Pluckers Wing Bar will host a Christmas Eve lunch for Boysville next week. Photo: Melissa Skorpil, used with permission.
Pluckers Wing Bar is excited to announce that they will spread holiday cheer by providing lunch for four families from Boysville at the Pluckers Selma location this Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24 from 10a.m. to noon. This year, employees from the Selma, Landmark and San Marcos locations will donate holiday gifts for children. (Pluckers Wing Bar, 2019)
Boysville is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide a safe family environment for children in need by providing food, shelter, clothing, medical services and education services. Boysville is able to provide the basic necessities needed to make the child feel safe and comfortable and teach them to become an active member of society.
Pluckers San Antonio
14881 Interstate 35 N
Selma, TX 78154
Owners Mark Greenberg, Dave Paul and Sean Greenberg opened their first Pluckers restaurant in Austin in 1995. Pluckers is known for their signature wings and is consistently recognized as the best sports bar and chicken wing restaurant. They offer guests a fun, laid-back atmosphere where friends, family, and co-workers can enjoy a great meal and watch sports. Pluckers has been named in USA Today’s “Top Ten Wing Restaurants” and ESPN’s “Top 5 Sports Bar in North America,” along with being named one of “Austin’s Best Places to Work 2017” by the Austin Business Journal and Dallas Observer’s “Best Sports Bar.”
Hopdoddy Burger Bar’s Goodnight/Good Cause burger. Photo: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, used with permission.
As part of the Hopdoddy Burger Bar mission, aiming to do what is right includes giving back to the community. With each Goodnight / Good Cause burger sold, Hopdoddy donates a portion of the proceeds to local charitable organizations. This year, Hopdoddy is proud to announce that the restaurant raised more than $100K for charities in Texas, Arizona, California, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Colorado. (Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 2019)
Hopdoddy partnered on the Goodnight / Good Cause burger with the following charity organizations this year:
HAAM (Austin, TX)
Lone Star Paralysis (Austin, TX)
Millican Alliance (College Station, TX)
Make a Wish North Central Texas (Dallas, TX)
Periwinkle Foundation (Houston, TX)
Silver & Black Give Back (San Antonio, TX)
Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock (Phoenix, Arizona)
Surfrider Foundation (San Clemente, California)
Stax Music Academy (Memphis, TN)
W.O. Smith Music School (Nashville, TN)
Granville Community School, (Oklahoma City, OK)
Camp Courage (Denver, Colorado)
The Goodnight / Good Cause burger is available at all Hopdoddy locations and is made with Angus beef, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, jalapeños, caffeinated barbecue, Sassy Sauce, lettuce and tomato served on a fresh baked bun.
“As a team of some 1500+ team members, we at Hopdoddy are proud of the positive impact we make in our communities through our Goodnight / Good Cause partnerships. Since its inception in 2010 and with the continual support of our guests and team members, we have been able to contribute over $1,000,000 to local programs that do right. Hopdoddy remains steadfast in our commitment to ‘do right’ by continually evaluating the programs and people we support to ensure that we are truly living our mantra of ‘Best Today, Better Tomorrow’ and genuinely ‘doing right’ by those we are so fortunate to serve.” – Jeff Chandler, Hopdoddy CEO
Founded in Austin in 2010 by Guy Villavaso, Larry Foles and Chuck Smith, Hopdoddy Burger Bar is a nationally-recognized burger and beer joint. Hopdoddy stands out for its “from scratch” ethos and a menu that includes burgers, hand-cut Kennebec fries, farm fresh salads and handcrafter milkshakes. They also offer vegetarian menu items, including the newly launched Impossible Cheesesteak. Alongside its burgers Hopdoddy also carries a variety of local craft beers on tap, can and bottle and a has a full bar featuring regional spirits, house-made liqueurs and freshly squeezed juices. Named “The Best Burgers in America” by Food & Wine, Hopdoddy has locations in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and California with more to come.
The PAWliday Pet Food Campaign is taking place through December 20. Photo: DaisyCares
Since 2009, DaisyCares has been helping feed pets of families in need through a partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank. From now through Friday December 20, 2019, DaisyCares is hosting the “PAWliday Pet Food Campaign.” Five years ago, DaisyCares was only serving about 25,000 pets and 10,000 families. Now, DaisyCares serves over 76,000 pets and 29,000 families annually. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2019)
With the holidays fast approaching, DaisyCares is experiencing a higher than normal request for pet food. Now more than ever before, families are faced with tough decisions between putting food on the table or in the bowls of their pets. Programs like DaisyCares help ensure that pets receive the nourishment they need and stay in their family’s home where they belong. Along with food items, DaisyCares is also in need of supplies like new toys/accessories, potty pads and cat litter. Food drop off sites are located throughout the city and include Alamo Heights Pet Clinic, Amigo Animal Hospital and Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital. A full list of these sites can be found online.
DaisyCares is a 501c3 non-profit organization that helps people care for animals by providing pet food, veterinary care, and animal welfare education to the community. These services help over 76,000 pets and 29,000 pet owners annually.
Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. In the United States, food insecurity affects one in nine people. Food insecurity is a social determinant of health, which are conditions in people’s environment that can affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. One in five households served by a local food bank has at least one member who has served in the U.S. military. To make an impact, the San Antonio Food Bank;Humana, a leading health and well-being company; and Conviva Care Centers have partnered on a food and fund drive benefitting military veterans from Veterans Day, November 11 through December 7, 2019. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2019)
As part of the “March Out Hunger” campaign, non-perishable food will be collected at locations throughout San Antonio, including: the Humana neighborhood location (950 S. General McMullen), the Humana office, and five Conviva Care Center locations. In addition to food donations, members of the community can provide monetary donations. Every $10 donation helps the San Antonio Food Bank provide 70 meals and can be done online.
The community is also invited to participate in a Ruck March at the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon during the 5K on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30a.m. In the military, soldiers carry a heavily-loaded rucksack, similar to a backpack, over a long distance. To bring awareness to food insecurity among our military and veteran community, participants will carry packs filled with non-perishable food donations and march the 5K route, delivering the food to the San Antonio Food Bank at the finish line. Those interested in marching should email Humana.
Donation stations:
Humana neighborhood location, 950 S. General McMullen, San Antonio, TX
Humana office, 8119 Datapoint Dr., San Antonio
Conviva – Guadalupe Care Center, 1314 Guadalupe St., Ste. 105, San Antonio
Conviva – DeLeon Care Center, 9727 Poteet Jourdanton Fwy., Ste. 108, San Antonio
Conviva – Greco Care Center, 4360 Greco Drive, San Antonio
Conviva – Legacy Place Care Center, 18414 US-281 North, Ste. 104, San Antonio
Conviva – Live Oak Care Center, 12602 Toepperwein Road, Ste. 100, San Antonio
The 2019 Red, White and Bourbon will be this Saturday November 9. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Garrison Brothers Distillery recently announced the 2019 edition of Red, White and Bourbon, a collaborative event aimed at raising funds for the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. The Admiral Nimitz Foundation was established in 1971 as a 501(c)(3) and provides development funding for the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, a museum dedicated to telling the human story of WWII in the Pacific. Since 1971, the Foundation has built a well-established and respected institution, which annually welcomes more than 100,000 visitors, including 15,000 middle and high school students from across the state. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2019)
To observe Veterans Day and to honor those who have served, Garrison Brothers will partner with several neighboring businesses for a day-long celebration on Saturday, November 9. Distillery regular Mike Walsh will trumpet Reveille to kick off the event at 11a.m. and blow Taps at 4p.m. to conclude the event. Red White and Bourbon will take place at Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas. Guests can enjoy bourbon barrel-aged craft beer from Family Business Beer Co., hamburgers from Fischer & Weiser, cold drinks from Coca Cola and a variety of red, white and rosé wines from William Chris Vineyards, Cicada Cellars, Calais Winery and Hye Meadow Winery. 100% of sales of beer, wine and food will go directly to the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Habana Cowboy will also be on site with a mobile cigar lounge. Garrison Brothers would like to thank this year’s Red, White and Bourbon sponsors – Tecovas, Mercedes of Boerne and HEB.
Patrons can dip their own red, white, and blue wax bottles at the gift shop and a portion of proceeds from the sale of each bottle will also be donated to the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. The museum will also have living history displays set up showcasing WWII weapons and equipment.
Only 800 tickets are available (600 online, 200 at the distillery) and are priced as follows:
$20 for adults
$10 for kids (ages 3 to 12)
$10 for Admiral Nimitz Foundation members
$5 for veterans
“The National Museum of the Pacific War is a Texas treasure. We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a distinguished neighbor in our sister city of Fredericksburg. We’re excited to partner with Mercedes Benz of Boerne and Family Business Beer Co. to present Red, White, and Bourbon. They share our passion for honoring and appreciating those who have served.” – Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery.
Garrison Brothers Distillery
1827 Hye Albert Rd
Hye, TX 78635
San Antonio native and visionary community leader Robert Hammond will be the keynote speaker at this year’s CityFest, to be held this week. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
San Antonio CityFest is the urban ideas and public policy festival presented by the Rivard Report. CityFest will bring together national and local thought leaders over three days to address the city’s many opportunities and challenges. Visitors at CityFest can expect panel discussions moderated by Rivard Report journalists in addition to one-on-one interviews, food and beverage experiences and musical entertainment. Tickets for the luncheon featuring Robert Hammond are $99 for general admission and $85 for Rivard Report members. Tickets for the festival range from $5 to $165 based on programming and festival day and available online. (San Antonio CityFest, 2019)
The program opens Wednesday, November 6, two weeks after Bexar County, the City of San Antonio and the performing arts community have celebrated the fifth anniversary of the world-class hall. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff will deliver opening remarks on the luncheon program, Changing Cities: Thinking Big and Following Through.
San Antonio native and visionary community leader, Robert Hammond, whose advocacy sparked creation of the world-renowned High Line Park in New York City, will be the keynote speaker. Hammond is a founder of Friends of the High Line, a nonprofit conservation group dedicated to preserving and restoring the abandoned elevated railroad line running through a mile and a half of Manhattan. After his remarks, Editor and Publisher Robert Rivard will join Judge Wolff and Hammond on stage for a conversation and audience Q&A.
CityFest is inspired by the Texas Tribune’s Tribfest. Where Tribfest focuses on state and national politics, CityFest is decidedly urban. Invited guests who will appear with local thought leaders over three days include mayors, city managers, tech experts, urbanists, and educators from around Texas and outside the state.
Panel discussions include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Austin-San Antonio rail;
Making streets safe and expanding mobility options in San Antonio;
The urgent strides to make workplaces safe against active shooters;
The growth of San Antonio’s technology sector;
Climate change in Texas;
Expanding early childhood education in Bexar County;
How Texas city managers are grappling with new laws forcing budget cuts and limiting taxing options; and
Emerging young leaders in the city and county.
Founded in 2018, San Antonio CityFest is a festival held annually in San Antonio, Texas, presented by nonprofit news outlet Rivard Report. The festival brings together local politicians, thought leaders, and community members to discuss relevant topics affecting San Antonio, as well as ways to help adapt and grow the city in a productive and responsible way. Each year, CityFest features a series of guest speakers, live music, activations and more.
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
100 Auditorium Circle
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 223-8624
HallowWine Run benefits Culinaria and welcomes all participants. Photo: Culinaria, used with permission.
This year’s HalloWine Run, sponsored by HEB and Gold’s Gym, is set for Saturday October 26. It will benefit Culinaria and will take place at The Shops at La Cantera. Guys, ghouls, little monsters and furry friends set the pace at the third annual HalloWine Run. This four-mile fun run through The Shops at La Cantera will be filled with more treats than tricks and the finish line reception will feature an array of bites from some of San Antonio’s best chefs, along with adult beverages to get your blood pumping. All levels of runners are welcome and encouraged to participate, including four-legged furry beasts. Even mini-monsters 11 years old and younger can enjoy a wicked awesome Tot Trot just for them. There will be awards for the fastest finishers and best costumes. (Culinaria, 2019)
HalloWine run registration is available online. From August 27 through October 8 the cost is $35; from October 9 through 20, $40 and October 26 through Race Day (if space allows) $45. Tot Trot: Trot only, $10; Trot Plus T-shirt, $20 (must register by October 13 to receive T-shirt). Pre-race festivities begin at 7a.m. with the race beginning at 8a.m.
Spectator Pass: Those who want to enjoy the food and festivities following the race may purchase Spectator Passes for $20 (ages 5+). Spectator Passes will be available for purchase at Packet Pickup with a valid driver’s license; on race day before the race at the Culinaria booth and at the race registration site. Passes must be picked up at Packet Pickup or on Race Day at the Culinaria booth. Individuals who do not have proof of purchase or an I.D. will not be able to collect their badges and will not be served at the reception.
The Shops at La Cantera
15900 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 582-6255
According to the 2018 American Community Survey, San Antonio has earned the dubious recognition of having the highest percentage of people living in poverty among the Top 25 most populous metropolitan areas. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2019)
In the wake of this news, the San Antonio Food Bank is announcing two new capital projects to help meet the need and transform services to individuals living in poverty in the region.
On Friday September 27, Eric Cooper is expected to announce the building of a new Culinary Center targeted for the organization’s westside campus. The facility will have the ability to prepare more than 100,000 meals a day for children facing hunger.
Cooper will also announce the building of a one-of-a-kind apartment complex that they will build, own, and manage on their campus adjacent to their New Braunfels Food Bank. The apartments will be a component of a larger program offered by the Food Bank to help families with children afford to live and thrive in the ever-growing community of New Braunfels.
San Antonio Food Bank
5200 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78227
September is Hunger Action Month. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
This week, Whataburger announced their partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank for the tenth consecutive year. The goals is to fight hunger and raise awareness for SA Goes Orange, a month-long campaign during Hunger Action Month in September. (Whataburger, 2019)
From September 1 through 30, Whataburger will host a month-long fundraiser to raise money for the Food Bank. Customers who visit any Bexar County and New Braunfels Whataburger restaurant during that timeframe and donate at least $1 will receive a thank-you coupon good for a free Whataburger with purchase of a medium fry and 32-ounce drink on their next visit. Upcoming SA Goes Orange events include the September 14 and September 28 Volunteer Days at the Food Bank.
Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals every day with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.
The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to over 500 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security.
BoxLunch will open its North Star Mall location on Wednesday August 21. Photo: BoxLunch, used with permission.
BoxLunch a pop culture gift store with a cause, announces that it will open its newest location in San Antonio on Wednesday, August 21 at the North Star Mall. BoxLunch offers a thoughtfully curated selection of officially licensed apparel, accessories, collectibles, beauty, home goods and gift and novelty merchandise for everyone from the most dedicated fan to the more casual pop culture enthusiast. The new store will celebrate its grand opening weekend, Saturday, August 24 to Sunday, August 25 from 12p.m. to 4p.m. with DJs spinning live music, in-store giveaways and trivia games. (BoxLunch, 2019)
To fulfill its civic mission of “Get Some. Give Back”, BoxLunch will donate one meal to Feeding America® for every $10 spent in-store or online. BoxLunch is proud to support national hunger-relief efforts as well as local efforts through Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks, including San Antonio Food Bank, which will directly receive a percentage of the donations raised at the North Star Mall BoxLunch store.
In-store campaigns will highlight BoxLunch’s exclusive Back-to-School assortment inspired by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and merchandise from the Japanese animation film studio, Studio Ghibli.
BoxLunch’s store design features a bright, organic design that encourages the customer to journey through its collection of licensed pop culture product offerings by providing a tactile and exploratory shopping experience
“We are thrilled to bring BoxLunch back to San Antonio. Our mission is simple, sell the best product and use our business to inspire and implement solutions to help fight the hunger crisis on both a local and national level,” – Robert Thomsen, senior vice president, general manager of merchandising and marketing, BoxLunch.
BoxLunch at North Star Mall
7400 San Pedro Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78216
SA Examiner 