Google Play App Store
Login
Subscribe
Hays Free Press
  • News
    • Buda
    • Kyle
    • Dripping Springs
    • Wimberley
    • Hays County
    • Community
    • Business
  • Sports
    • Hays Hawks
    • Lehman Lobos
    • Dripping Springs Tigers
    • Wimberley Texans
    • Johnson Jaguars
  • Opinions
    • Columns
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Editorials
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Browse Listings
    • Add listing
    • Public Notices
  • Current Issue
    • Special Editions
    • Archives
  • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
    • Rack Locations
    • News
      • Buda
      • Kyle
      • Dripping Springs
      • Wimberley
      • Hays County
      • Community
      • Business
    • Sports
      • Hays Hawks
      • Lehman Lobos
      • Dripping Springs Tigers
      • Wimberley Texans
      • Johnson Jaguars
    • Opinions
      • Columns
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Editorials
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Browse Listings
      • Add listing
      • Public Notices
    • Current Issue
      • Special Editions
      • Archives
    • Contact Us
      • Subscribe
      • Rack Locations
Staff Report, on June 22, 2016
A Night to Give Back: Local residents, officials help Kyle family affected by fire

By Kyla Mora

On the day before Mother’s Day, Kyle resident Savannah Hernandez got a call from her best friend telling her that her house had burned down. 

Hernandez returned to find that she had lost just about everything in her home.  

On one hand, she was grateful that none of the house’s six residents were home that day. 

Her parents were in Corpus Christi, her two children were with her boyfriend, and she was at work. On the other hand, she was now living in a hotel. 

“Honestly, I had no idea what we were going to do,” Hernandez said. 

Fortunately, faculty and students at her son Derrick de la Zerda’s school knew exactly what to do – throw a party, gather donations, and call in the wrestlers. 

That’s how Hernandez and her family found themselves at Pinballz Kingdom in Buda on June 19. 

Shortly after hearing news of the fire, Tobias Elementary School’s principal Paige Collier reached out to NWA Pro Wrestling TeXas to organize the “A Night To Give Back” wrestling show. 

Half of all ticket proceeds at the event went to benefit Hernandez and her family. 

The idea for organizing the benefit, teacher Grace Bohanon Casteneda said, came from the Walk the Path anti-bullying program, which had brought pro wrestlers to the school earlier in the year. 

Add to that, the fact that Hernandez’s family loves wrestling, and that her son Derrick had a birthday coming up just after the disaster, the rest fell into place. 

The idea to help the family fit perfectly with the school’s belief in “filling buckets,” Casteneda said. It began first, literally, with a coin drive, and then figuratively, with “the best birthday ever.” 

“We teach our kids to ‘fill buckets’ with happiness, love, care, and support,” Casteneda said. “We wanted the kids to understand – when you go through a loss as significant as that, what can we do? And our second graders came together behind their classmate with love and joy.”

Hernandez may have been surprised to see signs saying “We love you, Derrick!” and “Pennies for Derrick!” when she came to pick up her son the Thursday after the fire. 

But the party floored her, where the entire family was surprised with a wrestling-themed cake, and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” from Derrick’s classmates, and tickets to “A Night to Give Back.” 

“A Night to Give Back” showcased pro wrestlers including Ryan Greeness, Shane Taylor, Raymond Rowe, Keith Lee and Chris Marval, and also included a silent auction sponsored by Hays County Radio.

For those unable to attend “A Night to Give Back,” a Gofundme page was launched to collect donations on behalf of Hernandez and her family at www.gofundme.com/ANightToGiveBack.

Related Posts
Hays County, Austin Pets Alive! partnership to end for pet resource center
Community, Hays County, Main, News
Hays County, Austin Pets Alive! partnership to end for pet resource center
SAN MARCOS — The partnership between Hays County and Austin Pets Alive! (APA!)  in relation to the planned Hays County Pet Resource, Education and Res...
April 3, 2025
Kyle Police investigate fatal crash on IH-35 near Yarrington Road
Breaking News, Hays County, Kyle, Main, News
Kyle Police investigate fatal crash on IH-35 near Yarrington Road
KYLE – The Kyle Police Department is investigating a fatal collision that occurred at approximately 2 a.m. March 18 on southbound IH-35 near Yarringto...
March 18, 2025
Car crashes into Koy restaurant
Breaking News, Kyle, Main, News
Car crashes into Koy restaurant
UPDATE: As of March 5, Koy Chinese & Sushi is back to normal operating hours and procedures, including taking dine-in, delivery and takeout orders...
March 4, 2025
Hays County Sheriff’s Office arrests suspect in sexual assault of a child, trafficking
Breaking News, Hays County, Kyle, Main, News
Hays County Sheriff’s Office arrests suspect in sexual assault of a child, trafficking
KYLE —  On Dec. 12, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office received a referral from Child Protective Services (CPS) in reference to a child sex assault vict...
February 4, 2025
Kyle Police Department arrests teens in connection with multiple vehicle burglaries
Breaking News, Hays County, Kyle, Main, News
Kyle Police Department arrests teens in connection with multiple vehicle burglaries
KYLE – Four teenagers were arrested over the weekend in connection with multiple burglaries of motor vehicles in Kyle and Austin. At approximately 1:5...
January 27, 2025
Hays County schools, Austin Community College to reopen following winter weather closures
Breaking News, Buda, Dripping Springs, Hays County, Kyle, Main, News, San Marcos, Wimberley
Hays County schools, Austin Community College to reopen following winter weather closures
HAYS COUNTY -- Following inclement weather that caused closures on Tuesday, Jan. 21, several schools announced that they will reopen this week. Hays C...
January 21, 2025
Most Read
Mom claims Hays CISD could have done more to prevent child endangerment
Buda, Hays County, News
Mom claims Hays CISD could have done more to prevent child endangerment
By Brittany Kelley 
April 30, 2025
BUDA — After discovering that her son’s former teacher was arrested for public intoxication, Christina Nichols was left wishing Hays CISD did more to ...
Joint operation leads to more than 40 arrests in Hays County
Hays County, News
Joint operation leads to more than 40 arrests in Hays County
By Staff Report 
April 2, 2025
AUSTIN — A joint investigation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the San Antonio Poli...
Three-car collision leaves one dead
Dripping Springs, Main, News
Three-car collision leaves one dead
By Staff Report 
March 12, 2025
DRIPPING SPRINGS – A three-car collision left a 79-year-old woman dead March 1. At approximately 6:45 p.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS...
{"epopulate_editorials":"Epopulate"}
Former Dripping Springs Middle School teacher sentenced to 60 years in prison for possession of child pornography
Breaking News, Dripping Springs, Hays County, ...
Former Dripping Springs Middle School teacher sentenced to 60 years in prison for possession of child pornography
By Staff Report 
April 30, 2025
SAN MARCOS — Hays County District Judge Sherri K. Tibbe sentenced Kevin McLean, 33, to a total of 60 years in prison April 29; McLean entered a plea o...
Hays County Sheriff’s Office arrests corrections officer following inmate outcry
Breaking News, Hays County, News, ...
Hays County Sheriff’s Office arrests corrections officer following inmate outcry
By Brittany Kelley 
April 25, 2025
SAN MARCOS   — Following an inmate who claimed she was a victim of sexual misconduct, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office arrested corrections officer Jo...
e-Edition
Read Hays Free Press
e-Edition
Read News-Dispatch
ePaper
google_play
app_store
Hays Free Press

haysfreepress.com
113 W. Center St.
Kyle, Texas 78640
Phone: 512-268-7862
Email: news@haysfreepress.com

Stay tuned with us

Copyright © Barton Publications. All rights reserved.