Lo Bello de San Antonio Women's Club was founded in July 1993. Amelia Garza was the founder and first president. As a small business owner from Mexico, Garza recognized how difficult it was to succeed in business without an education.

As a result, she was determined to assist others in obtaining an education so that they would not have to experience some of the obstacles that she overcame. Garza along with charter members Janice Ricks, Stella Reyna, Hope Scott, Gail Rogers, Olga Mendez, Rachel Madrid, Emma Lopez, Gloria Hernandez, Rita Qunitana, Vangie Flores, Anna Deosdade, Susie Wilkinson, Martha Rodriguez and Lillian Dutson, hosted Lo Bello's first fundraiser, Noche Tropical, in July 1994.

They raised $7,000 and made the first donation of $2,000 to Visitation House. Since then, the women of Lo Bello have raised more than $800,000 that has been awarded in scholarships to The University of Texas at San Antonio, St. Philip's College Culinary Arts Program, UT Health Science Center Nursing Program, Palo Alto College and Our Lady of the Lake University

Lo Bello has also gave donations to the Texas Diabetes Institute, University Hospital, Sister's Care, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Texas, Communities in Schools, Westside YMCA, Positive Beginnings, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Bexar County Family Justice Center, San Jose Mission, and the Smithsonian's Museo Alameda.

Although their membership consists of no more than 30 women, all the women of Lo Bello work hard during their three annual fundraisers to achieve their goal of increasing educational opportunities in San Antonio. The three fundraisers are:

Noche Tropical Gala

Noche Tropical was Lo Bello's original fundraiser and last year's event held at the Alzafar Shrine was its 16th annual. It never ceases to disappoint with great music, food and fun. Complete with a raffle, silent auction and live auction, it is another great opportunity to raise funds for scholarships and community initiatives. The crowd was "wowed" with an exclusive reception that included tastings of top of the line tequilas and other liquors, stilt walkers and more.

Fiesta Fiesta

Lo Bello's newest fundraiser couples two great San Antonio traditions: Fiesta and Lo Bello. As a participating member organization of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission, Lo Bello is provided with the opportunity to have a booth at the opening ceremonies for Fiesta. The inaugural event was April 16, 2009, and Lo Bello operated a booth selling champagne in glasses with "blinky" lights that promoted its official Fiesta event, Champagne and Diamonds®. Look for lots of color and bling at this year's Fiesta Fiesta!

Champagne and Diamonds Brunch

This year Lo Bello will host its Sixth Annual Champagne and Diamonds Brunch on April 18 at the Alzafar Shrine. It is an official Fiesta event that takes place the first Sunday of Fiesta, and offers guests the opportunity to find a diamond at the bottom of a glass of champagne. The brunch also features a grito contest between Rey Feo, King Antonio and the Fiesta San Antonio Commission president. Nowhere else will you see such color, fun and bling. It is everything that Lo Bello is about and all in the name of raising money for educational opportunities for students in our community.

On Feb. 3, Lo Bello presented $94,000 to institutions of higher education for scholarships and to other non-profit organizations for other community initiatives based on the funds that were raised during 2009. Lo Bello continues to strive to raise more money each year to enable them to increase educational opportunities in San Antonio. And have a little fun while doing it!