Last Friday, The Arthur Nagel Clinic hosted a luncheon to kick off their annual upcoming April 13 Bunny Run on Saturday, April 13.
Noted philanthropist Estela Avery of James Avery Artisan Jewelry spoke to the group of 65 on Friday, April 5 at the Special Event Center at the Village of Hope.
Bunny Run Chair Anna Montague welcomed the crowd and then turned the podium over to the Nagel Clinic’s Executive Director, Chuck Lutke, who introduced Mrs. Avery.
Mrs. Avery, a retired nurse from the Kerrville VA Hospital, related the story of her introduction to Jim Avery, who eventually became her husband of 27 years. She humorously told of their first meeting and courtship.
Mrs. Avery described her late husband as “the best teacher, and the best philanthropist and he would take on any project that would benefit the community… He was a dynamic individual and supported each of his stores’ efforts to provide scholarships.”
Avery noted that “men ran the businesses and women became engaged in community involvement,” thirty years ago.
When she married Avery, she began volunteering and serving on foundation boards.
She began by serving on the board of the Good Samaritan Clinic in Fredericksburg. During that time, she began to understand the need for medical assistance for the underserved in the Hill Country.
“That’s how our community involvement started to grow,” she said.
Avery praised consultant Marian Lee on the training provided to the clinic’s board. Avery became interested in the training aspect of philanthropy.
Mrs. Avery attended her first board and fundraiser training in Chicago. Her husband Jim was very supportive of her efforts to learn more about how to be a better board member.
When the San Antonio River Foundation needed an Interim Executive Director, Avery promised to serve in that role until they found a new director. Avery’s success at that job stretched the position from a year to seven years.
“Low and behold they just finished a capital campaign on the River Reach, and afterward I noticed that the foundation was losing board members,” she said.
Avery related that she and the board came together and decided to do an environmental park on the Southside because it was an underserved area of San Antonio. The project was priced at $12.4 million, and this was the first time Avery raised that large an amount.
This park has turned out to be one of the most visited parks in the city. The area school districts use the park to collect data which is recorded on park computers. The educational aspect of the park is important to Avery.
Mrs. Avery related that her husband believed “that it is all about giving.”
The crowd enthusiastically received Avery’s message. Noted members of the community present at the luncheon were members of the Lion’s Club, Mayor Rebecca Gibson, Carolyn Rutherford, Natural History Museum Executive Director Mari Guillen, Bandera County Democratic Chair Lynn Oliver, Frontier Times Executive Director Rebecca Norton, Kronkosky Library Director Paul Phelan, Nagel Director Toni Serene, Nagel Clinical Director Susan Broa and Bunny Run Chair Anna Montague.
The Backyard Bistro catered the event.
The Bunny Walk/Run 5k will be held on Saturday, April 13, with the race registration starting at 7 a.m. and the race beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Nagel Clinic.
Medals will be awarded in seven categories, and a t-shirt and swag bag will be provided for everyone.
For more information, contact the Nagel Clinic or register online.
