Nonpro t
BY SARAH HERNANDEZ, SIERRA MARTIN & ERIC WEILBACHER
Facility opens supporting special needs adults The Rock Haus Foundation and community members celebrated the grand opening of the Gateway Transition Program facility Feb. 8. The speci cs The new facility will support special needs students from the ages of 18-22 as they transition into living as independently as possible in the community after completing high school. “As we open this new chapter of Gateway, it’s important to remember that life skills empower our students by giving them the essential abilities to communicate, adapt and problem-solve,” said Nina Pugh, executive director of special education for New Braunfels ISD. “These skills will enhance our daily lives and foster their independence and resilience.” The Gateway Transition Program addresses: • Independent living skills
McKenna Foundation posts 2023 records The McKenna Foundation—New Braunfels’ community and nonpro t resource center—recently announced that the McKenna Events Center hosted 960 events in 2023—including meetings, job fairs, educational workshops and more— resulting in a 30% increase over 2022. The gist On top of that, $330,000 in room rental costs were donated. Various fundraising events from the McKenna Foundation’s part- ners raised $1.5 million for the greater New Braunfels area, according to a news release. There were 166 organizations impacted by the event center, up 27.7% from 2022. The McKenna Children’s Museum also showed growth in attendance with more than 123,000 admissions in 2023.
Members of the Rock Haus Foundation and its students celebrated the grand opening of the new facility Feb. 8.
SIERRA MARTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT
• Employment • Recreation and leisure The program also partners with businesses to provide volunteer and work experience. “Our mission [with] the Rock Haus is to support individuals with intellectual developmental dis- abilities and their families to get them the support, the resources, the guidance that they need to have their individual loved ones and their families be successful in life,” said Bill Barry, administrative coordinator for the Rock Haus Foundation.
First Footing program’s new shelter now open
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Stallings, NB Housing Partners executive director, said those seeking shelter are committed to work- ing toward their own permanent housing as well as those seeking shelter from the weather. The First Footing program shelter and commu- nity resource center is located at 4120 Loop 337, New Braunfels. Those seeking housing can visit the shelter or call NB Housing Partners at 830-272-5020.
The new site of the NB Housing Partners and First Footing shelter opened Jan. 15. The shelter is the program’s rst permanent crisis housing space. The background NB Housing Partners entered into a long-term lease with the city of New Braunfels for the new center, which used to be a re station. Currently, the shelter can house up to 42 adults. Kellie
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