Respite Care of San Antonio, Serving Children with Special Needs for more than 25 Years

respitelogofinalRespite Care of San Antonio has served children with special needs for more than 25 years, the only agency of its kind in San Antonio providing highly individualized care in a loving, home-like environment to children with developmental disabilities and complex medical diagnoses. To commemorate the unique services to children this local entity provides, the11th annual Celebration of Love & Children will be held Wednesday, April 10, 2013 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Vista at Valero, located at One Valero Way.

We are pleased to announce our good friends Gary Dudley and Charlie Amato, founders of SWBC and the 2012 awardees of the North Chamber/Lead SA Gov. Dolph Briscoe, Jr. Salute to Excellence Award, will be special honorees at this event. Respite Care will acknowledge each of them for the active support and kindness they extend to children throughout our community. Gary and Charlie, along with the SWBC family, continue to champion not only the many children served by Respite Care, but also children throughout the community served by many other organizations. I hope you will join us in honoring Gary and Charlie as we gather to extend our heartfelt thanks for their efforts on behalf of others.

respite support photoBecause of Respite Care, families enjoy much-needed temporary breaks from the intense care often required by these special children. The Davidson Respite House and the Najim Family Respite Home provide safe shelter to children with special needs and their siblings who are in protective custody as a result of abuse or neglect. The homes are notably the only shelters in Texas dedicated to children in need of specialized care. Expanding to meet increased demand, Respite Care added the Tracy Wolff Respite Home and the Respite Family Foster Home to aid children in need of extended care until “forever” families can be identified.

To learn more about Respite Care, how you can help or to make reservations to attend this very special celebration call (210) 737-1212 or visit www.respitecaresa.org

April 13 Tampa Bay Rowdies Matchup To Open San Antonio Scorpions FC’s New Home – Toyota Field

scorpions logo toyota fieldThe San Antonio Scorpions FC, 2012 North American Soccer League (NASL) regular-season champs, will unveil the team’s new home – Toyota Field – Saturday, April 13, in a battle with last season’s eventual league champions, the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“What a great way to open our beautiful, new stadium!” said Gordon Hartman, CEO of The Gordon Hartman Foundation who led the Soccer for a Cause effort to bring pro soccer to San Antonio.  “We’re truly grateful to our global partner, Toyota, for securing naming rights to this colorful, multi-purpose facility.   The match with the Rowdies will be the first of a long list of sports, community, music and special events at our 8,000-seat venue adjacent to Morgan’s Wonderland at Thousand Oaks and Wurzbach Parkway.”

According to the NASL’s recently released Spring Schedule, the Scorpions will get their first taste of 2013 action on the road against the Minnesota Stars FC.  The complete Spring Schedule is as follows:

Saturday, April 6 – at Minnesota Stars FC

Saturday, April 13 – Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sunday, April 28 – at Edmonton FC

Saturday, May 4 – Atlanta Silverbacks

Saturday, May 11 – at Carolina Rail-Hawks

Saturday, May 18 – Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Saturday, May 25 – at Atlanta Silverbacks

Saturday, June 1 – Minnesota Stars FC

Saturday, June 15 – at Tampa Bay Rowdies

Saturday, June 22 – FC Edmonton

Saturday, June 29 – at Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Thursday, July 4 – Carolina Rail-Hawks.

The seven NASL teams active for the 2013 Spring Season will play each other once at home and once on the road in a 42-game season between April 6 and July 4, the NASL said.  The team that tops the standings at the summer break will qualify for the 2013 Soccer Bowl as the host team.  The Soccer Bowl will be held the weekend of Nov. 16-17, and the spring champion will be joined by the Fall Season champion.  The New York Cosmos are poised to return to NASL action when the Fall Season kicks off Aug. 3.

The one-month summer break will allow NASL teams to schedule exhibition games, the league added.  It occurs during the international transfer window that is open throughout much of Europe, Latin America and North America.

Preparations for the Scorpions’ 2013 season will continue with player signings in the next few weeks prior to the start of training camp March 1, said Scorpions Head Coach Tim Hankinson.

“The Scorpions franchise is unique in that all net profits go to help expand programs and services for the special-needs community through non-profit Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first and only ultra-accessible theme park,” said Scorpions President Howard Cornfield.

Sensing an opportunity to benefit Morgan’s Wonderland for the long run, San Antonio philanthropist Gordon Hartman three years ago secured an NASL franchise – one rung below Major League Soccer – and launched Soccer for a Cause, a successful campaign to build community support for pro soccer.  The Scorpions played their first NASL match April 15, 2012.

San Antonio Scorpions season tickets are now on sale.  More information about the Scorpions FC is available at www.SanAntonioScorpions.com, http://www.Facebook.com/SanAntonioScorpions or http://www.Twitter.com/SAScorpions.  Morgan’s Wonderland information can be found at www.MorgansWonderland.com or by calling (210) 495-5888.

About the NSL
The North American Soccer League℠ is the Division 2 men’s outdoor professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.  The NASL member teams are:  Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, FC Tampa Bay, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, NSC Minnesota Stars and San Antonio Scorpions FC.  For more information about the NASL, visit www.NASL.com or on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/NASL.fans.

Monarch Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland Names Anne Bristol Head of School

monarch academyAnne Bristol

Anne Bristol, with more than 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator, has been named head of school of Monarch Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland, a school for students with special needs next to the unique theme park in San Antonio.

“Anne brings a wide range of experience to her new position,” said Gordon Hartman, founder of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation and driving force behind initiatives benefitting the special-needs community such as the theme park and school.  “She spent 10 years as head of school at Providence Catholic School in San Antonio before coming to Morgan’s Wonderland as director of development and marketing.  She has a proven track record of success in academics, student life, fundraising, marketing and student recruitment.”

Bristol said Monarch Academy prepares students with special needs ranging in age from 11 to 24 to become productive adults.

“We believe every individual deserves the opportunity to be prepared for life,” she said, “so we empower each student to achieve his or her own personal best.  We focus our attention on getting each student ready for independence and employment through reading and math instruction as well as social and life skills and vocational readiness.”

Founded in 2011, Monarch Academy emphasizes a safe teaching environment, holistic focus on the individual, low student-teacher ratio and structured physical education program, she added.  Further information is available at www.MonarchAcademy.net.

Born in Dallas, Bristol attended Ursuline Academy in Dallas and earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.  She did additional post graduate work at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.  She taught in the Dallas County Community College District as well as at St. Luke’s School in Irving and Ursuline Academy in Dallas before coming to Providence Catholic School in San Antonio and Morgan’s Wonderland.

Bristol has earned numerous honors including the 2008 Archdiocese of San Antonio’s Outstanding Leader in Catholic Education Award, the 2004 Yellow Rose of Texas Education Award, the 1997 Diocese of Dallas’ Secondary Teacher of the Year Award and the 1996 Ursuline Academy Teacher of the Year Award.

Bristol and her husband, Lew Campbell, live in Universal City.  Their blended family consists of five adult children and 11 grandchildren.  In her leisure time, Bristol enjoys reading, working in her garden and attending theater events.

Monarch Academy, located next to Morgan’s Wonderland at 5235 David Edwards Drive in Northeast San Antonio just off IH 35, is one of many initiatives of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation to help those with special needs.  Morgan’s Wonderland, which is completely wheelchair-accessible, features more than 25 elements and attractions including rides, playgrounds and gardens.

The STAR (South Texas Area Regional) Soccer Complex and the San Antonio Scorpions FC pro soccer team also were created through the vision and leadership of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation.  Net profits from STAR Soccer and the Scorpions help Morgan’s Wonderland meet its operating expenses as well as expand programs and services for the special-needs community.