Children who need safety, protection and love can find a nurturing environment at SJRC Texas.
One home at the nonprofit’s Bulverde campus for foster children needed repairs and no money was available. Enter philanthropist and businessman Harvey Najim, who donated $500,000 in 2019 toward the renovation.
The work was completed this year, and a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-named Harvey J. Najim Home took place last week.
SJRC Texas was formerly known as St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Najim said he discovered its grant request among many others while mentoring the president and chief executive officer of The San Antonio Area Foundation in 2018. When he saw SJRC Texas’ request, he also asked to see the organization’s proposal.
“When I read this proposal, the house they wanted work done on was run down and unlivable,” said Najim, who is still active and working at 80. “These kids have been through so much in their lives.”
The organization’s older girls, up to 15 of them, will live in the Najim Home, said SJRC Texas chief executive officer Tara Roussett.
“It’s a privilege to live in something that beautiful. We have older teens in the foster system who are transitioning into adulthood. It gives them something positive to work toward,” she said.
The home now has four additional bedrooms to increase its capacity from seven to 15. It has a commercial kitchen and new durable furniture.
Roussett said she has a deep respect for Najim and his philanthropic work.
“We’ve had a relationship with him for a long time,” Roussett said. “Over the last four years, that relationship has grown deeper. He started supporting us with…
Children who need safety, protection and love can find a nurturing environment at SJRC Texas.
One home at the nonprofit’s Bulverde campus for foster children needed repairs and no money was available. Enter philanthropist and businessman Harvey Najim, who donated $500,000 in 2019 toward the renovation.
The work was completed this year, and a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-named Harvey J. Najim Home took place last week.
SJRC Texas was formerly known as St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Najim said he discovered its grant request among many others while mentoring the president and chief executive officer of The San Antonio Area Foundation in 2018. When he saw SJRC Texas’ request, he also asked to see the organization’s proposal.
“When I read this proposal, the house they wanted work done on was run down and unlivable,” said Najim, who is still active and working at 80. “These kids have been through so much in their lives.”
The organization’s older girls, up to 15 of them, will live in the Najim Home, said SJRC Texas chief executive officer Tara Roussett.
“It’s a privilege to live in something that beautiful. We have older teens in the foster system who are transitioning into adulthood. It gives them something positive to work toward,” she said.
The home now has four additional bedrooms to increase its capacity from seven to 15. It has a commercial kitchen and new durable furniture.
Roussett said she has a deep respect for Najim and his philanthropic work.
“We’ve had a relationship with him for a long time,” Roussett said. “Over the last four years, that relationship has grown deeper. He started supporting us with…
