The San Antonio-based Priest Holmes Foundation (PHF) has helped area youth accomplish their educational, behavioral, attendance and social goals since the doors opened in 2005. The PHF has become strongly rooted in San Antonio and has enjoyed every triumph experienced throughout the journey to encourage education and enhance the lives of children in our community.
Supporting education is one of the many ways the PHF helps young men and women maximize their potential. The PHF has spent the past five years developing the flagship programs that are a constant source of inspiration for the organization and the community. The PHF Scholarship & Standards Program and Student Incentive Program represent two concepts that the organization’s founder, Priest Holmes, feels are imperative for the growth, development and success of our youth.
The PHF Scholarship & Standards Program seeks to give students the tools they need to succeed by offering financial support to students who have shown a commitment towards continuing their education. All scholarships recognize extraordinary achievement, leadership and talent, and they vary from financial need to academic and community achievements.
The PHF Scholarship & Standards award selection process is led by Linda Gann, PHF Scholarship Committee chair and secondary mathematics instructional specialist for Northside ISD. The PHF Scholarship & Standards application packet is launched annually through www.priestholmesfoundation.org and is open to Bexar County high school seniors. The scholarship committee manages the application collection process from Dec. 15 to March 1, and the committee selects the scholarship recipients each May.
Since 2009, the PHF has awarded 36 scholarships to San Antonio-area graduating high school seniors. On May 25 and 26, 2010, the PHF presented scholarship awards certificates and letters to 17 students throughout San Antonio from the following high schools: Antonian College Preparatory, Earl Warren, John Jay, John Jay Science & Engineering Academy, John Marshall, John Paul Stevens, Louis Brandeis, Sam Houston and South San.
In 2008, the PHF forged a partnership with the Spurs Organization and Communities In Schools of San Antonio (CIS of SA) on the PHF Student Incentive Program. This comprehensive incentive program is designed to encourage students to increase attendance, improve academically and participate in extracurricular activities.
The success of this program is a collaborative effort between PHF and CIS of SA President and CEO Nancy Reed; Director of Programs Jessica Weaver; and in-school counselors who work directly with the students as part of their daily curriculum on methods to improve overall as students. Through this incentive program, San Antonio-area elementary, middle and high school students are given the opportunity to compete with their peers for a trip to a San Antonio Spurs home game, exclusive Spurs locker room meet-and-greet events and the end-of-season PHF All-Star Student Award.
On April 9, 2010, the 2009-2010 PHF Student Incentive Program All-Star Students were recognized during an on-court ceremony at the Spurs vs. Grizzlies game. These exceptional students are selected based on their determination to act as leaders in their schools and communities. A total of 900 season tickets are distributed each Spurs season to CIS of SA.
Holmes has been dedicated to the community efforts of the organization since the inception of the PHF in 2005. “My 11 years in the NFL have provided me [with] a platform that I am able to use to encourage, enhance and empower today’s youth,” Holmes said. “I am honored to be given the opportunity to support the lives of youth through education-based incentive and scholarship programs. PHF has made great strides in supporting the San Antonio community, and as we continue to grow, [we] look forward to expansion efforts into many more communities that can benefit from our efforts.”
One community in particular is the Greater Kansas City area, which Holmes considers a second home after spending seven of his 11 years in the NFL as a standout running back with the Kansas City Chiefs. The PHF visited Kansas City in October 2009 when Holmes was officially retired by the Kansas City Chiefs. While in Kansas City, the organization hosted a series of fundraisers and directed a portion of the proceeds to support CIS of KCK/Wyandotte County. In January 2010, the PHF provided CIS of KCK/Wyandotte County with a grant to launch of the PHF Student Incentive Program within the Greater Kansas City area.
On April 27, 2010, the PHF returned to Kansas City to recognize nine fourth-grade students from M.E. Pearson Elementary. These top performers were selected based on their commitment to meet and exceed the set requirements for attendance, effort and behavior. The students were rewarded with a limousine ride with Holmes from their school to the annual CIS luncheon, where they were presented with award certificates.
In addition to the student award ceremony, Mayor Joe Reardon proclaimed April 27, 2010, Priest Holmes Foundation Day in Kansas City and presented Holmes with a proclamation and key to the city in a ceremony preceding the CIS luncheon.
After retiring in 2007, Holmes returned to his hometown of San Antonio. “Since retirement, I have focused my efforts on building the best team possible to generate the momentum needed to make in impact in the lives of children,” Holmes said. “Through our community relations efforts and strategic partnerships with organizations such as Communities In Schools and the Spurs Organization, PHF is on the path to many strong years of growth. It feels great to give back to the communities that have given so much to me over the years.”
To learn more about the Priest Holmes Foundation, visit www.priestholmesfoundation.org or http://www.facebook.com/thephf.
