The Harvey E. Najim Charitable Foundation

10/16/2026

💙💛 Happy Boss’s Day from the Najim Charitable Foundation Team!

Today, we’re celebrating three incredible leaders who help make our mission possible!

From President Melissa K. Bauman’s leadership, to Shannon B. Gansler’s dedication to our operations, and Kimberly Conley’s leadership in program management, we’re grateful for the thought, care, and commitment they bring to our team every day.

Their leadership helps us continue our work of supporting nonprofit organizations that make a difference in the lives of children throughout the greater San Antonio area. 💛

Thank you, Melissa, Shannon, and Kimberly, for all you do for our team, our nonprofit partners, and the children and families we serve. We appreciate you!

09/24/2026

Thank you to our incredible board member, Maria Hernandez Ferrier, for helping connect these dots and bringing inspiring people together. We’re so happy to see this conversation come to life and excited to see where these connections lead for our children and families! 💙

Today, Girl with Grit spent time developing our school-based program “Kids with Grit” with the incredible Charles Hernandez of Jewel C Weitzel and the inspiring Lionel Sosa Lionel Sosa.

To sit alongside Lionel Sosa comes with great privilege as Sosa was named one of the twenty five most influential Hispanics in America by Time Magazine. Sosa has also been named to the Texas Business Hall of fame and founded the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the United States and served under both Bush and Reagan. He currently serves Ron Nirenberg.

Thank you Dr. Maria Ferrier, previous President of Texas A&M - San Antonio for arranging this meeting of minds. Thank you to Najim Charitable Foundation for connecting the dots. We are all working to improve the quality of lives of children caught in systemic poverty through the school system.

09/24/2026

We’re pleased to see our President, Melissa Bauman, featured as the first spotlight in YWCA San Antonio’s new Persimmon Circle series. Thank you to YWCA San Antonio for highlighting the community partners who help support your work! 💜

This , we are proud to spotlight Melissa Bauman as we celebrate the official launch of our Persimmon Circle and recognize the extraordinary allies behind YWCA San Antonio.

Four Questions For Melissa Bauman, President of the Najim Charitable Foundation:

YWCA: What was your first Concert

Melissa: Aldo Nova in the early 1980s, and I'm a Rod Stewart fan, also!

YWCA: What's your favorite restaurant to have lunch with Harvey?

Melissa: Zito’s on Broadway -- I love the legendary Half Serious sandwich

YWCA: Why do you support YWCA San Antonio?

Melissa: The Harvey E. Najim Charitable Foundation supports YWCA San Antonio because its mission closely aligns with the values behind the Najim Charitable Foundation’s work—creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and investing in others’ potential. YWCA SA has a long history of empowering women, children, and families through programs that foster education, leadership, and economic stability. We are proud to support an organization that not only addresses immediate needs but also creates lasting change, helping individuals and families build brighter futures for generations to come.”
Thank you, Melissa, for kicking off the Persimmon Circle with your leadership and heart!

09/24/2026

Grief doesn’t look the same for every child — and neither should the support they receive. 💛

Veronica Nunez and NCF Board Members recently visited The Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas (CBC) to learn more about how they help children, young adults, and families navigate the loss of a loved one — at no cost to families.

From peer support groups and individual counseling to grief camps and school-based services, CBC creates spaces where children can process loss in ways that feel natural to them. Through play, art, music, sand therapy, drama, and other creative approaches, children are given the opportunity to express emotions that may be difficult to put into words.

CBC also brings support directly into schools across six districts, helping remove transportation and access barriers for children and families who may not be able to reach the center.

We’re grateful to Kristina Hernandez, CEO; Ann-Marie Camosy Murray, Chief Development Officer; Adriana McKinnon, Chief Program Officer; and Marianne Dowdy, Vice Chair and Board Member, for welcoming Veronica and our NCF Board Members and sharing such an insightful look at CBC’s work. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to see firsthand the intentional care, compassion, and creativity behind the support you provide to children and families navigating loss. 💛

09/23/2026

💙 Creating safe spaces where families can stay connected.

Veronica Nunez, NCF Grants & Community Impact Manager, recently visited 's KidShare to learn more about the meaningful work they do to support children and families throughout San Antonio and surrounding counties.

KidShare provides supervised visitation and safe exchange services in a welcoming, structured environment designed to help children maintain and strengthen relationships with their parents. The program meets families where they are, providing a space where visits can take place with care, dignity, and a focus on the well-being of the child.

But KidShare’s support goes beyond visitation. Families can also connect with counseling, parent education, financial empowerment, case management, and community resources that can help them build stronger relationships and work toward greater stability.

We were especially inspired to hear how KidShare supports families over time, with the goal of helping relationships grow and, when appropriate, families transition beyond supervised services. The program also provides valuable hands-on experience for future social workers, counselors, educators, and legal professionals who are learning how to support families with compassion and trauma-informed care.

Thank you to Mary E. Garr, President & CEO; Mylinda Swierc, Senior Vice President, Quality & Systems; Daniella Marquez, Director, Development & Donor Engagement; and Martha Roberts, KidShare Program Manager, for welcoming NCF and sharing more about the heart behind this important work. 💙

09/22/2026

This is what it looks like when a community comes together for children. ❤️

We’re grateful to Harvey E. Najim, Valero, The Malú and Carlos Alvarez Family, H-E-B, and the many donors and community partners who stepped up to help ensure San Antonio’s kids continue to have access to the programs, relationships, and support they need.

We’re especially glad to see this next chapter include the voices of club members, families, nonprofits, and community leaders. Listening to the community is an important part of building strong, lasting support for children and families.

We’re proud to be part of a community that continues to show up for kids. 💙

Thanks to the generosity of Harvey E. Najim, Valero, The Malú and Carlos Alvarez Family, H-E-B and a wave of benevolent donors and community partners, we're able to announce:

Mays Clubhouse — fully open, no change to services
In-school programming through SAISD — continuing without interruption

Eastside Clubhouse — staying open, reversing an earlier planned pause

"Our community showed up for the kids of San Antonio, and because of that, we get to keep showing up for them too," said CEO Debbie Powell. "Mays Clubhouse, our schools, and now Eastside — our doors are staying open."

Eastside's next chapter looks different, on purpose. We're launching a Community Voice Council — bringing together nonprofits, political leaders, and our own club kids and families — to help shape Eastside's relaunch around what this community actually needs.

"We are committed to building Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio stronger and better — not just for today, but for the next 87 years," Powell said.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible.
This is what community looks like.

09/22/2026

💚 At Healy-Murphy Center, education is just the beginning.

Veronica Nunez and NCF Board Member Karen Kochheiser recently visited Healy Murphy Center and met with CEO Gustavo Cordova to learn more about the organization’s work supporting students, children, and young families across San Antonio.

Serving the community since 1888, Healy Murphy brings education and wraparound support together under one roof:

🎓 High School & GED Programs for students who have experienced educational disruptions
👶 Child Development Center serving children from 6 weeks to 5 years old
💚 Counseling, health & nutrition services to support student and family well-being
💼 College, career & workforce connections to help students plan for their future
🥫 Laura’s Pantry & free clothing resources to help families meet basic needs
🏃 Wellness & enrichment opportunities including yoga, pickleball, CrossFit and more

Their trauma-informed approach recognizes that students often need more than academic support to succeed. By addressing education, basic needs, health, childcare, and future opportunities together, Healy Murphy creates a strong network of support for young people and their families.

Thank you to Gustavo and the Healy Murphy team for welcoming us and sharing the impact of this work! 💚

09/21/2026

Haylie recently had the opportunity to visit the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) and learn more about its educational programming for San Antonio students. 🎨
During her visit, Haylie observed several school groups exploring the museum and participating in lessons led by SAMA’s highly trained volunteer docents. The docents undergo a rigorous two-year training process and work to make each experience engaging and age-appropriate while connecting the museum’s collections to students’ classroom learning.
SAMA also provides hands-on art activities that allow younger students to create their own artwork and build on the concepts introduced during their visit. For many students, particularly those attending Title I schools, these experiences provide an important opportunity to access arts and cultural enrichment that may not otherwise be available to them.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to see SAMA’s educational programs in action and learn more about how the museum is making art, creativity and learning accessible to students across San Antonio.

09/18/2026

We were excited to spend time with the The Majestic Empire Foundation team and learn more about the impact of the Josephine Youth Development Program! Haylie and members of our board had the opportunity to visit the Josephine Theatre and see firsthand the space where young people are given opportunities to learn, grow and discover their potential.
The Josephine Youth Development Program provides year-round programming for Bexar County middle and high school students, with opportunities focused on academic support, leadership development, performing arts, career exploration and positive adult mentorship.
We’re proud to support programs that give young people access to meaningful experiences, caring mentors and the tools they need to build confidence and prepare for their futures. Through our support, students will have access to academic and workforce readiness programming, transportation, healthy snacks and other resources that help remove barriers to participation.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to see this work in action and to support the continued growth of opportunities for San Antonio’s youth.

09/17/2026

We were excited to spend time with the School Connect SA team and see their work in action! 💙 Haylie and members of our board had the opportunity to visit with the School Connect team and learn more about the impact they are making in the lives of local families.
School Connect helps strengthen families by equipping parents with practical tools and resources to become more confident, capable parents. Through their parenting education program, parents learn strategies they can take home and put into practice with their children.
What makes this program especially meaningful is that the children are supported, too. While parents participate in the curriculum, RezilientKidz provides the kids with positive, structured activities, including basketball and character-building programming. Families can learn, grow and spend time together in a safe and supportive environment.
We’re proud to support programs that invest in the whole family and create opportunities for children and parents to thrive together. 💙