Trefoil Award Luncheon Fundraiser
Honoring women of distinction
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has annually honored an area woman who has made a significant contribution to the community and represents the ideals and values of a Girl Scout. The Trefoil Award is the highest honor we bestow outside of Girl Scout-related awards. New Trefoil honorees join a long line of inspiring women who have worked to make the world a better place, just like Girl Scouts do.
2026 Trefoil Award
This year, we are celebrating a woman of distinction who has made a difference in our community. The 2026 Trefoil Award recipient is Laura Vaccaro. Join us Monday, September 28, at 11:00 a.m as we honor her and continue to celebrate women in leadership!
Laura Vaccaro is the Chief Executive Officer of the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, overseeing all operations of a perpetual charitable trust established by Albert and Bessie Mae Kronkosky and administered by corporate trustee Bank of America. The Foundation’s mission is to produce profound, tangible, and measurable good in Bandera, Bexar, Comal, and Kendall counties in Texas.
With more than $400 million in assets and annual grantmaking of $15–$20 million, Laura leads the Foundation’s strategic direction and grantmaking priorities in partnership with a three-person Distribution Committee. She also manages the Foundation’s San Antonio–based office at the Weston Centre, leading a team of professional staff. Since its inception 28 years ago, the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation has distributed approximately $400 million to more than 500 nonprofit organizations across Texas. As CEO of one of the largest grantmaking organizations in the state, Laura represents the Foundation daily through extensive civic and philanthropic engagement.
Prior to joining Kronkosky, Laura spent nearly a decade as Vice President for Community Investment and Engagement at Valero Energy, where she led all community investment activities for the Valero Energy Foundation and Valero Energy Corporation. She also oversaw employee engagement strategies, including Valero’s volunteerism programs and community events. Previously, Laura served for 12 years as Executive Director of Learning, Education, and Development at Valero, directing leadership development, e-learning, and professional development initiatives for more than 10,000 employees across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Peru, Mexico, and Canada.
Read more about Laura Vaccaro 
Thank you to our 2026 Trefoil sponsors!
Presenting
Bill & Margie Klesse/The Klesse Foundation
Trefoil Level
Boeing | City of San Antonio | CPS Energy | Frost | H-E-B | USAA | Valero | Wellpoint
Platinum Level
Cece Cheever & Suzanne Goudge | Firstday Foundation | Mays Family Foundation | The Malú & Carlos Alvarez Family | McCombs Foundation | Muriel Siebert Foundation | Reach Resilience | UT San Antonio/ UT Health
Gold Level
Ancira | The Barron Charitable Foundation | Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai & Rachel Sakai | Broadway Bank | CAPTRUST | GPM Life Insurance Company | Howard Energy Partners | Janet Holliday/Suzanne Wade | Kronkosky Charitable Foundation | Northside Auto Group | San Antonio Water System | Silver Ventures, Inc. | Texas A&M San Antonio
Silver Level
Community First Health Plans | Ernst & Young | Jeannie Frazier/Jennifer Moriarty | Luis De La Garza | IBC Bank | Estella Reyna Kierce | Jan King/King & Sommer, PLLC | Predico Partners | Security Service Federal Credit Union | Southwest Research Institute | SWBC | theKFORDgroup | University Health | VIA | Linda Whitacre | YWLA
Special Thanks
Barbara Gentry | Frank & Cecilia Herrera | John Newman Family Charitable Fund | Taddy McAllister
*Includes sponsors as of August 19, 2026
Trefoil Recognition Award
Each honoree receives the Trefoil Recognition Award at their celebration, designed by artist Gini Garcia of Garcia Art Glass.
Artist’s statement:
“The Trefoil Award brings the friendship bracelet more into front and center, with each bead representing the Past (Courage), Present (Confidence), and Future (Character) and symbolizing the shiny reflection of each recipient into the community and their ability to be introspective and look inward.
PAST: The darker, richer green represents the founding members of Girl Scouts who laid the groundwork of the movement. While the whispers of years past have become darker and more distant with age, it is due to the courage these members had that has given the next generation a foundation upon which to build.
PRESENT: We often hear, “Let’s live in the now.” It is a golden moment, and as the gold reflects outward like a beacon, it is seen by all as the brightest of stars. Yet it is in this reflection that we also see ourselves. At this present moment, we sense that now is the time to live to our greatest potential. Today, collectively and as individuals, we seek to make great decisions with confidence as our guiding light.
FUTURE: Let all the youth play! As young girls bloom into their springtime, they share friendship bracelets with each other. These charms are sowing the seeds of friendship so that one day, the friends will come back together as the flowers of tomorrow with a sense of optimism and character to move forward."
Past Trefoil Honorees
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