Message from the Parade Marshal

TEXAS CAVALIERS PARADE MARSHAL

Welcome and Viva Fiesta!

This year marks the 77th Texas Cavaliers River Parade, a long-standing Fiesta tradition that continues to evolve and entertain hundreds of thousands of Texans each year.

“Texas Al Fresco”, or Texas Outdoors, is the theme of this year’s River Parade. Celebrating our Texas outdoor quality of life and education. The value of outdoor experiences has never been more important and appreciated than during these challenging times. From proven mental and physical health benefits, to improved relationships and active leadership lesson opportunities, the Texas outdoors will continue to be utilized, cherished, and preserved for future generations.

Ranging from the mountains of Big Bend to the Gulf of Mexico on to the San Antonio River, Texas has a vast variety of landscapes and experiences for everyone to enjoy the great Texas outdoors. The Texas Al Fresco theme has been woven into each of the over 50 professionally decorated, fun and festive floats featuring local community groups, many of our selected children’s charities, celebrities, and local officials.

Each year, we choose one of our selected charities to be our “Charitable Honoree”, an honor that includes additional promotion and a substantial financial gift. The 2022 Texas Cavaliers River Parade Charitable Honoree is Haven for Hope. The stewardship and thought behind which charity is selected is never taken lightly and is one of our organization’s greatest responsibilities. The more we have learned about the challenges around homelessness; how it affects individuals, families, and children, the more our passion and desire has grown to partner with Haven for Hope to make a difference. With between 200 to 300 homeless children living at Haven for Hope at any given time, nothing speaks more to our Cavalier Charitable Foundation charter of serving the Children of Texas than to honor and recognize Haven for Hope as our Charitable Honoree.

Once more, one of the most inspiring leaders in our community has come alongside the Texas Cavaliers in this effort - Susan Naylor Sellers. We are so thankful to her for sharing our concerns about homelessness and homeless children. Susan, mother of Will and founder of the Will Smith Foundation, generously offered to match our fundraising efforts up to $500,000. Without her involvement, we wouldn’t be able to help all of the important organizations that depend on our funding. From this momentum created by her support, we were able to present our Charitable Honoree, Haven for Hope, with another record-setting grant of $1,200,000!

I would like to personally thank my wife Jill, and my three sons, Kyle, Keller, and Caleb for their support and assistance to fulfill my parade duties. I can’t imagine managing this project without their help and ideas. I also greatly appreciate the many hours of support from River Parade Vice Marshal Greg Seay and Parade Operations Officer Jonathan Dear and most importantly, their friendship.

There are many others, including Texas Cavalier Board Members, River Parade Chairman and Assistants, volunteers and sponsors alike that deserve our greatest thanks. Please visit pages 23, 62 and throughout this program for our generous sponsoring organizations.

Now it’s time to cast your eyes up river, soak in the evening sounds and smells of the Texas outdoors and enjoy the show…Al Fresco!

Viva Fiesta and Viva the Texas Cavaliers River Parade! Gardner Peavy 2022 Parade Marshal