Press Release from Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation

  UVALDE, TX (March 22, 2024) – The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation is honored to announce a $1 million gift from John L. Nau III and Silver Eagle Beverages. All of the funds go directly toward building a new elementary school in the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (Uvalde CISD) following the tragedy at Robb Elementary School.

“I am proud to support this effort to build a new school in Uvalde,” said John L. Nau III, Chairman and CEO of Silver Eagle Beverages. “As a business member of the Uvalde community, Silver Eagle Beverages is proud to support this important effort that impacts our local employees and their families and the many children and families of Uvalde.”

Construction of the new elementary school is currently underway for the new elementary school and is being led by general contractor, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction. Representatives from Silver Eagle Beverages, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, and Uvalde CISD will join the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation at the school’s construction site on Tuesday, March 26 to give updates about the project.

“We are greatly humbled by the support from Mr. Nau and Silver Eagle Beverages,” said Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation. “Their support demonstrates their true care for Texas and Texans.”

Construction of the new elementary school in Uvalde CISD broke ground during a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the site of the new school. To date, the Foundation has raised 68 percent of the funds needed to build the new school. Donations are still needed; people interested in donating can still do so at the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation website: uvaldecisdmovingforward.org/donate-now.

The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation was created in the wake of the tragedy at Robb Elementary School through gifts from grocery chain, H-E-B, and the Butt family totaling $10 million. Huckabee Inc. donated its services, becoming a founding partner. Beginning in the fall of 2022, the Foundation began working with the Uvalde CISD Community Advisory Committee to develop the plans for the new elementary school. Those plans were approved by the Uvalde CISD Board of Trustees in April 2023.

Note: The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation is a separate entity from the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District.

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 About the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation

The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation serving the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District community. For more information about the foundation, including opportunities for making a donation, please visit www.uvaldecisdmovingforward.org or contact Tim Miller at tmiller@charlesbuttfdn.org.

The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation was created in the wake of the tragedy at Robb Elementary School, which took 21 innocent lives on May 24, 2022. Funding collected through the foundation will support the construction of a new elementary school campus in the Uvalde CISD, ensuring students and staff will not have to return to the site of the tragedy, and ultimately supporting the District’s ongoing needs as it moves forward.

About Silver Eagle Beverages

Silver Eagle Beverages is one of the largest Anheuser-Busch distributors in the United States. More than 500 employees service a territory that includes Bexar County and extends over 12 additional counties in southwest Texas. Silver Eagle Beverages’ footprint covers 18,481 square miles from Wilson County to Val Verde County on the state border. With a corporate office and warehouse in San Antonio, warehouse in Del Rio and depot in Carrizo Springs, Silver Eagle Beverages distributes a broad selection of domestic and import brands, national and local craft beers, and several non-alcohol beverages and waters. For more information, visit www.silvereaglebeverages.com.

   Several dozen people gathered at DeLeon Park for the Kaboom! Playground reveal event Thursday evening at 6 PM. 

   Mayor Don McLaughlin, City Councilmen Everado “Lalo” Zamora and Hector Luevano attended the ceremonies, Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez , Constable Emmanuel Zamora and County Commissioner Ronnie Garza also attended  along with other community members and civic leaders and members of the media,

   Jan DeMelo the Director of Special Projects for Kaboom! began the unveiling ceremony. DeMelo was accompanied by Kaboom! representative Lysa Ratliff.

  DeMelo explained to the crowd that the process of selecting a playground design began several weeks ago with a collaborative effort consisting of the Uvalde Memorial Library, the City of Uvalde and a planning committee consisting of volunteers from the community. She explained that the committee which included children and adults utilized crayons, blue blocks and other building materials. The planning was then transferred into artwork she stated.

  Out of the planning process four playground designs were generated. Community members were then given the opportunity to vote online for one playground design to be constructed in October 2022. 

 Once the two artist renditions and map of the design was unveiled, people were allowed to take pictures and examine the displays up close. 

 Construction will begin on the playground October 13 and continue through October 15th from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM each day.  On October 13th and 14th, ground preparation work will be done, The October 15th is the day when the playground will be assembled. According to Mayra Vasquez, October 15th is the date the most volunteers from the community are needed to build the playground.

  DeMelo said they are in the process of collecting water, food and drinks and T-Shirts for the volunteers participating in the playground building event. 

 Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, Those interested in volunteering can sign up online using the QR Code printed on the flier. (Flier is posted with this article)

Kym Rapier from Kym’s Angel’s Foundation will be donating Two Million Dollars to

UVALDE STRONG FAMILIES & the COMMUNITY

Kym’s Angel’s will be directly helping each family that was affected by a death. We will be donating a check to each family next Friday in Uvalde, Tx.