From Our CEO and Board Chair:
Dear friends,
As CEO and chair of the board of directors of this remarkable foundation – the largest philanthropy in the Hill Country — it is our privilege to reflect on the progress we made in 2024 and share our vision for a future in which health and wellness are not just goals, but a shared reality.
Last year, Create Healthy doubled down on our commitment to empowering individuals to live healthier lives by funding entities and projects that align with our expansive view of health and well-being, everything from early childhood development and mental wellness to reliable, nutritious meals for our senior population and safe, accessible play areas for Hill Country children.
By investing in local initiatives and strengthening existing local resources, we’re helping ensure that every individual in the Hill Country has access to timely mental health, accessible early childhood education and development, support to enable a healthier lifestyle, and other resources that make our region such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. These are the building blocks for healthier communities.
In 2024, Create Healthy also increased our financial commitments to support a brighter, healthier future for all. We added strategic grants to our funding portfolio, bringing our giving to nearly $5 million in donations, sponsorships, scholarships, grants, and matching gifts.
Thank you for your unwavering belief in Create Healthy’s mission. Your trust and support energize us in our commitment to ensuring that a healthy Hill Country is a reality today and for generations to come. Together, we are shaping a healthier tomorrow — one brimming with promise, hope, and opportunities for all.
With gratitude,
Jayne Pope, RN, MBA
President and CEO
Jenny Wieser, PhD
Chair of the Board
Our Work
At the core of the Create Healthy mission is a commitment to empowering the vibrant communities that make up the Hill Country to spark long-term, sustainable transformations for achieving good health.
Create Healthy invests in organizations through grants, sponsorships, scholarships, capital campaign gifts, and other donations that meet board-established funding criteria.
We support nonprofit organizations serving the counties of Gillespie, Blanco, Llano, and Mason and the town of Comfort that work in the areas of mental health, early childhood development, healthy living, and health education.
Grants Overview
For full details, download our PDF report.
Uplifting students & communities
For full details, download our PDF report.
Fuel to the fire
Create Healthy challenges area organizations to maximize their year-end giving outreach by issuing matching-fund grants. Through our Fuel to the Fire campaign, Create Healthy supported 10 Hill Country organizations with additional matching grants up to $25,000, maximizing the impact of every dollar contributed.
For full details, download our PDF report.
Mental Health
2024 Priorities
Over $700,000 Invested
For full details, download our PDF report.
Fueling Resilience:
Empowering Survivors, Building Healthier Futures
The Grace Center
Since 2016, The Grace Center has provided shelter and free and confidential services to those affected by domestic violence. In 2024, the Center provided emergency shelter, 24-hour hotline crisis intervention, case management, social service referrals, food and nutrition support, life skills classes, legal advocacy, and children’s services both residentially and non-residentially.
Hattie Heiner
The Grace Center Executive Director
“Create Healthy helps us further our mission and to grow and provide support for the most vulnerable in our community. Instead of just operating day to day, we’re able to plan for our future, meet our strategic planning goals, provide essential services, and create a safe place for our clients.”
2024 Priorities
Early Childhood Development
Over $2.5 million Invested
For full details, download our PDF report.
Empowering Youth Through Health and Learning
Boys & Girls Club
of the Highland Lakes
In 2024, the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes continued its commitment to empowering children through its comprehensive Llano Unit program. The initiative ensured that children received over 9,000 healthy meals, supervised physical activities, and academic support to nurture well-rounded growth and inspire future success. By offering a safe, engaging environment during out-of-school hours, the Club promotes healthy lifestyles, positive behaviors, and strong academic foundations for children from families in need.
Bill Drake
Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes Executive Director
“Although Create Healthy helped us fund childcare, we are also funding mental health, healthy lifestyles, and the future of our community. The ripple effect of this funding is just phenomenal because when parents know their kids are in a safe, warm, welcoming environment, they’re able to work and add to the economic base of Llano.”
Empowering Communities with Nutritious Choices
Hill Country Pop-Up Markets
In 2024, the San Antonio Food Bank advanced its mission to fight hunger and feed hope by launching 10 pop up market food distribution sites in Mason County and in Comfort. At these sites, households can access a healthy assortment of dairy, proteins, grains, and produce, ensuring families have access to the nutrition they need today while building a foundation for long-term self-sufficiency.
Eric Cooper
San Antonio Food Bank President & CEO
“We believe no one should go hungry in our community. People have to travel far in the Texas Hill Country and that limits their access to food banks. Meeting people where they are through pop-up food markets is really what the Create Healthy grant has enabled us to do.”
2024 Priorities
Wellness Center
health and wellness hub for our community.
In 2024, the Create Healthy Wellness Center continued to meet our community’s fitness and exercise needs with affordable and accessible state-of-the-art fitness equipment, trainers, and group fitness classes as well as health and nutrition education and water safety programming. With a more than 300 percent increase in membership in the last couple of years, the Create Healthy Wellness Center provides a unique service as a health and wellness hub for our community.
As part of our commitment to community health and safety, the Wellness Center hosted the 2024 World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, a global event aimed at reducing childhood drowning by teaching vital water competency skills.
Thanks for stopping by.
