CowParade Preview Party at the Botanical Garden
CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation hosted a private preview of CowParade San Antonio 2025 on Sunday May 18, 2025, offering guests an exclusive first look at four mini-moos and 20 larger-than-life, painted cow sculptures at the Betty Kelso Center in the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. The event, titled “Gallery in the Gardens: CowParade Preview Party,” served as a prelude to the full exhibition of over 70 cow sculptures transformed by local San Antonio artists that will be displayed citywide this summer.
“CowParade San Antonio is a way to bring art and community together while raising vital funds for CHRISTUS Children’s,” said Terry Kyle, president and CDO of CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation. “Each cow sculpture tells a story of hope, healing and the power of community.”
Guests also heard from Dr. Ian Thompson, Jr., president of CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation, who highlighted how proceeds from CowParade San Antonio will support crucial medical programs, including the expansion of critical care services, advancement of specialized heart and cancer treatment programs and funding for music therapy and child life programs.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Donne, a mother whose child, Violet, has been directly impacted by the compassionate care at CHRISTUS Children’s. She shared her heartfelt story, illustrating the profound impact that donor support has on families navigating challenging medical journeys. At 17 years old, Violet is not only a patient at CHRISTUS Children’s but also one of the featured artists in CowParade San Antonio. Her participation underscores the profound impact of this initiative, as it not only raises funds for pediatric care but also empowers young patients to share their creativity and inspire the community.
In addition to the stunning art displays, guests were the first to view the display locations of where the cows will be grazing in San Antonio throughout the city. Spanning from The JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa to The Shops at La Cantera, Pearl, Port San Antonio, and many places in between, San Antonio locals and tourists will be able to view the moo-sterpieces from June until the end of August.
“Today is about coming together – to celebrate creativity, community and the joyful energy this art exhibition brings,” said Theo Meyer, director of philanthropy at CHRISTUS Children’s. “Every cow is a symbol of hope for a child in our community, and every donation helps us keep our promise to provide exceptional care to every patient CHRISTUS Children’s serves.”
The exhibition will run throughout the summer, culminating in a live auction on September 6, where select cows will be auctioned to benefit CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation. An online auction for the remaining sculptures will follow, allowing more supporters to participate in the mission to provide hope and healing to children and families in need.
CHRISTUS Children’s is grateful to the CowParade 2025 sponsors, including the Greg Kowalski Family, CHRISTUS Health, Deacon Recruiting, Half Price Movers, Gamez Law Firm, Community First Health Plans, Sol Cypress Hotel and Pearl for their generous support of this impactful initiative and their commitment to advancing children’s health care in our community. For more information on CowParade San Antonio 2025, including how to donate, view and purchase the cows, visit christuschildrensfoundation.org/cowparade.
