The New Braunfels Community Foundation (NBCF) will honor Canyon Lake residents Alan and Suzanne Stahlman as ‘Philanthropists of the Year’ at its Champions of Charity Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the McKenna Events Center, 801 W. San Antonio, New Braunfels.
The award recognizes a local leader who exemplifies ‘paying it forward’ and helps NBCF to serve the community better.
In 2018, the Stahlmans set up a unique living bequest with a donor-advised fund with NBCF that allows them to set up a grants committee to award an allotted amount of grants to nonprofits each year.
“It’s worked so well that Suzanne and I have more than tripled what we give to the community,” Alan Stahlman said.
Grants are limited to no more than $2,500 per organization.
Two of the Stahlman fund grant advisors are outgoing Comal County Pct. 1 Commissioner Donna Eccleston and Maureen Schein, who worked for the CRRC of Canyon Lake until July 2021.
“ I’ve known Alan for 18 years, and I can tell you there is a truly beautiful heart in him,” Schein said. “I am honored that he trusts me, that he chose me to serve as one of his ‘advisors’ on his foundation board. Sometimes it is actually hard to decide where to distribute the allocated funds. But most of the time it is fun and gratifying being able to help other nonprofits.”
NBCF founder Cecil Eager said the community foundation encourages people to be generous.
“It also provides a vehicle for people to place their money in a perpetual fund so that their assets will outlive them but their desires and goals will continue because of that endowment they created,” he said.
Grant recipients include CRRC, Upbring New Life Children’s Center, Connections Individual and Family Services, Hope Hospice, Chosen Care, 1Hope for Kids Foster Closet, SJRC, and NB Youth Collaborative.
The Stahlmans also support charities in Fort Bend and Harris counties.
Alan Stahlman was born and raised in the Houston area, where he lived for 53 years.
He worked in the family’s lumber business and as a Houston police officer before returning to Stahlman Lumber Company with locations in Houston and Stafford, which he sold to his employees in 2001.
In February of that year, Stahlman told the Houston Chronicle he wanted to keep them “happy and secure.”
Alan Stahlman also serves as treasurer of the Canyon Lake Rotary Club and on the Comal County Emergency Services District #3 (Canyon Lake Fire/EMS) board of commissioners.
The Stahlmans have lived on the family’s 2,300-acre ranch near Stahlmans at Bear Creek Grocery & Pecans on FM 2722 since 1999. Bear Creek originates on the ranch and flows into the Guadalupe River.
Alan Stahlman said his father bought the land in 1968.
His son, Chad, who lives on the ranch, runs the store, while his other son, Matt, is a cardiologist in Austin. Three grandchildren live on the ranch, and two live in Austin.
To purchase table and individual tickets, call 830-606-9597 or email brit@nbcommunityfoundation.org.
