Helping those in need for 37 years, the nonprofit Centurions of Kendall County described their most recent gala as a banner event, raising thousands in donations for charitable causes.
Officials with the invitation- only organization said receipts totaled about $112,000 at the February celebration, with $80,000 to $85,000 earmarked in direct contributions going to local needs.
“Over the past 37 years, we’ve raised about $1.2 million,” said Ken Nietenhoefer, the only one of seven original founding members still involved with the group. “Our big fundraiser is the annual gala we host right around Valentine’s Day. This year was the 37th edition.”
On average, seven or eight $3,000 scholarships are awarded each year to area Career Technical Education students from the proceeds at the annual gala.
Other beneficiaries have included the American Red Cross, the Patrick Heath Public Library, The Center (formerly Rainbow Senior Center), Kendall County Emergency Medical Services, the Kendall County Women’s Shelter, the Comfort Table & Food Pantry and the Hill Country Mission for Health.
A native of Hondo, Nietenhoefer — a former Navy lieutenant commander and retired custom homebuilder — said he is proud of the Boerne group’s accomplishments. Membership is capped at 50.
It’s been a long but fun road since 1985 getting to where the Centurions are today, he added.
“Back in the old days, Berges Fest — which is held in Herff Park around Fathers Day — and the county fair at the end of September, around Labor Day, were the only two events happening in Boerne,” said Nietenhoefer, who also is a motivational speaker. “After a few of us had been meeting socially, we got together and we started to talk about using our friendship to promote goodwill and to take it to the next level. We decided to start a new organization in an effort to raise money for people that need it.”
Though well-intentioned, the founding members of the Centurions faced a learning curve, he added.
“When we first started the group, we had no idea about how to raise money,” Nietenhoefer said. “We started by each contributing $100. The second year, we got more organized and we held the first dance and auction at the (former Boerne) Civic Center, which is where we hosted our gala for the first 15 or 20 years. That venue has since then been turned into a YMCA.”
The Centurions eventually outgrew that facility.
They moved their main event to the Cana Ballroom, an event center owned by St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church at 202 W. Kronkosky St., which is reserved a year in advance.
The ballroom can accommodate 300 to 325 guests, with themes over the years that ranged from Western, big band, Hawaiian “Put your Boots in the Sand” and more.
The galas feature a sitdown dinner, a live band, and a live and silent auction with 80 to 100 items available for bidding in the latter. The live auction has been conducted by professional auctioneer Joey Tomlinson and is is limited to 10 items or less.
The selections have included everything from designer women’s purses to trips to the coast.
Because of normal attrition, the group currently has 45 active members.
The Centurions have a two-step admission process, beginning with the executive committee reviewing the name or names of those who have been recommended for inclusion. A candidate must pass muster with no more than one objection.
The candidate’s name is then voted on by the membership at large and the same rule applies — a simple majority and no more than one objection from the floor is allowed.
“If a candidate passes the first test, it would be highly unlikely that he would not be voted-in by the general assembly,” Nietenhoefer said.
He added, “We don’t really have an official uniform but when we go tap someone to give them the good news, we wear grey slacks, a blue tie, et cetera … and we show up unannounced at their place of business. One day, we showed up, and this guy that worked for the school district went into hiding because he thought we were the IRS or something like that.”
In addition, the club hosts several other social functions during the year for members and their families only, including a spring celebration, a golf or a bowling tournament and a Christmas party.
For more information, reach the Centurions at P.O. Box 1741, Boerne, TX 78006 or contact Nietenhoefer at 210-415-7581.
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