I write this article with a heart full of gratitude for the supporters of the 2013 Cordillera Ranch Shindig; gratitude for the Underwriters, Sponsors, and attendees. It’s my duty – and pleasure – to communicate to all of you just how grateful we are to you for helping us raise more money than ever for the Kendall County community. By “we” I mean the young barrel racer I met who will enjoy the benefits of her new 4H and Junior Livestock facility on I-10. I speak for the camper who will be mentored throughout the school year after he returns from what will probably prove to be a life altering week at Stillwater Sports Camp. I type this article to say thank you for the senior citizen who is able to attend aqua therapy thank to Shindig. To quote an employee of Benedictine Ministries, “These classes change their lives.” I speak for the young mom who will receive prenatal care, never before available in Kendall County, from Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center. Because of the monies raised at Shindig, an at-risk teen will be helped by Hill Country Daily Bread. Also, the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department now has funds to put towards an additional fire truck to service our neighborhood and surrounding communities.

We couldn’t have written a better script for the 2013 Shindig. The weather was beautiful, the wind was minimal, and we made a last minute decision to rent heaters!

Thank you to our Underwriters and Sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible. We are incredibly grateful to Authentic Custom Homes, Burdick and Christofilis, Great Homes, and Stadler Custom Homes for their title sponsorship of our event. In addition, Pinnacle Propane, Ranch at the Rim, Cavender Chevrolet, Vaquero Waste, Sterling Home Technologies, Trevino Insurance Services, and Harland Clarke Holdings Corp for generously donating funds so that the 2013 Shindig raised more money than ever. Because of this great support, $200,000 from the Shindig will be donated to charities in Kendall County which will exponentially change our community and the lives of those who live here.

As co-chairs, Jamie and I got to work with some of the best in the business! The staff at the Clubs of Cordillera Ranch made our jobs easy, and we are incredibly grateful for their guidance and their pure professionalism as we planned the Shindig. Monty, Manny, Sarah and their staff helped us pull off a great evening, and there’s no way the night would have been as successful without their help. We are also indebted to our committee chairs. I wish you could see what all these ladies (and gentlemen) did, and the hours of time they sacrificed so that the night would be perfect. Mission accomplished, ladies!

I am honored to have this forum so you know that Shindig wasn’t simply an event that you attended and left a couple hundred or maybe even thousands of dollars. You changed a life. You made a difference in your community. We are grateful for your support, and pray that throughout the years Shindig continues to be a staple that Kendall County charities can count on to continue to save and change lives for eternity.