At the October 22, 2013, team meeting, Jon McDowell, Managing Partner of BKD, LLP, CPAs and Advisors introduced Makayla Matheson, Manager, and San Antonio BKD Foundation member who presented Navarra Williams, President & CEO, SAMMinistries with the San Antonio Board for the BKD Foundation’s annual Community PRIDE award.
Matheson had this to say, “Each year we ask our employees to nominate a charity they believe should be the recipient of our $10,000 award and to provide the committee with an example of how the charity helps and how they exhibit our PRIDE values. Our PRIDE values encompass Passion, Respect, Integrity, Discipline and Excellence.” After the nominees were identified, each charity’s representative visited with BKD personnel so that they could learn firsthand about each organization’s mission. Afterwards, the employees voted and SAMMinistries was selected based on the nomination which identified SAMMinistries passion that each person it serves has the power to transform their lives and live independently. They show respect for others by treating each person with dignity and giving them equal opportunity to succeed. SAMMinistries maintains integrity by striving to be true to its values in both word and deed. They are disciplined in their approach to fundraising and in their approach with clients whose lives they are helping to re-build. SAMMinistries believes that a ministry to people in need demands their very best. In striving for excellence, SAMMinistries honors the trust that donors place in them and they give their best to clients every day.
Williams accepted a custom-made glass art work (Glen Andrews Studio: Caliente Hot Glass) award and a check for $10,000. Williams stated that, “We are honored to be chosen by BKD, and grateful for their contribution to SAMMinistries. As a Ministry, we strive to work with integrity as we help San Antonio families overcome homelessness. I am proud to lead a team that is recognized by fellow community members for this work.”
Founded in 1983, SAMMinistries is an interfaith ministry dedicated to providing shelter and care to the homeless of San Antonio. Today, SAMMinistries is the largest service provider of direct care and shelter in San Antonio and the surrounding area.
About BKD Foundation
The BKD Foundation, which is the firm’s charitable arm, has raised and distributed more than $6.2 million to qualifying 501 (c)(3) organizations since February 2000. For many not-for-profit organizations, both financial and volunteer assistance is critical.
The San Antonio charitable arm of the BKD Foundation is funded and administered by the partners and employees of the San Antonio office of BKD, LLP, CPAs & Advisors. The San Antonio BKD Foundation desires to enrich the San Antonio communities it serves with financial support and the gift of time from BKD volunteers. Its purpose is to aid, support, maintain and assist by gift, donation or otherwise, established charitable, scientific, educational and philanthropic institutions which are qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRC of 1986.