New foundation formed

  • Pictured are board members, left to right, Joey Werner, Robert Werner, Mike Trojcak, Dr. Melanie Cowan, Michelle Werner-Mendel and Nikki Nerada. Not pictured is Amberly Moye.
    Pictured are board members, left to right, Joey Werner, Robert Werner, Mike Trojcak, Dr. Melanie Cowan, Michelle Werner-Mendel and Nikki Nerada. Not pictured is Amberly Moye.

    After watching the Little Dribblers basketball league last season, Robert Werner saw kids struggling to keep their grip on the floor and were sliding everywhere. This inspired Werner on a mission to update the existing old gym of Shiner ISD.
    Werner, Michelle Werner-Mendel, Amberly Moye, and Nikki Nerada attended facility meetings hosted by Shiner ISD where they were made aware of updates that need to be made to the current school.
    After many informal discussions, Werner decided to create a nonprofit foundation to assist Shiner ISD with any needs that may arise that are not in their current operating budget.
    The organization is named the Shiner Academic and Athletic Foundation and has a board of seven directors, including, Robert Werner, President; Nikki Nerada, Vice President; Mike Trojcak, Treasurer; Michelle Werner-Mendel, Secretary; Dr. Melanie Cowan, Amberly Moye, and Joey Werner.
    The first board meeting was held on June 27, where discussion centered on the mission of the foundation, fundraising, a membership drive, and their first projects: restoration of the old gym beginning with the floor and roof.
    The board unanimously agreed that their mission is to partner with the community to enrich learning, maximize the use of the academic and athletic facilities, and to assist in post-secondary goals. The board is a group of volunteers that operate exclusively for charitable purposes.
    The Shiner Academic and Athletic Foundation will have a membership drive on August 3 at the old gym on W. Thirteenth Street with different levels of membership. The annual memberships consist of the following tiers:
    Chief-$100: VIP Pass to our special event- early access to the event which includes appetizers and beverages,  Volunteer at 1 fundraiser, Certificate of Membership
    Comanche-$50: 6 beverage tokens to our special event, Volunteer at 1 fundraiser, Certificate of Membership
    Brave-$20: 2 beverage tokens to our special event, Volunteer at 1 fundraiser, Certificate of Membership
    Friends of the Foundation-$0: Volunteer at 1 fundraiser, Certificate of Membership
    On August 17, the foundation will be having a pork steak dinner at the Kaspar Pavilion with more information to come. You can follow us on facebook, Shiner Academic and Athletic Foundation.