Pub. 57 2016-2017 Issue 1

6 Every significant charity or cause in San Antonio, Texas depends upon volunteer leadership and fundraising to reach their goals to serve the needs of the community. No group stands up for those institutions more than franchised car and truck dealers. Virtually every dealership in the city is privately owned and operated by families who have served the citizens of San Antonio for generations. APRIL ANCIRA San Antonio’s Guardian Angel O ne dealer in particular stands out. The second generation of a distinguished dealer family, a devoted mother of two, the wife of an outstanding dealer who is also from a multi-generational dealer family, a consummate athlete, and someone who is sought for leadership, advice and support by countless organizations that care for those who need some assistance in improving their lives. April Ancira doesn’t just volunteer, she leads the way as evi- denced by her accomplishments on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of South Central Texas. April raised $234,000 in the most recent campaign and was named the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year by not only raising the most money of any woman raising funds for this wonderful cause, but by raising more money than any woman in the history of the event. April was recognized for this honor at the annual LLS fundraising gala where she gave an inspirational acceptance speech relating her experi- ence with those who have been affected by cancer and her commitment to do everything possible to help the society as they raise funds for blood cancer research in honor of local children who are blood cancer survivors. As April relates, “Ancira Enterprises has always supported so many wonder- ful groups in the community. However as an individual, it all started years ago when the Salvation Army asked me to paint a kettle for their Parade of Kettles campaign. I didn’t think I could do much, but sure.... Why not? Sounded fun. Several folks in the community painted kettles and whomever raised the most money ‘won.’ What did we win? Nothing,