San Antonio Spurs make an impact in Seguin

(Seguin) — The San Antonio Spurs is giving all of Seguin plenty of reasons to cheer. After keeping it  a secret for a few weeks, Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin says it is finally proud to announce that it has been chosen as one of two $100,000 Frost Bank Operation Renovation Grant winners.

It was back in December when Teatro Executive Director Dr. Yvonne De La Rosa says she accidentally came across the renovation grant opportunity online.

Despite only having 24 hours in which to submit the grant, De La Rosa says she got straight to work.

However not only was that deadline later extended but the grant opportunity, itself, was extended into the Austin area doubling the competition.

De La Rosa says all the anticipation and nervousness, however, was quickly dismissed in February when she learned of the award via email.

“Let me tell you, I read it all the way until it said ‘Congratulations!’ and I cried and I called my dad and I called Sulema (Silva), our board president and also my sisters to share this news because I know that my mother is so excited for Teatro to continue this legacy that the community has been involved for 41 years and that our post WWII building that was the second Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is able to get some renovations that we’ve been needing to have for a while,” said De La Rosa.

Although Teatro was publicly introduced as one of the winners during a recent Spurs game, the $100,000 amount was not publicly revealed until now.

“When I spoke to Spurs and also Frost, they said that our application was a standout and that they were unaware of the amount of work that Teatro has been doing in the community for 41 years and they wanted our students and our dancers and our families to have a safe place to come to and have all the necessary renovations in order to keep thriving,” said De La Rosa.

The grant will go toward a series of renovations and enhancements at the Teatro Cultural Arts Center located at 921 W. New Braunfels St. De La Rosa says among the priorities is a new commercial kitchen. She says the non-profit organization relies heavily on two large food fundraisers that not only support its Ballet Folklorico and Mariachi programs but also a host of other community programs throughout the year. More importantly, De La Rosa says a brand-new kitchen will help support the revitalization of Teatro’s culinary arts program.

“Also, we’d like to go back to teaching cooking classes that we’ve had in the past whether how it is to make tamales, how to make tortillas, pan de calvo, different classes so this commercial kitchen would allow us to start the programming again and make it even better,” said De La Rosa.

De La Rosa says Teatro’s selection for the Operation Renovation Grant is a huge win for Seguin. She says its support of the program over the years has been priceless.

Also, not only did they just present a check to Teatro but De La Rosa says both Spurs and Frost Bank personnel traveled to Seguin to see the center for themselves.

“I’m excited for the Seguin community because we have had avid Spurs fans in our community and to see that the Spurs organization had recognized the work of the community and of the Teatro says a lot about who we are as a group, who we are as an organization and who we are as a community and that touches my heart. Never in a million years, like Sulema mentioned to me when she was signing some paperwork as the president that never in her wildest dreams would she see the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin partnering and signing a document together and that right there is telling to me that this national organization and the basketball association at that has seen our community in a different light,” said De La Rosa.

As part of the grant process, Teatro will have until June to see the renovations through.

The other non-profit to receive a grant was the Madonna Neighborhood Center in San Antonio. Teatro’s group mission is to “promote a better understanding of the Mexican American culture and its people by the teaching, study, practice and performance of the arts and humanities.”