SAN ANTONIO, Texas (August 17, 2023)–As a clearer picture emerges of the Maui wildfires’ devastating impact on children and their families, four San Antonio organizations—San Antonio Zoo, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Witte Museum and Will Smith Foundation—are teaming up to encourage donations to the “Imua Maui Relief Fund.”

Contributions to the fund will directly benefit the children and families that have had their lives traumatically disrupted by the recent wildfires. Imua Family Services, a long-serving non-profit on Maui, will manage the funds and ensure that monies raised for relief directly benefit the local community. The organization understands that recovery will take time and the needs will change as the community navigates through the road to recovery. Imua Family Services is prepared to adapt and adjust to these changing needs.

“I’ve been told there is a magnetic energy, or beat, on Maui,” shared Susan Naylor, founder of the Will Smith Foundation.  “She pulls the people in she wants and sends the others home. Sixteen years ago when Maui took my 8-year-old son Will in a horrific car crash, not far from where these fires have ravaged our island, we were tourists. Now I am Maui Ohana—family. The island has chosen me and through these years I’ve worked to help the children in Maui through Will’s foundation.”

“There is a message in this great disaster that has occurred on our island,” Naylor continued. “It’s a message to come together and be Maui strong. So I’m appealing to my hometown San Antonio to help restore the spirit—mana—of Maui, whose people will always be in my heart.”

Donations to the “Imua Maui Relief Fund” can be made at bit.ly/MauiReliefFund.

Imua Family Services’ mission is to “Empower children and their families to reach their full potential.” It is home to the Will Smith Imua Discovery Garden, which continues to share the same love and compassion that was exemplified by young Will Naylor Smith, a young boy from San Antonio whose life was cut short not far from the devastated town of Lahaina. Imua works daily to ensure that the children and families in its care move forward, which is why the Hawaiian word “Imua,” meaning to move forward, is so prominent in its name.

About San Antonio Zoological Society

San Antonio Zoological Society was established in 1929 and is a nonprofit organization committed to securing a future for wildlife. The society operates San Antonio Zoo, Will Smith Zoo School, Edutainment, Center for Conservation and Research at San Antonio Zoo, and Kiddie Park.

Website         www.sazoo.org

About San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio Zoo®, operating since 1914, is a nonprofit zoological facility committed to securing a future for wildlife. Through its passion and expertise in animal care, conservation, and education, the zoo’s mission is to inspire its community to love, engage with, act for and protect animals and the places they live. The zoo welcomes more than a million visitors each year and is open year-round. San Antonio Zoo operates the largest nature based preschool in the country, Will Smith Zoo School, the Center for Conservation and Research, and Kiddie Park. San Antonio Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Zoological Association of America, and Humane Certified by American Humane.

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Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Located in the heart of San Antonio, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts serves as a beacon of creativity and cultural enrichment. Through its commitment to excellence, the Tobin provides a world-class venue that promotes a diverse range of cultural, educational, and artistic experiences, enhancing the quality of life in San Antonio. Featuring stunning architecture, creative design and lighting, exceptional acoustics, and top-tier talent from around the world, the Tobin Center attracts widely diverse audiences.

The Tobin Center’s state-of-the-art facilities include the H-E-B Performance Hall, a magnificent 1,750-seat venue with adjustable acoustics and a convertible floor that caters to both theater and banquet styles. The Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater, a versatile 300-seat space with flexible seating, and the Will Naylor Smith River Walk Plaza, an outdoor venue alongside San Antonio’s River Walk, perfect for films and concerts.

Beyond its venues, the Tobin Center is dedicated to engaging the community through various programs such as Generation NEXT Education initiative, Wellness at the Tobin, Cinema on the Plaza, as well as Free Community programming, and Outreach programs. www.tobincenter.org

About the Witte Museum

Founded in 1926, the Witte Museum is where Science, Nature and Culture Meet. Located on the banks of the San Antonio River in Brackenridge Park, the Witte Museum is San Antonio’s premier museum, inspiring people to shape the future of Texas through transformative and relevant experiences in nature, science and culture.  Visit www.WitteMuseum.org.

About the Will Smith Foundation

The Will Smith Foundation is a 501(c)3  non-profit organization committed to providing positive life experiences for children by partnering with other non-profit organizations that are focused on children and how to make their lives better. It is 16 years old this summer and collectively has given away more than $50 million to organizations in the San Antonio area, Africa and Hawaii. www.WillSmithFoundation.org