ThankYou
The Cibolo Center for Conservation extends our heartfelt thanks to the generous sponsors of this evening’s Gala. Your partnership makes tonight possible and far beyond this special celebration, it sustains the everyday work of The Cibolo.
Because of your belief in our mission, we are able to protect and care, for the land and water of the Texas Hill Country; inspire a love of nature through education; and nurture a vibrant, connected community. Every child exploring the creek, every family learning to live more sustainably, and every acre preserved for future generations is touched by your generosity.
Your investment ensures that our mission doesn’t pause when the lights go down tonight. It allows us to dream bigger, do more, and continue to be a place where people and nature thrive together.
From all of us at The Cibolo thank you for making a lasting impact.
Sponsors
CypressSponsor CypressSponsor
Larry and Betsy Bush
LiveOakSponsors
John and Virginia Freud
Joe and Desiree Whitney
BluebonnetSponsors BluebonnetSponsors
Advanced Spinal Pain Management
Cibolo Preserve
Steve and Nancye Drukker
Frost Bank
John & Ann Newman Family Fund
Sendero Wealth Management
VerbenaSponsors VerbenaSponsors
John and Staci Almager
Boerne Runners
Jeff and Leslie Brown
Sara Dysart
Steve and Sherri Layton
The Nature Conservancy
Rialto Studio Landscape Design
Sonora Bank
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Texas Regional Bank
SunflowerSponsors SunflowerSponsors
Cordillera Friends
The Drought Boys
GVTC Foundation
Jefferson Bank
Las Encinas Ranch
Robert and Jolee Ritter
Valero
WineSponsor WineSponsor
Becker Vineyards
WinePullSponsor WinePullSponsor
Andra Wisian
Leadership BoardofDirectors
BoardofDirectors
Desiree Whitney, President
Corbett Christie, Vice President
Jeremiah Leibowitz, Treasurer
Marilyn Tremper, Secretary
Staci Almager
Leslie Brown
Nancye Drukker
John Freud
John Leonard
Mark McCurley
Staff Staff
Jonathan Piper
Jeff Schwarz
Joanne Williams
Thomas M. Mengler, J.D., Chief Executive Officer
Dianna M. Hopkins, MBA, CFRE, Chief Advancement Officer
Marcus F. Felan, MBA Chief Business Officer
Sarah Berringer, Farm Education Director
Brian Davenport, Communications Director
Lee Garteiser, Building and Grounds Manager
Cindy Glass, Office Manager
Kell Hoffman, PhD, Land Conservation Director
Noah Lawrence, Nature Education Director
Alysa Meeks, Nest School Director
Brittany Whalen, MANPM Development Director
Beyond its directors, The Cibolo relies on a dedicated staff whose expertise and passion sustain our daily operations and advance our mission of conservation, education, and community connection.
Tonight’sProgram
Cocktail Party & Auction 6:00 pm
Invocation by Chief Advancement Officer, Dianna Hopkins 7:15 pm
Welcome & Opening Remarks by Chief Executive Officer, Tom Mengler
Dinner Service Begins
8:00 pm
Presentation
The Cibolo Stewardship Award
Honoree, Craig Hensley
Paddle Raiser by Jake Addams
Whiskey Wagon Raffle Pull
9:00 pm
Auction Closes
Closing Remarks
After Party
Join us in the Amphitheater and Barn for live music, a night cap, and coffee!
StewardshipAward
The Cibolo Stewardship Award honors individuals whose vision and dedication advance our mission - connecting people and nature while safeguarding the lands and waters of the Texas Hill Country. Each year, we recognize someone whose work inspires others to care deeply for the natural world and to ensure it thrives for future generations.
This award celebrates those who: Inspires connections between people and nature. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in conservation and/or nature education.
Serves as a bridge-builder and ambassador, for The Cibolo, throughout the community.
Supports The Cibolo’s mission through action, advocacy, and/or investment.
Honorees also embody active stewardship — turning passion into action, advocacy, and investment. Their impact extends beyond our trails and programs, shaping regional conservation efforts, inspiring statewide collaboration, and contributing to a growing national movement to protect and restore nature.
In recognizing these leaders, we celebrate the truth at the heart of our mission: when people are connected to nature and empowered to act, real and lasting change becomes possible.
We are proud to present Craig Hensley with the 2025 Cibolo Stewardship Award for his lifetime of care for the natural world and his inspiring leadership in connecting people to nature and advancing conservation throughout the Hill Country and beyond.
The Cibolo Stewardship Award presented tonight is a one-of-a-kind fused glass piece created by Texas artist Katherine Stewart. Katherine works with hot glass, layering and fusing colors in a kiln at temperatures over 1500 degrees to achieve depth, light, and movement. Inspired by the beauty of God’s creation — from serene oceans to the ever-changing skies her work reflects the wonder and complexity of the natural world. Each piece emerges as something new and unexpected, much like the unfolding story of conservation itself.
This year ’ s award was designed to honor the spirit of stewardship: where layers of color and light flow together to evoke land, water, and sky the interconnected elements that define the Texas Hill Country and sustain life here. Just as The Cibolo’s mission weaves people, place, and purpose into lasting impact, this art piece captures the idea that when we come together in care for the earth, we create beauty and resilience that endure for generations.
Nominated for his enduring leadership in conservation, his role as a connector and educator, and his powerful advocacy for The Cibolo and the wider Hill Country landscape.
Craig Hensley is a Texas Parks and Wildlife Nature Trackers Biologist whose work has profoundly shaped public understanding and appreciation of the natural world. With decades of experience as a park interpreter, resource specialist, and educator across multiple states, Craig brings a rare depth of ecological knowledge and a contagious passion for nature to every community he serves.
At The Cibolo, he is perhaps best known for inspiring powerful connections between people and the natural world whether through his evocative talks, mesmerizing nature photography, or the way he introduces young and old alike to the quiet wonder of a barred owl or fluttering butterfly.
Craig is a recognized leader in conservation education. His work with citizen science initiatives such as the Eastern Bluebird nest box monitoring project at The Cibolo Nature Center has been instrumental in engaging the public directly in conservation action. He is a licensed bird bander and lifelong learner whose capacity to train and mentor others has cultivated a strong pipeline of naturalists, volunteers, and environmental advocates throughout Texas. His outreach to Master Naturalist chapters across the state furthers his influence and impact on nature education.
As a collaborative ambassador for The Cibolo, Craig has played a key role in major initiatives including the Conservation Corridor and Resilient Boerne. His approach to conservation is rooted in partnership, education, and storytelling— each tool skillfully wielded to build bridges between people and places, data and action, tradition, and innovation. He champions the importance of shared responsibility in environmental stewardship and reminds us all that nature needs its people.
Craig’s unwavering support for Cibolo’s mission is evident in hi deep and sustained engageme with its programs, people, and vision. Through his life’s work, C embodies the power of connec between land, community, an future.
CongratulationsCrag
AboutTheCibolo
Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, The Cibolo Center for Conservation is a place where people and nature thrive together. Guided by our mission to promote the conservation of nature through education, stewardship, and community connections, we believe that protecting the land and water around us begins with inspiring a love for the natural world. Every program, trail, and experience we offer is designed to help people of all ages discover the beauty and resilience of nature and their own ability to protect it.
Each year, thousands of children and families step into our wild spaces to learn, explore, and grow. From hands-on field science to early childhood learning at The Nest Nature School, young minds are opened to the wonders of the Hill Country through nature-based education. These moments spark curiosity, ignite a lifelong respect for the environment, and cultivate future conservation leaders.
Our work extends beyond education to stewardship of the land and water that sustain our community. We care for over 160 acres of protected habitat, preserve the delicate ecosystems along Cibolo Creek, and engage citizen scientists and volunteers in meaningful conservation action. This hands-on stewardship protects the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, supports biodiversity, and models sustainable living for the Hill Country and beyond.
At the core of everything we do is community connection. The Cibolo is a welcoming gathering place a home for outdoor learning, celebrations, research, and shared experiences in nature. Here, neighbors become partners in conservation, families deepen their connection to the land, and visitors find renewal in the beauty of the outdoors. Together, we are building a future where people care deeply for the natural world and work collectively to ensure it flourishes for generations to come.
PaddleRaiser
During tonight’s Paddle Raiser, you will have the opportunity to make a direct and meaningful impact, and to help us light up the night! When the auctioneer announces a comfortable giving level, simply lift your paddle high to show your support; everyone who gives will receive a fun, crowd engaging, blinky lapel light. Unlike the auction, there is no item to win your gift goes straight to advancing The Cibolo’s mission of conservation, education, and community connections.
The Goal: Each raised paddle helps protect the land and water of the Texas Hill Country and ensures that people of all ages can continue to learn, explore, and find inspiration in nature. Together, we can create lasting change and light up the night!
Please Note: Gifts made during the Paddle Raise are 100% tax-deductible and may be contributed through your donor-advised fund. If you plan to give this way or need to arrange payment later, simply let a Bid Buddy know before you leave this evening so we can record your generous gift according to your preference.
Thank you to the donors who contributed in advance of the Gala. Your generosity sustains our mission and ensures that our work in conservation, education, and community connection continues every day.
Phil and KarenHunke
GetInvolved!
Nature needs its people, and there’s a place for you at The Cibolo.
Our work to conserve land and water, inspire a love of nature, and build a connected community is possible because people like you choose to get involved. Whether you’re looking to give, volunteer, or bring others into the beauty of the Hill Country, your time and support make a lasting impact.
Give
Your generosity sustains daily operations, innovative programs, and long-term conservation efforts.
From helping with nature education to stewarding the land, there are opportunities for every schedule and skill set. Volunteer
Join a community who is committed to protecting and celebrating the Hill Country, while enjoying exclusive perks. Membership
Businesses and families can sponsor programs, events, or conservation initiatives that align with their values.
Together, we can ensure that the land, water, and wild spaces of the Texas Hill Country remain vibrant for generations to come.