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By Sally KalosOn September 4, 2025, Ruth M. Gonzales marks eight years as Executive Director of WINGS—a 100% privately funded 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing no-cost, comprehensive breast cancer care to uninsured women living at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and ineligible for government assistance.Founded in 1999, WINGS bridges the gap between breast cancer detection and life-saving treatment, covering everything from chemotherapy and radiation to transportation, prosthetics, and education. The organization has achieved a 95% survival rate among participants—14% higher than the national average—and has provided care to more than 20,000 women.Ruth’s connection to WINGS began in 2017 when a friend suggested she apply for the Executive Director position. A breast cancer survivor herself, Ruth felt it was more than a job—it was a calling. After prayer and reflection, she accepted, committing herself fully to the mission.What sets WINGS apart is its status as the only non-profit in the region offering comprehensive, no-cost breast cancer care to uninsured women who qualify.Library - continued from page 6 almost 12,000 square feet of books!Our prices can’t be beat! Adult hardback books are $2.00 each, paperbacks are $1.50. Children’s board books and hardback books are $1.00. Children’s paperbacks, recordRuth M. Gonzales, Executive Director of WINGS.Long-standing partnerships with medical providers ensure that every patient—no matter the stage of her diagnosis—receives world-class treatment, medications, and supportive services.The organization’s roots trace back to founder Terri B. Jones, who, after her own mastectomy, met a woman unable to afford follow-up treatment. Terri and her oncologist, Dr. Katherine L. Safford, secured support from Methodist Healthcare Ministries, creating WINGS to ensure no woman faced such a choice again.Beyond treatment, WINGS provides translation services, transportation, educational workshops, and emotional albums, CDs-Music, DVDs, and puzzles are $.50. Harlequin romance novels, magazines, and maps are $.25 each.We also have a special section on the stage of the Civic Center dedicated to copies of rare, special or collectible books that arePost pic with patients after a monthly Wings for Life Survivorship Program workshop designed to educate participants regarding heart health and the impacts of pre- and post-chemo/ radiation treatments supporting overall wellness.PBy StaffSubmitted By The Hope CenterWINGS ~ Bridges The Gap Between Breast Cancer Detection & Life-Saving Treatments To UninsuredActivities That Exercise The BrainChoose KindnessJimmy HayesJimmyHayesdoesn’tjustvolunteer—he embodies kindness, reminding us all of the power of a smile, a listening ear, and a heart devoted to serving others.To learn more about the Choose Kindness campaign and/or to nominate someone, visit https://mckenna.org/ choosekindness/How will you CHOOSE KINDNESS today?support—offering dignity and hope alongside medical care. As Ruth notes, “Whenawomansurvivesbreastcancer,the impact ripples across generations.”ThisyearmarksWINGS’25thanniversary. Their Silver WINGS Celebration will be held December 11, 2025, at the historic San Antonio Women’s Club Mansion to honor the women served, the partners involved, and the mission that saves lives.But challenges remain. The metastatic breast cancer population is at an all-time high, with more than 75 women currentlypriced individually.THIS IS A TAX-FREE EVENT!Our book sale begins on Thursday, October 2, from 5:00 pm-7:30 pm, with our Preview Sale at no admission for members. If you are not currently a member, you mayon the waitlist. Rising treatment costs and the intensive work of guiding each patient’s journey make community support more critical than ever.“If you have a passion for life, we invite you to join us,” Ruth says. “Your talents, treasures, and time can ensure no woman faces breast cancer alone.”Every dollar counts. Every life matters.TexasWINGS www.texaswings.orgFB: texaswings | IG: texaswingssajoin by September 28 to take advantage of this special preview night. Nonmembers can come in for $25 a person.Admission is free on Friday and Saturday.eople of all ages can benefit from incorporating activities that exercise the brain into their dailyTlives.Speaking a new language opens up newopportunities for travel and socialization and also strengthens the brain. This enhanced connectivity might play a role in delaying the onset of dementias, according to researchers.Trying something new might stimulate the brain in ways that improve its function. A cognitively demanding skill, such as photography, playing an instrument and other activities could enhance memory function. Teaching such skills to others also can reinforce brain functions.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that dancing might help combat Alzheimer's disease by improving bloodcirculationthroughoutthebody.Italso forces a person's memory and processing speed to work at a higher capacity through learning the choreography.Crossword puzzles, word searches, word games, and brain teaser-like puzzles areentertaining and work the brain. Research has shown that even doing jigsaw puzzles "recruits multiple cognitive abilities and is a protective factor for visuospatial cognitive aging," according to Healthline.Socializing with other people can stimulate attention and memory. This helps to strengthen neural networks in the brain that makes the brain work harder. This increase in mental activity can pay off in the long run. Socialization is also beneficial for mental health, especially among older adults who tend to be more isolated.People are often concerned with giving their bodies a workout, but they also should focus on activities that strengthen their brains.he Hope Center, inspired by the McKenna Foundation’s Choose Kindness Campaign, is proud tohonor Jimmy Hayes as our recipient of the Choose Kindness Award for September 2025.At Helping Hands Food Pantry, there’s one person everyone seems to know—and love. That person is Jimmy Hayes. Director Steve Boyet describes him as “the glue that keeps the pantry running,” and it’s easy to see why.Jimmy’s kindness shines through the relationships he builds. He knows clients by name and makes each person feel seen and valued. The children, especially, light up when they spot him—racing into his arms with smiles as big as his own.Whether it’s faithfully picking up donations twice a week at dawn, guiding volunteers on how to stock the shelves, or quietly slipping in on off-days to rotate and restock items, Jimmy serves with joy and humility and gently shares the hope of the gospel with those who are open to hearing it.10www.bsbhighlights.comSeptember 2025