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In 1992 concerned citizens in San Antonio, Texas began establishing Social Concerns Committees in their parishes to address the problems of poverty citywide. The St. Matthew's Social Concerns Committee focused its efforts on the educational challenges facing the city's poorest populations. In order to address these issues, Francine Garza-Vale, President of the Committee, initiated the founding of the Light One Candle Children's Education Fund Committee, a multicultural and ecumenical effort with two non-profit funds at the San Antonio Area Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) Texas organization: the Light One Candle Education Fund and the Light One Candle Endowment Fund. Today, through the generosity of donors these funds serve the educational needs of students in public and non-public schools at the pre-school, elementary school, middle school or high school level. The area served by distributions from these Funds includes the entire United Sates and is not limited to Bexar County, Texas or the San Antonio, Texas metropolitan area. Both of these funds honor the memory of the late Dr. Gregorio M. Canales, a member of Light One Candle and an exemplary humanitarian.
Our History
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Art Teacher, David Gonzalez, tutors
first graders.
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The Family Tutorial Program
The St. Matthew's Social Concerns Committee was formed in the Spring of 1992. Its first grass-roots project was the establishment of a Family Tutorial Program aimed at educating economically disadvantaged inner-city children and their parents at Westside Catholic School (later re-named Our Lady of Peace).
The Committee and volunteers mentoring experience demonstrated that this school was producing excellent results despite very limited resources. The students were happy, courteous and eager to learn. They were not dropping out of school, taking drugs or joining gangs. This little school was a light in the darkness for San Antonio’s inner-city children.
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Line Dancers enjoy the fun at the
"Backyard Barbecue"
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Light One Candle/Dr. Gregorio M. Canales Memorial Education Fund and Endowment Fund
Motivated by the importance of this school and similar inner-city schools for economically needy children, Francine Garza-Vale contacted the San Antonio Area Foundation about establishing a children's education fund. With just $100.00 in personal donations from committee members, the process was set in motion in late 1992.
On September 11, 1993 the Social Concerns Committee hosted a “Backyard Barbecue” in memory of the late Dr. Gregorio M. Canales (1919-1993), a dedicated South Texas Orthopedic surgeon and a Light One Candle member and volunteer. That evening supporters raised $17,000 for the Light One Candle/Dr. Gregorio M. Canales Memorial Education Fund. This donor advised fund was established on September 27, 1993 at the San Antonio Area Foundation, a Texas non-profit organization (www.saafdn.org). In addition, on December 12, 2003, thanks to the continued generosity of donors, the Light One Candle/Dr. Gregorio M. Canales Endowment Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation was also created. These funds are now simply referred to as the Light One Candle Education Fund and the Light One Candle Endowment Fund.
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Bowlers with special guest, Minnie Mouse, at "Bowl-for-Education."
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Today, the Light One Candle Children's Education Fund Committee is governed by a multicultural and ecumenical Executive Board and Advisory Board. With the help and expertise of the Advisory Board the Executive Board makes the purpose of the Education Fund and the Endowment Fund a reality by voting on and submitting the names of individuals and non-profit organizations who are seeking Light One Candle funding to the San Antonio Area Foundation. The Board of the San Antonio Area Foundation makes the final decision on distributions from these Funds.
Since 1994, this grassroots effort has provided for the educational needs of hundreds of students at public and non-public elementary and middle schools in San Antonio, Texas by funding scholarships, educational materials, teacher workshops, children's dance, music and art workshops and international folk dance performances by and for children. Over 100 scholarships for economically disadvantaged students have been granted to Catholic, Jewish and Christian Schools.
Major fundraisers have included a "Backyard Barbecue", a "Bowl-for-Education", two "Peace Begins with Me Awards", a Ten Year Anniversary Celebration with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, and a Peruvian Art Show and Luncheon. In addition, volunteers have organized scholarship award events, direct mail appeals, auctions and raffles, pinata and greeting card sales, participated in Holiday Craft Shows and made appeals for in-kind donations.
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| | EXECUTIVE BOARD
Francine Garza-Vale, Founder and President
Andrea White, Vice President
Sister Agnes Mary Klar, CDP, Secretary
Elizabeth Newton, Treasurer
Cristina Canales
ADVISORY BOARD
Niki Garza-Vale, Manager for Social Responsibility and Community Outreach for Marriott International
Rev. Michael Di Gerolami, Co-Chairman, the Southside Consortium of Catholic Schools and Pastor of St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church
Rev. Martin L. Elsner, SJ, Chairman, the Southside Consortium of Catholic Schools and Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
Nancy Gold, Dean of Admissions, the Eleanor Kolitz Academy, a Jewish Day School
Nelda Guerrero Drury, Founder of the Heritage Festivals of San Antonio
Andrea Maaseide, Attorney
Patricia O'Connell, North East ISD Adult Community Education Spanish Teacher
Rabbi Aryeh Sheinberg, Congregation Rodfei Sholom
Rev. Dr. E. Thurmond Walker, Pastor, The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary), Founder of Operation Respect
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| |  Working Together with the Community
The following organizations and individuals have worked with Light One Candle through many collaborative creative, academic and character education programs for elementary and middle school children in public and non-public schools.
- Andy Benavides and the Calle de Flores Art Project
- Arathi School of Indian Dance
- Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas
- Carver Cultural Center
- “Cat Paws”, a KLRN TV show for kids
- Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital Foundation
- French Consulate
- Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
- Hands on Crafts for Kids
- Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio, Texas
- Holy Spirit Catholic Church
- India-Asia Association
- Indian Folk Dance Festival
- Instituto Panamericano Linguistico
- International Folk Culture Center
- Jewish Federation of San Antonio, Texas
- Johnny Moore, former Spurs player
- Junior League of San Antonio
- Music Foundation of San Antonio
- Northside Music
- Oblate School of Theology
- Pan American League
- Peter Yarrow of “Peter, Paul and Mary”: Operation Respect: "Don't Laugh at Me"
- Region 20
- San Antonio Boys Choir
- San Antonio College Folk Dance Festival
- “Tu-To-R!” San Antonio Jewish Coalition for Literacy
- The San Antonio Museum of Art
- The San Antonio Storytellers Association
- San Francesco di Paola Catholic Church
- Southwestern Bell volunteers
- St. Matthew Catholic Church
- Teaching the Power of One through Film Foundation
- Trinity University Volunteer Action Committee
- The University of Texas at San Antonio volunteers
- The University of the Incarnate Word volunteers
- United States Holocaust Museum, Washington D.C.
- University United Methodist Church
- Voces de San Antonio
- The Winston School
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