KTSA Radiothon Raises $155,425 for Thanksgiving Dinner

The 19th annual radiothon supports the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, which now serves more than 25,000 people downtown each year.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy

Empty ceramic bowls line a stainless steel serving counter in warm afternoon light, with folding chairs softly blurred behind.
Connoisseur Media's KTSA radiothon raised $155,425 on Thursday to support the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, which now serves more than 25,000 people downtown each year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Connoisseur Media's News Talk 550 KTSA and FM 107.1 raised $155,425 during the 19th Annual KTSA Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner Radiothon. The funds support the dinner, which relies entirely on donations and volunteers.

Why it matters

The dinner has grown from a few hundred guests to more than 25,000 people each Thanksgiving, making its donor-funded model a significant community resource in San Antonio. The radiothon's proceeds help sustain that service for residents in need during the holiday season.

The radiothon raised $155,425 for the dinner, which has grown from serving a few hundred guests to more than 25,000 people annually. The source does not report prior-year totals for comparison.

The players

Connoisseur Media's News Talk 550 KTSA

Connoisseur Media's News Talk 550 KTSA is a San Antonio radio station that conducted the radiothon alongside its sister station FM 107.1.

Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner

The Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner is a donation- and volunteer-funded holiday meal program in downtown San Antonio that founder Raul Jimenez launched 47 years ago.

The details

Connoisseur Media's News Talk 550 KTSA and FM 107.1 and sister stations conducted the radiothon, with KTSA host Trey Ware leading the effort. Raul Jimenez founded the dinner 47 years ago, and Patricia Jimenez now serves as its president.

Timeline

  1. 47 years ago: Raul Jimenez founds the Thanksgiving dinner.

  2. Each Thanksgiving: The dinner serves more than 25,000 people downtown.

  3. November 3, 2026: The 19th annual radiothon results are reported.

Philanthropy Context

This 19th annual KTSA Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner Radiothon continues a multi-decade pattern of broadcast-driven fundraising for the dinner. The campaign's sustained run reflects the dinner's reliance on community giving rather than institutional funding.

Residents who want to support the dinner can contribute through donations or volunteer time, since the program depends entirely on those sources. The extraction does not specify how or where to give.

The takeaway

Community-funded programs like the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner depend on sustained donations and volunteer labor to meet growing demand. Supporting local meal programs during the holidays can make a measurable difference for thousands of residents.

Further reading

Explore more local giving stories in Philanthropy.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio Ink.

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Should local charities like community holiday meal programs receive more public support?