JJ Johnson, now in her fifth year as director, and Devan Burns appeared Monday on Lead Live to walk through what 8,000 annual appointments actually looks like at a center that recently expanded its physical space with help from a Cailloux Foundation grant.
In response, the foundation quickly established an Employee Assistance Fund, allowing community members and employees to make direct financial contributions to support hospital workers rebuilding their lives.
The challenge facing this year's relief effort is disaster fatigue. The 2026 flood received far less national attention than 2025, and incoming relief funding is dramatically lower — even as damage levels are severe.
KPA was formed seven years ago after a public outcry over high euthanasia rates at the county animal shelter, where animals were being put down twice weekly due to space constraints.
The center operates entirely on private donations — no state or federal funding of any kind. The veterans it serves most often are older, on fixed incomes, and among the most financially vulnerable in any disaster. Both floods hit them hard.
The alliance is actively recruiting local companies, public enterprises, and nonprofits whose work intersects with public safety, infrastructure, or defense.
The Hill Country Alliance, founded in 2005 and celebrating its 20th year, functions as a regional convener — bringing together landowners, government agencies, and advocacy groups to protect the Hill Country's natural resources, water quality, night skies, and rural character against the pressures of rapid population growth and development.
Sullivan founded GliaConnect after her mother's death in order to preserve patient advocacy momentum. Her family has been devastated by the disease across multiple generations — though she tested negative herself in 2023.
The group meets the first Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. at the Riverside Nature Center.
TWA's local presence is anchored by Jonathan Letz, a former Precinct 3 commissioner, former TWA board president, and foundation trustee, who brought a dedicated Hill Country educator to the region. TWA has also aligned its curriculum with UGRA and is working closely with Riverside Nature Center.
