Harvey E. Najim is not just cutting a big check. The San Antonio philanthropist has pledged $500,000 to the San Antonio Food Bank and spent Wednesday shoulder to shoulder with volunteers, stacking boxes as the group kicked off a dollar‑for‑dollar match meant to supercharge giving before Thanksgiving, as reported by News 4 San Antonio.
Najim Shows Up To Stock Shelves
The pledge will match community donations dollar for dollar through Nov. 30, up to a $500,000 cap, with the matching window opening Nov. 19 to focus support around the holiday, according to News 4 San Antonio. Najim also headed into the warehouse himself as the effort launched, helping stock shelves alongside Food Bank volunteers.
"Harvey Najim is a great champion for our community, and his support for families this Thanksgiving season is unprecedented," Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, told News 4 San Antonio. Cooper said the match is designed to nudge other donors to jump in, turning individual gifts into something much larger during a stretch when need typically spikes.
How The Match Works
The Food Bank’s donation page spells it out clearly: "every dollar you give this November will be matched by Harvey E. Najim, up to $500,000," and each dollar is estimated to provide roughly 14 meals during the campaign. According to the San Antonio Food Bank, the matching gift is meant to stretch private dollars at a time when pantries are feeling the pressure of heavier holiday demand.
Najim's Local Giving Record
This is not Najim’s first high‑impact partnership with the Food Bank. His charitable giving has funded mega distributions and other hunger‑relief efforts, and he has also backed campus food security programs at UTSA. Earlier this year, Najim committed $1.25 million to support the university’s Roadrunner Pantry, as detailed by UTSA.
Why It Matters
The Food Bank’s FY25 impact report flags reductions in federal funding as "one of our biggest challenges," a shift that has pushed the organization to lean more heavily on private donors to meet growing need. The San Antonio Food Bank notes that matching campaigns like Najim’s can turn a single donor dollar into significantly more meals during the Thanksgiving surge.
For local residents, that means November donations will carry extra weight. For the Food Bank, Najim’s pledge translates into immediate buying power at a moment when trucks, pallets and shelves are all under strain. With the match in play, every contribution this month is set to deliver more meals to San Antonio families heading into the holidays.
