Breast cancer is something Missy is passionate about. She herself got that call one day that turned her whole world upside down. She felt very lucky at that time that several others in her work out group were going through it as well and were there to support, talk about each other's situations and progress. Having any kind of cancer is scary and not the phone call you want to get. She caught it early which was a blessing in itself. After having a double mastectomy and still working at the same time, she decided then and there she would help anyone she finds out is going through it. She is most passionate about supporting the program one of her fellow workout partners who had breast cancer started. 100% of the proceeds go to women, men and children they support. Overcomers is a breast cancer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a sisterhood for breast cancer survivors.Their mission is to be real in sharing our needs, build strong foundational relationships, and walk out our journey in victory serving others in our circle of influence. Together we can rebuild lives one piece at a time. We offer a 9-week faith centered workshop for breast cancer survivors in the spring and fall every year, one-day workshops for the spouses of breast cancer survivors, annual retreats for breast cancer survivors, and adopting breast cancer families during the holidays. These classes focus weekly on different topics and address many of the concerns that face breast cancer survivors following active treatment. They assist not just the cancer patient, but also the whole family. What is most important is they also are there through the good and the bad and have sat with many when they lost the battle vs winning. They don’t go away when it gets tough! All the women that volunteer there are passionate about care and rally to support.
https://overcomersbreastcancer.com/ Every year they have a gala and Missy is a sponsor. If her friend calls and needs something, she is there to help.
She also is a lover of animals. She's owned 4-5 standard poodles most of her life and 8 chickens currently besides the deer, birds, fish in her pond, the stray cats, racoons, possums, skunks and hawks that visit her back yard. If she had more land to live on, she would own many more animals. Wildlife is just as important. It breaks her heart to see all the animals that are neglected in San Antonio and has been a long time supporter of the Humane Society! From collection drives for food, towels, and etc to a monthly donation being a supporter.
The San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill organization that has served Bexar County and its surrounding areas since 1952 (sahumane.org). The SAHS shelters, medically treats, and rehabilitates thousands of dogs and cats every year. Many of the dogs and cats in our care have been abused, injured, surrendered by their owners, or found as strays. As a no-kill organization, every treatable pet in our care stays in our care until they find a home or necessary placement with another no-kill organization. No pet in our care is ever euthanized to create space. Thousands of dogs and cats in San Antonio and its surrounding areas are saved from euthanasia every year due to the mission and practices of the SAHS.
We serve as one of the largest dog and cat adoption organizations in San Antonio, Texas, helping to decrease the community’s large pet overpopulation problem in a humane manner. They do not get funding from the federal government.
BLE - Biblical Leadership for Excellence - Is another charity close to her heart. It was in 2020 that she established a connection with this non-profit. Searching for closeness to God was the driver. Coming of a long run of family tragedy from losing her son to heart disease, her daughter having a transplant, having breast cancer herself, a grandson having a transplant, and losing her mom, then later her dad she went searching for something to bring her closer to God. During that run, she will tell you that God carried her. Covid brought out the loneliness for the Lord even more. It started with a bible study during that time at her office and then grew from there. This organization offers believers so many opportunities to connect and grow in their faith. We spend most of our life at work, and for many only spend time with the Lord on Sundays. That is not having a close relationship. BLE helps foster living your faith out daily 7 days a week and not just one. She is a firm believer in doing just that and why the core values of her company align with living her faith. She is a continuous support financially and where she can serve. She also is a current board member. Biblical Leadership for Excellence (BLE) founded in 1985 locally. BLEOnline.org BLE has helped thousands of people relationally integrate their faith into their work with excellence and respect. We believe God is honored by a growing, cohesive group of people in the workplace who authentically follow the teachings and character of Jesus Christ in their work. BLE is an independent, non-denominational faith based 501C-3 non-profit corporation. The ministry is governed by an independent board of directors. Our Beliefs - God created work as a divine institution to reflect His image.
Work is uniquely instrumental in the care and cultivation of human flourishing.
Work is to be an authentic expression of worship and Christ honoring service.
The Bible provides the authority and relevance for living a fully meaningful life in work.
Christians are to be Christ’s representatives of integrity, love, humility and excellence in their work. If you would like to learn more, start a bible study or learn about opportunities to grow in your faith please let her know!
Children are something that is very special to Missy’s heart. She has a passion for helping them. She has been a longtime supporter of CERI and has gone on several mission trips with her church to Moldova and assisted with the church's efforts in the orphanages over there. This is an amazing organization that helps kids and families. Many have no idea the level of poverty that is in this world. So many children aren’t lucky to have a pair of shoes or food. In many countries orphanages are not just for those who lost parents, but are the answer to I can’t take care of or feed my children. She has supported many children over the years and even sponsored one to come to the states to go to college. She is part of her family now. Missy is so proud of her. She has a masters degree in Theology, getting an MBA in business and getting ready to have her first child.
Caring for Orphans the best way. There are 140 million orphans around the world and many more children at risk of becoming orphans due to war, poverty and abuse (UNICEF, 2017).
Whether you are driven by the Biblical mandate to care for widows and orphans or you have a compassionate heart that cannot remain indifferent to children without a family, you are most likely asking yourself…Is there a best or way to help orphans? Yes! There is a best way. It is the proven and Biblical way. And, it’s the way you and I are so familiar with – family.
In the past, institutionalization (orphanage care) was the default method for caring for orphans around the world. However, decades ago, studies showed that orphanages are not the best place for children to grow up in. The family is the first and best option for children. While in the west, we stopped institutionalizing children long ago, in developing countries, millions are still in orphanages. A report provided by Save the Children (2009) indicated that 80% of children in orphanages have a living parent and of all the children classified as orphans, only 15.1 million have lost both parents (UNICEF, 2017). This means that approximately 90% of orphans have one living parent! At CERI, we are doing two important things to make sure orphans grow up in a loving family: we prevent family separation and intervene to transform the practice of child institutionalization.
Prevention-We prevent children from becoming orphans by strengthening their families, providing for their needs and educating their parents about their kids’ needs.
We prepare teens who grew up in orphanages for the challenges of life outside the orphanage, thus breaking the generational cycle of institutionalization.
We equip communities with the tools necessary to develop alternatives to orphanages, so that institutionalization is not their only option.
Intervention- We find loving families for children who live in orphanages to give them the chance to grow and mature in a family environment.
We reunify children with their biological parents, supporting them both through the adaptation period. We work with governments to develop policy that makes possible for orphans to grow up in families. ceri.org
Besides these charities, we look to help each year where there is a need and sponsor others as we are approached for help.
The San Antonio Food Bank takes pride in fighting hunger, feeding hope in our 29 county service area. We believe that no child should go to bed hungry, adults should not have to choose between a hot meal and utilities, nor a senior sacrifice medical care for the sake of a meal.
Founded in 1980, The San Antonio Food Bank has quickly grown to serve 100,000 individuals a week in one of the largest service areas in Texas. Our focus is for clients to have food for today but to also have the resources to be self-sufficient in the future.
Fighting hunger is our number one priority but we also serve to educate and provide assistance in many other ways. We achieve this through our variety of programs and resources available to families, individuals, seniors, children, and military members in need.
During a cold winter morning in 1981, the problems of the homeless were brought into stark perspective for the members of First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Antonio.
A homeless man, frozen to death, was found on the church grounds. In response, volunteers started a ministry in the church gymnasium to shelter and care for the growing number of homeless individuals.
By 1983 this program, having gained financial assistance of several downtown churches, was incorporated by 11 downtown congregations into San Antonio Metropolitan Ministry, Inc. (SAMMinistries).
Today SAMMinistries has a staff of more than 80 and is supported by thousands of volunteers who help families and individuals throughout San Antonio on their path to self-sufficiency.
Overcomers is a breast cancer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a sisterhood for breast cancer survivors. Our mission is to be real in sharing our needs, build strong foundational relationships, and walk out our journey in victory serving others in our circle of influence.
Together we can rebuild lives one piece at a time. We offer a 9-week faith centered workshop for breast cancer survivors in the spring and fall every year, one-day workshops for the spouses of breast cancer survivors, annual retreats for breast cancer survivors, and adopting breast cancer families during the holidays.
These classes focus weekly on different topics and address many of the concerns that face breast cancer survivors following active treatment.