Pan American League of San Antonio

The Pan American League is an organization of women founded over 71 years ago, to serve the medical and educational needs of those underserved in the community. Specifically, in 1947, Adela Chacon, a city health nurse, saw a need for a health clinic on the west side of San Antonio. She felt the community and the residents had fewer resources than in other parts of the city. Together with other community leaders, Chacon called upon friends and supporters to organize the Pan American League. The League was established that year.
 

In 1950, the League obtained an old frame house, moved it to the corner of San Augustin and Buena Vista and opened the St. Augusta Clinic. The St. Augusta Clinic offered preventive dental and medical care and was staffed with volunteer medical professionals and members of the League. The organization’s annual fundraising events supported many renovations to the clinic, the purchase of a 100-unit apartment complex, a neighborhood Head Start daycare center and a Teen for Tots program.

In 2000, the Pan American League sold the Pan American Homes and pledged $1 million to the construction of the San Fernando City Centre. The Center is in the heart of San Antonio and provides a variety of social services to the entire community. In addition, the Pan American League Charitable Foundation endowed a $250,000 scholarship fund at the University of Texas at San Antonio to assist eligible academically talented students. Today, the recipients of the scholarship are known as The Pan American League Scholars.

Over the past 70 years, the Pan American League has organized special events to raise funds to support various nonprofit organizations and community causes. Fundraising efforts of our members through our two signature events - a Fall Christmas in October Festival and Fiesta Olé Fashion Show, (an official San Antonio event in April) allow us to support our gift-giving commitments of scholarships for students in Edgewood ISD and the Alamo Colleges. In addition, we support activities of the San Fernando Historical City Center Foundation, the Madonna Center, and the San Antonio Food Bank’s backpack program for students in the Edgewood ISD Prekindergarten Program. Recently, we have expanded our gift-giving to include community service through volunteering and event sponsorships. As an organization, our members volunteer their time in service to a variety of agencies and activities. They include, the Madonna Center, Edgewood Educational Foundation, Memorial High School, San Fernando Cathedral Health Fair, Día del Niño Celebration, the Andy Mireles Charitable Foundation, and the Children’s Shelter of San Antonio.

Today, we are 120+ members strong and we all share in a common vision of service. Each member is keenly aware that true charity, the greatest of all virtues, cannot reside in the hearts alone - it must be shared and touch the lives of others. The members of the League will continue to work tirelessly and selflessly to help those most underserved.