Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Fall 2019

Methodist Children’s Hospital Hosts RowanWindham Memorial Cereal Drive and Breakfast of Champions In June, Methodist Healthcare System collected more than 277,000 servings of cereal through the Rowan Windham Memorial Cereal Drive, surpassing the goal of 225,000 serv- ings. The food drive annually benefits the San Antonio Food Bank’s Million Summer Meals initiative to ensure that Bexar County kids have access to regular meals during the summer. As part of the Rowan Windham Memorial Cereal Drive, MHS partnered with KENS Cares to host a telethon during the KENS 5 evening newscasts. The telethon gener- ated more than $8,000 in donations, which equated to more than 57,000 servings of cereal. Methodist Children’s Hospital continues to honor the memory of Rowan Windham with a record-setting year for the Rowan Windham Memorial Cereal Drive and by recognizing local youth who embody his legacy of self- less giving at the Breakfast of Champions, now part of the food drive. In June, Methodist Healthcare System collected more than 277,000 servings of cereal, surpassing the goal of 225,000 servings. MHS partnered with KENS Cares to host a telethon during the KENS 5 evening newscasts, generating more than $8,000 in donations, which equated to more than 57,000 servings of cereal. Prior to passing away after a long fight with a rare ge- netic disorder, 10-year-old Rowan made it his mission to help Methodist Children’s Hospital eliminate childhood hunger. The Rowan Windham Memorial Cereal Drive annually benefits the San Antonio Food Bank’s Million Summer Meals initiative which ensures that kids in Bexar County—25 percent of whom face food insecurity—have access to regular meals during summer months. Methodist Children’s Hospital honored 12 local kids at the second annual Breakfast of Champions. The event, held in conjunction with the Rowan WindhamMemorial Cereal Drive, recognized San Antonio youth who have car- ried onWindham’s legacy of selfless giving. They each had the opportunity to speak with Spurs guard Bryn Forbes, Spurs legend Sean Elliott, dietitian and philanthropist Claudia Zapata-Elliott, and Hearts Need Art Founder and President Constanza Roeder. This panel inspired the group to continue to make a difference in the communi- ties they live in. The 2019 Champions Class includes: ●  ● Jordan Allen , James Madison High School, has raised thousands of dollars for Disability SA, a program that promotes leadership and life skills development. She volunteers at the Food Bank at her church, knowing it’s better to give than to receive. ●  ● Evelyn Garrett , a Kerrville ISD student, started “Eve’s Bears for Boo-Boos”. Evelyn has created and donated 285 bears to pediatric patients at Methodist Children’s Hospital, and she has donated dozens of bears to patients at a Kerrville hospital. A personal note is in- cluded with each bear. ●  ● Hank Lee makes his fourth grade class proud at Five Palms Elementary. Hank has a clear vision and desire to improve his school campus, and he communicates with his principal daily on ways to clean up graffiti and en- courage other kids to take pride in and appreciate their school and community. ●  ● For the last two years, Ezinne Anunobi has put oth- ers before herself while serving on the Kindness Club at Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School. She was tasked with two service projects. For her first project, she went door to door on weekends raising more than $3,000 for Haven for Hope. Then she wrote letters to families of soldiers who lost loved ones, to thank them for their sacrifice for our country. ●  ● Raziel Sink , Southwest Preparatory School, works year-round raising funds for her anti-bullying campaign. She brings in motivational speakers to support her anti- bullying initiatives and she presents at the different schools in her district as well as to city leaders during Anti-Bullying month. ●  ● Samuel Cisneros , San Antonio Christian School, started “A Break for the Blue,” providing gift cards for police officers so they can have coffee or lunch and know someone appreciates them. Because of his effort, he was invited to the White House. He now runs a 501(c)(3) and has a website for donations. ●  ● Lillie Lew , Legacy Christian Academy, chose to shave her head in order to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which helps fund cancer research for thou- sands of infants, children, teens and young adults. Lillie, who does not have cancer, raised an incredible amount of money for the cause. ●  ● Eric Mares , who just graduated from Earl Warren High School, has helped with many initiatives for Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish Foundation and others. Through his experience as student president of his school’s Woodworker’s Club, he has made wooden toys and held toy drives for Elf Louise each Christmas. ●  ● Blake Morey, David de la Cruz and Adrian Rodriguez , Mary F. Huppertz Elementary, as a team founded the “Cougar Plush Club.” They organized a schoolwide plush drive, and they just donated more than 100 plushies to comfort children in difficult situations at the Family Violence Prevention Center. 6 F A L L 2 0 1 9 K E E P I N G W E L L M e t h o d i s t H e a l t h c a r e