Zunker Scholarship - Sebastian Gonzalez (Schreiner University) and Benjamin King (undecided)

· Paula Joe Zunker Scholarship - George Eastland (University of Texas) and Madison Stueber (undecided)

· Lyle Zunker Scholarship - Rowen Garcia (Ohio State University) and Kendall Gregory (University of Texas)

· Holland Zunker Scholarship – Isabella Massey (Stephen F Austin University) and Cooper Pruitt (Abilene Christian University)

Through our partnership with the Kerrville Public School Foundation, and thanks to the generous matching contributions from the Hill Country Charity Ball Association, we were proud to present $20,000 in scholarships to support these students as they begin their college journeys.

These scholarship recipients represent the closest connection we will ever have to Reece, Paula Joe, Lyle, and Holland. It is central to our mission that the Zunkers’ legacy – and their deep commitment to the Kerrville community – endures through these deserving young adults. We know this is exactly what the Zunker's would have wanted.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our supporters. Your generosity makes this kind of meaningful philanthropy possible, and we are deeply grateful.

- Zunker Family Foundation Board

05/01/2026

Thank you Bella Photography for yours and all the mothers/families who chose to join in. Your generous heart only warms ours more. This is exactly in the vein of our dearly missed Zunker’s 🤍🤍🤍

03/20/2026

All those young girls eligible, please apply! The Kerrville Junior Service Guild was one of Paula Joe’s dearest causes

The PJZ Memorial Scholarship applications are open!! They need to be completed by April 1st, so follow the link and apply now!

03/17/2026

03/11/2026

So very bittersweet to attend a game with out Reece on the sidelines and Paula, Lyle and Holland in the stands. But their memory and impact endures ❤️💙💛