Why Local News Day Matters

Across the country, people are choosing to start local. They’re following neighborhood outlets, subscribing to trusted sources, and supporting the organizations that help them stay connected to their communities.

At the same time, the landscape is shifting. More than 1,300 communities nationwide are considered “news deserts,” and in Texas, many counties have limited or no consistent local news coverage.

Local News Day connects both sides of this story. It’s a day to recognize the role local news plays in daily life and to act—whether that’s following a newsroom on social media, sharing a story, or making a gift that helps sustain this work. And when people come together to support local news, the entire ecosystem grows stronger.

A Local Solution with Lasting Impact

As the local lead for Press Forward San Antonio, the San Antonio Area Foundation is part of a national movement to strengthen access to reliable local information through coordinated, community-centered action.

“Local news is how people stay connected to what’s happening around them and make informed decisions about their daily lives,” said Jesus Garcia-Gonzalez, senior program officer at the San Antonio Area Foundation, where he leads the organization’s Press Forward effort. “Local News Day is an opportunity to build on that connection and make it even stronger.”

One of the most effective ways to participate is by contributing to the Local News Fund, a pooled fund that brings donors together to support local news organizations and the infrastructure behind them.

Through this collective approach, the Local News Fund:

• Supports reliable local information and the people who provide it.
• Provides flexible, sustained funding to strengthen local news organizations.
• Opens doors for new voices and local reporting talent.
• Protects independence through combined support.
  

When donors come together, the impact reaches further. In Texas, more than 130 counties have only one newsroom, and 30 have none, highlighting where collective support can make the greatest difference.

“Strong communities depend on access to trustworthy local information,” said Lisa Brunsvold, Chief Development Officer at the Area Foundation. “When donors come together to support local news, they’re investing in a more informed, connected, and resilient community.”

Additional Ways to Take Part

Local News Day is designed to be simple and accessible. You can participate in a way that feels right for you:

• Follow a local news outlet on social media, or subscribe to their newsletter.
• Share a story that matters to your community, citing a local news organization as your source of information.
• Directly support the outlets you rely on most (Find info on local outlets at localnewsday.org)
  

No matter how you choose to take action this Local News Day, your effort helps ensure local information remains accessible, relevant, and rooted in the communities it serves.

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The post Meet Our Inaugural Professional Advisor Council appeared first on San Antonio Area Foundation.

Seymour Battle III, Senior Vice President for Communications, Public Relations & Engagement at Valero Energy Corporation, Jorge A. del Alamo III, formerly Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Controller at NuStar Energy and Cat Dizon, Co-Founder & Partner at Active Capital, will join the board in January.

“Strong boards bring together people who are deeply invested in their community and willing to lend their experience in service of something bigger,” said Sarah Harte, Chair of the Area Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Seymour, Jorge, and Cat each bring an insightful, dedicated approach to leadership and we’re excited to welcome them to the board.”

Battle has held various leadership roles during his 20-year career at Valero, including Vice President of Accounting Systems. His current position involves responsibility for the company’s philanthropic investments. His community involvement is also extensive – from participant and Steering Committee member of Leadership San Antonio to serving on the boards of KLRN, MetroSA Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Food Bank and Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

“I am honored to join the Area Foundation Board because of its long, proven history of uplifting our community and investing in the people who call San Antonio home,” Battle said. “At a time when our city faces complex challenges — from economic mobility to equitable access to opportunity — I believe in the Area Foundation’s ability to bring partners together, strengthen local nonprofits and create lasting impact. It is an honor to support an organization so deeply committed to building a stronger, more compassionate San Antonio for all.”

Jorge del Alamo worked for nearly two decades at NuStar before retiring, holding multiple positions in financial planning, reporting and analysis. Previously, he worked at Valero, Fuego, Inc., iLife Systems, Inc., and Ernst & Young. He is a past participant in Leadership San Antonio, serves on the board of the San Antonio Museum of Art and he’s a member of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County’s Tocqueville Society.

“I have known about the Area Foundation for many years, including a time in which I had a small fund,” del Alamo said. “I have consistently been impressed with the impact it has on the community in supporting important nonprofit initiatives. As I’ve gotten to know some of the staff, I have become even more impressed. I am greatly honored to have been elected to serve on the board and look forward to helping the Area Foundation execute on its strategic objectives in the upcoming years.”

Prior to founding her venture capital firm in San Antonio, Cat Dizon served as Executive Director of Alamo Angels. She also worked for 11 years at Rackspace as Director of Corporate Strategy & Development. Her community involvement includes serving on the boards of Geekdom, the Mind Science Foundation and Girls Inc. of San Antonio. Dizon is a member of the Texas Women’s Forum and SA100.

“The Area Foundation is highly regarded for its substantial contributions to the local community,” Dizon said. “Their dedication to service motivates me to get more involved with their mission. There are plenty of ways to help our community, and I believe the Area Foundation will keep leading creative initiatives that promote kindness and progress in San Antonio.”

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The PAC recognizes that professional advisors are often the partners clients turn to when they begin thinking seriously about values, legacy, and impact. And for advisors who believe philanthropy should be as thoughtful and strategic as any other investment, the PAC offers a chance to lead that conversation together.

Through combined knowledge of guiding complex giving decisions, council members will help move local philanthropy toward intentional charitable investment. This includes inspiring strategic use of charitable tools, encouraging support for promising nonprofits, and helping donors think more holistically about place-based impact in our rural and underserved communities.

For nonprofits, this translates into funding that is more informed, more flexible, and better aligned with organizational capacity and long-term goals. For the community, it means capital is deployed with greater insight and coordination. “Professional advisors play a critical role in how generosity takes shape in our region,” says Lisa Brunsvold, Chief Development Officer at the San Antonio Area Foundation. “The Professional Advisor Council creates a space for shared learning and leadership so we can support stronger outcomes for the community we all care about.”

Who serves on the Professional Advisor Council?

The Professional Advisor Council will be a select group of 12-20 experienced professionals drawn from across the advisory landscape, including attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, wealth managers, trust officers, and others involved in estate, tax, and charitable planning.

Members of the PAC will participate in ongoing dialogue about trends in philanthropy, share practical expertise with peers, and provide direct input that helps shape how the Area Foundation supports advisors and their clients.

Advisors interested in serving on the inaugural council can apply online. Applications are due by February 28, 2026.

A Two-Way Learning Community

The PAC is intentionally designed as a two-way exchange: Advisors learn from one another, and the Area Foundation learns how to better support client-centered charitable planning across the region.

Members benefit from curated educational experiences led by national experts, access to tools and case studies that support values-driven client conversations, and a strong peer network of respected advisors and community leaders. The council also provides opportunities for recognition as philanthropic leaders shaping the future of giving in Bexar and surrounding counties.

Just as importantly, members gain a deeper understanding of local nonprofit needs and emerging opportunities—insight they can carry directly into their client work.

Council members serve two-year, renewable terms. Members meet six times per year from April to October to discuss emerging planning trends, participate in focus groups that inform Area Foundation strategies, and engage in optional working groups focused on education, outreach, and events. Site visits and briefings with nonprofit leaders offer a grounded view of how philanthropy plays out on the ground.

Learn More

Advisors interested in learning more about the Professional Advisor Council, discussing time commitments and expectations, or understanding the application process, are encouraged to contact David Simmons at dsimmons@saafdn.org or 404-964-1785.

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MacArthur announced a $6 million total investment – the Area Foundation through eight partnerships with organizations focused on helping maintain and grow news and information organizations based in U.S. border states.

The Area Foundation’s effort comes through its role serving as the local chapter of the Press Forward project, helping lead regional collaboration and investment in creating a more resilient, sustainable and trusted local information environment for South Central Texas and select regions of the Texas-Mexico border..

 “Every resident deserves access to reliable, consistent local news – yet without meaningful investment from philanthropy, our community risks losing vital newsrooms that keep us informed and connected,” said Ryan Lugalia-Hollon, the Area Foundation’s Chief Impact Officer. “We are grateful to play a small part in strengthening and sustaining trusted news providers across our region.”

Press Forward San Antonio (PFSA), established by the Area Foundation in 2024, is part of the national Press Forward initiative, a network of local chapters and funders working to reimagine how communities support and sustain local journalism. The $750,000 grant from MacArthur will go toward growing PFSA.

Its mission is to build and support a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive news and information ecosystem, so that everyone in the South Central Texas region can find, access and use verified news and information they need to thrive.

Local news plays a critical role in helping communities stay informed, connected, and engaged. As traditional media landscapes evolve, ensuring the sustainability of quality local journalism is vital to a thriving and informed region.

“Small newsrooms in this region struggle with limited resources while confronting exceptional challenges, including safety concerns, trauma and difficulties accessing information from governments on both sides of the border,” said Silvia Rivera, MacArthur Foundation’s Director of Local News. “This makes the role of local newsrooms even more critical, as they bear the overarching responsibility of combating misinformation and maintaining community cohesion.”

About the San Antonio Area Foundation:

The San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAFdn) has served as the city’s most trusted and impactful philanthropic partner for more than 60 years, growing to become one of the country’s largest community foundations. The Area Foundation strives to close opportunity gaps for those who need it most, managing more than 600 charitable funds totaling $1.3 billion in assets. The Area Foundation supports hundreds of nonprofit organizations – grantmaking reached $60 million in 2024, including $9.6 million in college scholarships. Learn more at saafdn.org.

About MacArthur Foundation:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including revitalizing local news, advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local criminal justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria.

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A shining example is the Area Foundation’s Collaborative Grants – funding specifically meant to boost partnerships among at least three nonprofits taking on community challenges together. That comes in the form of shared expertise, resources and community reach.

In 2025, the Area Foundation held a Collaborative Grant process concluding by awarding $1 million to 17 proposed projects (out of 126 applications). These grants were split along two principal tracks:

• Projects in which the partners focus on a specific program or initiative.
• Projects ensuring growth of previously existing partnerships meant to improve neighborhoods or larger community areas.

The selected grant recipients represent the Area Foundation’s four main grantmaking areas: Cultural Vibrancy, Livable and Resilient Communities, Successful Aging and Youth Success.

“Each partnership demonstrates strong community need, proven ability to work together, clear success measures and a high potential to close opportunity gaps for those who need it most,” explained Ryan Lugalia-Hollon, the Area Foundation’s Chief Impact Officer.

Here are the 2025 Collaborative Grant recipients (listed by lead nonprofit partner):

Hernán Rozemberg is the Area Foundation’s Executive Director of Marketing & Communications.

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The San Antonio Area Foundation is celebrating a major leadership milestone as CEO Nadege Souvenir has been elected to the 2026 Board of Directors for the Council on Foundations (COF),  one of the country’s principal national associations serving philanthropic organizations..

The appointment was confirmed during COF’s annual membership meeting on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, where members approved a slate of four new national board leaders – including Souvenir.

“It’s an honor to serve on the Council on Foundations board and ensure that San Antonio and our region are part of the national conversation shaping the future of philanthropy,” said Souvenir, who joined the organization in April 2024.

“The Area Foundation is deeply committed to collaboration with peers across the country, advancing ideas that strengthen communities everywhere,” Souvenir noted.

Founded 75 years ago, the Council on Foundations is a nonprofit association representing more than 1,000 organizations involved in philanthropy across the country and overseas — including community foundations, private, corporate and tribal grantmakers, public charities and other organizations engaged in philanthropic activity.

The Council seeks to “build trust in philanthropy, expand pathways to giving, engage broader perspectives, and co-create solutions that will lead to a better future for all.”

In its nomination description, the Council highlighted Souvenir as a “transformative leader committed to strengthening communities, advancing equity, and driving innovation in philanthropy.” It further recognized her “collaborative leadership, data-informed strategy, and systems change.”

Souvenir was lauded as a “2025 South Texas Power Player” by the San Antonio Business Journal. Locally, she serves on the board of the leading youth-serving nonprofit UP Partnership. Nationally, she advises Catchafire and the Center for Effective Philanthropy, and she is also a trustee of OPERA America.

Prior to joining the Area Foundation, Souvenir worked at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, where she most recently served as Chief Operating Officer.

Hernán Rozemberg is the Area Foundation’s Executive Director of Marketing & Communications.

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That’s well-known in our community, particularly in philanthropic and government circles.

What may not be as widely understood is that the Area Foundation staff does not actually select grant recipients. The grantmaking process is managed by the Area Foundation’s Community Engagement and Impact team – but they don’t pick grantees.

They review applications and make recommendations – but the actual decisions are made by everyday members of our community. These dedicated volunteers comprise our various Community Advisory Committees (CACs).

There are separate committees that evaluate and make selections from applicant pools in our principal grantmaking impact areas: Cultural Vibrancy, Livable and Resilient Communities, Successful Aging and Youth Success.

There are some key stipulations and eligibility requirements that need to be met to be a qualified candidate, including being at least 18 and live within the eight-county San Antonio metropolitan region that the Area Foundation serves. Current nonprofit employees cannot serve in the impact area CACs if their organization will be a grant applicant in that category.

Click here for more information as well as to apply to serve on one of our committees. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 5, 2025. Questions? Contact Gavin Nichols, Senior Program Officer: gnichols@saafdn.org or (210) 242-4720.

If you’ve been looking for a way to give back to our community, don’t miss this opportunity to help us select our nonprofit partners for the 2026-2028 grant cycle!

The post Help Us Select Our Next Nonprofit Grant Recipients! appeared first on San Antonio Area Foundation.

In all, 18 nonprofits were awarded grants ranging from $27,500 to $300,000 over three years (funding varies according to their operating budget size).

It marks the second round of Area Foundation Future Ready Impact Grants this year as part of the organization’s involvement with the Future Ready Bexar County Plan (FRP), an ambitious effort to boost to 70 percent by 2030 the volume of high school graduates enrolling in college or vocational schools.

“We are proud to be contributing to our community’s progress on postsecondary enrollment as a Future Ready lead partner,” said Ryan Lugalia-Hollon, the Area Foundation’s Chief Impact Officer, who oversees grantmaking and strategic initiatives. “Our role is primarily about lifting up these outstanding nonprofits that are laser-focused on investing in students and ensuring they can make great choices after high school.”

The Future Ready Bexar County Plan is a multi-agency campaign, brought to life at the national level by Blue Meridian Partners and led locally by project convener, UP Partnership.

The first round of Area Foundation Future Ready Impact Grants was issued in May 2025. In total, the Area Foundation has awarded nearly $10 million to 34 nonprofits through the FRP program.

Blair Thompson, CEO of Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA), one of the second-round Future Ready Impact Grantees, shared that the new funding will help provide more services to the youth community.

“This support allows RMYA to strengthen our TurningPoint program, providing vital guidance, life skills, education and employment support, and safe housing for youth transitioning from foster care or experiencing housing instability,” Thompson said. “Grants like these help us turn hope into action, ensuring that every young person we serve has the tools, confidence, and opportunities they need to thrive.”

Here are the second-round grantees with their respective cumulative funding over the next three years:

Hernán Rozemberg is the Area Foundation’s Executive Director of Marketing and Communications.

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Manzke brings a strong track record of revenue growth, brand building and mission-driven marketing to the role. Most recently, she served as Chief Growth Officer at Blue Skies of Texas, a nationally recognized living community for older adults, where she led sales and marketing as well as fundraising through its philanthropic arm, the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation.

“Sarah is a mission-driven marketing leader with 20+ years of experience,” said Nadege Souvenir, CEO of the Area Foundation. “She brings vast experience in brand-building, storytelling and donor engagement. Her data-backed approach will be a significant asset to us with implementation of key priorities as well as strengthening our role as a most trusted and impactful philanthropic partner.”

As CMO, Manzke will lead the Area Foundation’s Marketing & Communications team, driving a refreshed approach to storytelling, brand identity, digital engagement and media strategy. She will work closely with the executive leadership team to advance the Area Foundation’s strategic goals and build stronger connections with donors, nonprofits and the broader community.

“I’m honored to join an organization that has been a pillar of San Antonio’s philanthropic landscape for more than 60 years,” Manzke noted. “The Area Foundation’s commitment to closing opportunity gaps deeply aligns with my personal and professional values, and I look forward to advancing that mission through strategic and inclusive communications.”

Manzke holds an MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio and degrees from the New England Conservatory and Carnegie Mellon University. A passionate advocate for community impact and creative engagement, Manzke performs with Agarita Chamber Players, a nonprofit chamber music ensemble she co-founded in 2018.

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to help elevate the Area Foundation’s mission and contribute to the lasting progress of this community I proudly call home,” she said.

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