Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Ciro Lampasas receives first annual Spring Branch Education Foundation Community Partner Bright Star award

Spring Branch Education Foundation’s Board of Directors welcomed new directors on August 28 at Ciro’s Italian Grill. There was a special reason for holding the event at Ciro’s. The Board presented its inaugural SBEF Community Partner Bright Star award to Ciro Lampasas.

"There are lots of good, caring people in the world and this man is one of the best,” SBEF President Lisa Schwartz said as she presented the honor. “When SBEF comes to Ciro with a request, the answer is always, 'Yes, how can I help?' It is people like Ciro who make our community the special place it is. He is a difference-maker."

Lampasas was unprepared for the turn of events. “It’s humbling. Was I surprised? Yes! How could I not support Spring Branch schools? Kim and I went through them. My kids went through them. For some of my extended family, we’re now in the third generation of kids attending SBISD schools,” he says.

“Ciro’s will celebrate 35 years in the neighborhood in November,” he continues. “When I first started the restaurant, one of my mentors, Edd Hendee of Taste of Texas, told me, ‘Take care of the community, and the community will take care of you.’ Coming through the pandemic has proven that to be true. The community supported my staff every step of the way.”

Cece Thompson, SBEF executive director says, “Ciro never tells us no. If we need donations for auctions or raffles, he’s there with a gift card. He provides lunches for our golf tournaments, caters our PTA president/principal orientations and many other events. When we determined our gala had to be a virtual event because of pandemic protocols, Ciro came to our rescue and created a delicious, gourmet meal – and made the drive-through pick-up a fun event. When food is involved, I turn to Ciro.”

The SBEF Community Partner Bright Star award will be presented annually to businesses, foundations and individuals who make a difference to SBEF and the students and teachers of Spring Branch ISD.

SBEF, with volunteer Board leadership, depends on community support through donations or participation in fundraising events. In the 2020-21 school year, the Foundation awarded 117 scholarships to SBISD graduates and 25 grants for campus and district-wide projects. SBEF is operated by a 72-member volunteer Board of Directors made up of community leaders. New members Matthew Cone, Stuart Ford, Michael Jarboe, Shannon McNary, Kay Miller, Tracie Pierce and Tim Raymond began a three-year term this academic year.

Learn more or make a donation at sbef.springbranchisd.com. #SBEF4ME

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:

Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and ̅prepare students for the future. All Foundation dollars, donor designated or unrestricted, are only used to support programs that align with the Foundation’s mission by funding teacher grants, district grants and scholarships for SBISD students. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $16 million to the district. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.