Louis Shanks stays involved in our local communities year round.

This December, a Texan will carry an entire hospital, along with the hope of children and families, on his back. On December 20th, 2009, a lone Texan attempts the unbelievable.

Kevin Kline will run 481 miles over 13 days from Dallas through Austin through San Antonio to Houston as he "Strides Across Texas" to raise awareness and $500,000 for pediatric cancer.

Symbolically, this inaugural adventure illustrates the struggles, suffering, and isolation that pediatric cancer patients endure during their treatment. The combination of intense conditions (rain, wind, cold and hills) and 8-10 hours of non-stop running per day requires unsurpassed conditioning, resolute commitment, and unyielding support.

Practically, "Strides Across Texas" introduces a creative way for schools, religious organizations, running clubs, college organizations and businesses to get involved and invest in our community and our state.

Cancer is the #1 cause of non-accidental death in children. Cancer is the leading cause of disease related deaths of Texas children between the ages of 1 and 14. This is our issue. This is our concern. This is our time.

Louis Shanks of Texas is sponsoring The SnowDrop Foundations during the Strides Across Texas. To learn more or find out how to donate, please go to StridesAcrossTexas.org or SnowDropFoundation.org

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We look forward to Christmas all year…not so much for what this time of year does for us, but for how we can brighten others lives. There are foster parents all over Central Texas working hard for foster kids, but there are times during the year when they could use a little help. You helped during back-to-school with thousands of backpacks…we could use your help again.

Families Helping Foster Families. Please visit our community partner's website at TheRiver1023.com and find out how you can fill a void in a foster child’s life, stand alongside foster parents and let them all know there is a community who loves them. It’s easy to help, and it will brighten your Christmas as you brighten theirs.

Louis Shanks of Texas is proud to partner with 102.3 The River to encourage women to schedule their mammograms because early detection is the key to survival!

Survivor Stories
During October, 102.3 The River and Louis Shanks of Texas will pay tribute and recognition to survivors of breast cancer within our community, in support and recognition of breast cancer awareness month. We’ve partnered with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to record ‘survivor stories’, where breast cancer survivors will share her supportive and educational message of survivorship and hope in the fight for a cure. The salutes will be recorded in the spirit of honoring survivorship while offering encouragement for other women to seek mammograms and early detection.

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UPDATE!
Thanks to our generous clients, we collected almost 200 backpacks, a good number of school supplies and $90 in cash! You have made a tremendous difference in the lives of many children. Louis Shanks is also donating to both Austin and San Antonio drives to help fill the backpacks with school supplies, plus purchase more backpacks!







Louis Shanks is a proud sponsor of 2 back pack drives to help our local school children. Drop off any new back pack at our Austin or San Antonio location and receive 50% off any one in-stock item. Louis Shanks will also help fill the back packs with school supplies!

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UPDATE!
Thanks to everyone who helped KGSR raise $94,750 for Family Eldercare on Fan Fare Friday (June 26). If you weren't able to contribute to help the low-income elderly and disabled stay cool this Summer, you can still contribute by calling 459-4FAN, or at familyeldercare.org

The Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas
Healing your kids here.
GRAND TOTAL RAISED:  $400,638

Thank you to all of our sponsors, Dell Children's Hospital and our wonderful KVET listeners!  Every year you step up and make this an amazing event.  Thank you for being a part of our family!

--98.1 KVET

About Dell Children’s:
Dell Children’s is a truly one-of-a-kind place that gives Central Texas families access to a wide range of healthcare services. Children are cared for with a family-centered approach that keeps patients close to loved ones at all times. And our dedicated multidisciplinary team of pediatric specialists and nurses are all committed to a single purpose: making your child feel like a kid again.

Charlie Robinson is a 78-year-old widow in need of your help. She and her 54-year-old disabled son live in Houston, Texas and survive on her meager $750 monthly social security payment. We came across Charlie while doing some outreach work in her community.

Charlie and her son live in a house that should be condemned. The roof is in dire need of repairs. There is a huge gaping hole in her living room ceiling where rain has been pouring in for years. We have temporarily put a tarp on the roof to keep out the rain but this will not last. The floors are badly water damaged and rotted. There is mold and mildew throughout the house. All the windows have been boarded up to keep out the rain and as a result, it is very dark inside. Electricity is scarce because only a few outlets work. The house also has major structural damage as a result of shifting.

Water is fed to the home through a water hose and then boiled to take a bath. The toilet does not work properly. There is no insulation from the cold. This “home” is dark, damp and cold and literally falling down. To add to all of this, Hurricane Ike recently flooded the house leaving even more damage. Charlie needs a new home as this one is not repairable and we need to act quickly. She owns the property and has no liens against it.

We and other members of the community have committed to build Charlie a new home. A licensed builder, Chris Kingham, has volunteered to oversee the project and donate his time and some building labor. A plumber has donated all the plumbing materials and labor. The city has offered to tear down the old house and haul it away. We have plans/blueprints for the new house. We are now in need of two major resources: volunteers to provide their expert service and money.

Please watch the video to take a glimpse into the life Charlie and her son live.