About Us

The Volunteer Services Council for San Antonio State Hospital was founded in 1952 with assistance from the Women's Club of San Antonio.  It began with an idea conceived at a meeting of the Modernist Round Table at the San Antonio Woman's Club.

Music Therapy had been chosen for the meetings program with Mrs. William Hensley as guest speaker.  Mrs. Hensley told of her success using music therapy with certain types  of mental illness. Miss Kathleen Cure, also a guest, told the "dire need in hospital's recreation department for phonograph records, record machines. games, cards, magazines, and a variety of moving picture films."

"Members of the Modernist Round Table set to work out a project whereby these much needed things could be secured. Mrs. LucilleThomas was appointed chairman...and an appeal was made to the public. Great interest was manifested and soon, hundreds of the needed items and funds for more moving picture films were being received."

"As a result of this work, Mrs. Thomas and Miss Cure saw the need of a permanent volunteer council.  Members of the committee met in the main office of the San Antonio State Hospital on May 2, 1952, and under the direction of Mrs. Mary Alice Coombs...organized the Volunteer Services Council."

?The following members were elected:  Mrs. Thomas, chairman, and Ms. Cure, coordinator; Mesdames Volney Taylor, vice chairman; C. W. R. Duvall, secretary; Marcus Clark, treasurer; Charles Allen, publicity; Committee chairmen include Mesdames Preston DIAL, Protestant churches; Erico Liberto, Catholic churches; Irwin Shifrin, Council of Jewish women; Paul C. Wilkins, social chairman; Don McKee, drama; W. M. Hensley, musical therapy; William King, art; Alice Naylor, art assistant; Hack Mozley, literature; Mary Tom Weyman, colleges; W. H. Barker, women's clubs; Emery Dennis, garden, and W. J. Grose, garden assistant, Manuel Prince is social chairman of the Latin-Americans, and Harry L. Roper, chairman of men's clubs".

(Excerpts & quotes from the San Antonio Light, August 24, 1952)

The Volunteer Services Council (VSC) of the San Antonio State Hospital is a state-chartered, 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization. The Council was incorporated in 1955 with assistance from the Modernist Round Table of the Woman’s Club of San Antonio.

San Antonio State Hospital (SASH) first opened its doors in 1892. It is the fourth largest of 10 state hospitals in Texas. Presently, the in-patient capacity is 302 and averages 92% occupancy throughout the year. The staff of about 846 full-time employees provides a complete range of diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation inpatient services. SASH is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and is Medicare certified.

SASH provides inpatient psychiatric services to adolescents and adults residing in 55 South Texas counties. Additionally, the hospital operates a remote 16 bed acute care unit in Laredo, TX.