As we prepare for the holiday season and ringing in a new year, our team is gearing up for 2024 and celebrating San Antonio Sports’ 40th anniversary with a theme of Dare to Dream. It’s a nod to one of our first community programs, Dreams for Youth, and the vision our founders had around creating a sports commission that looked ahead to the future.
It’s hard to reflect on the past 39 years without acknowledging one of the most important people in San Antonio when it comes to sports, impacting youth, creating places to play and guiding San Antonio Sports to where it is today. George Block, a founding member who served on the board since day one, quietly rolled off our board of directors last December after 39 years of service. He hasn’t gone far, as he still chairs the TeamSA endowment fund. And like others before him who have served this organization, he is always a phone call away when needed.
If you have jumped in a pool in San Antonio, walked a lap at a San Antonio Sports School Park, attended a national aquatics event, watched a child compete at one of our community venues, your life has been indirectly impacted by George Block. There is no way to capture his impact of service as a coach, board member, community leader, change-maker at Haven for Hope and mentor.
After the birth of my first daughter in 2011, he told me to enjoy the journey as there is nothing better than getting to do life all over again through the eyes of a child. A good lesson to live by as we dare to dream about what is to come.
Happy holidays and Game On!