Healy-Murphy Center Receives $1 million Gift from George & Kym Rapier to Capital Campaign

SAN ANTONIO, TX, May 01, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Healy-Murphy Center today announced it has received a $1 million gift from Dr. George and Kym Rapier for the school's capital campaign.

The funds from the Blake, Kymberly & George Rapier Charitable Trust will be used to renovate the main classroom building on the Healy-Murphy campus. To honor this generous gift the Center will name one of its renovated buildings the Kym and George Rapier Building.

Located at the corner of Live Oak and Nolan, Healy-Murphy Center has been a beacon of hope in San Antonio for more than 120 years. Established in 1888 as St. Peter Claver Academy by Margaret Mary Healy-Murphy, foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, the campus originally housed the first free school for African-Americans in the state of Texas. As integration made public schools accessible to African-American children, the name of the campus was changed in 1970 to Healy-Murphy Center, which became the first accredited alternative program in the state of Texas.

Healy-Murphy Center provides compassionate support to youth-in-crisis by focusing on individualized education in a non-traditional setting, early childhood development, and essential support services.

The campus is considered by the City to be an official historic district in San Antonio.

"Kym and George Rapier have been very generous in their support for our school," Executive Director Doug Watson said. "Their commitment to programs which work with at-risk youth is well-known in our community and is deeply appreciated. We are grateful and most appreciative of their very generous gift."

"George and I have been honored to be counted among supporters of the Healy-Murphy Center in years past," said Kym Rapier, Chief Executor of the Rapier Charitable Trust. "Healy-Murphy Center has long demonstrated remarkable success in reaching and educating students who were not successful in traditional settings."

"The Center fills an important role in our community enabling at-risk students to graduate from high school and to go on with their lives in a very positive way," Dr. Rapier added. "Kym and I are honored to have our names associated with the incredible work that goes on here."

Dr. Rapier is Founder, Chairman and CEO of WellMed Medical Management, Inc., the largest primary care provider for seniors in Texas. Kym Rapier is Founder and President of Silver Life Fitness, a WellMed subsidiary that offers no-cost fitness classes to older adults in several Texas communities.

The couple founded the Blake, Kymberly and George Rapier Charitable Trust in 2006. Since then, The Rapier Charitable Trust has donated more than $1 million annually to various causes, including stay-in-school and youth initiatives, animals in need, seniors and children's health programs.

This year, the Rapier Charitable Trust already has pledged more than $20 million to San Antonio-area non-profits. To learn more about the Rapier Trust's signature program, Kym's Kids, visit http://www.KymsKids.org.

The Board of Directors approved The Restoring Hope * A Brighter Future capital campaign in December 2008 with a goal of $4.5 million. This campaign, the first ever for Healy-Murphy Center, will include the restoration of three historic buildings that were constructed in 1888, 1914, and 1939, as well as replacement of windows and roofs for two buildings also constructed in 1888.

Campus renovations include essential infrastructure upgrades, rewiring for 21st century technology, and energy efficiency upgrades such as central heating and air conditioning. There will also be a new heritage library named after Sr. Boniface O'Neill that will display artifacts honoring the history of St. Peter Claver, the Sisters of the Holy Spirit, and Healy-Murphy Center.

The project has been designed by OCO Architects and Malitz Construction, Inc. will be the contractors. Visit http://www.healymurphy.org for more information about the campaign.

Dr. George and Kym Rapier founded the Blake, Kymberly and George Rapier Charitable Trust in 2006. Since then, The Rapier Charitable Trust has donated more than $1 million annually to various causes, including stay-in-school and youth initiatives, animals in need, seniors and children's health programs.

This year, the Rapier Charitable Trust already has pledged more than $18 million to San Antonio-area non-profits. To learn more about the Rapier Trust's signature program, Kym's Kids, visit http://www.KymsKids.org.