8 nonprofits receive gifts from Santikos Charitable Foundation

Naming rights opportunities given for projects

SAN ANTONIO – Eight nonprofits received the first of what will likely be many gifts from the Santikos Charitable Foundation.

Naming rights opportunities were given for a group of projects and places that will now bear the Santikos name.

The San Antonio Area Foundation announced the new projects via Facebook Tuesday. The projects will likely include a variety of children’s education projects, as well as a couple of groundbreaking efforts in the areas of sports, health and education.

“One of Mr. (John) Santikos' wishes was that his legacy continue in San Antonio, so naming rights was important to him. It's our mission at the San Antonio Area Foundation to honor his philanthropic goals.  So that was one of his goals and it is one of our goals,” said Susan Steves Thompson, vice president of the San Antonio Area Foundation.

The San Antonio Children’s Hospital received $2.5 million to establish the only children’s trauma services program in the San Antonio region, in honor of John Santikos.

The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio received millions to equip the only comprehensive Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative disease center in San Antonio.