Texas Border Business
The South Texas Children’s Arts Festival is offering Valley children the opportunity to win SPI vacations for their families by answering and illustrating questions from the Gospel of John. Two winners and their families will enjoy the sand and surf at Isla Grand Beach Resort or Holiday Inn Beach Resort South Padre Island. Included in the vacations are credits to eat at restaurants on each resort property.
“I’m looking for material for my ‘Kids Talk About God’ syndicated newspaper column and ‘Kids Color Me Bible Gospel of John,’” said arts festival chairman Carey Kinsolving. “It’s a lot easier to get kids to answer Bible questions and illustrate them when you give them the incentive to win South Padre Island vacations for their families.”
Ten-year-old winner Abrian Ramos of Edinburg spent a week at Isla Grand Beach Resort in July with his family. He splashed in Isla Grand’s two swimming pools and at the beach, where he and his brother took turns burying each other in sand. The waterpark, fireworks, banana boat and parasailing were all on his schedule of fun things to do. “I spent about half of my $600 in Grand Bucks on ice cream,” said Ramos.
“We’ve been so proud of Abrian to have won this competition,” said Berth Tamez, his mother. “Isla Grand has been nothing but great. As parents, the most important thing is to see our children’s efforts rewarded. This is a great way to motivate children to always do their best.”
La Feria resident Vivian Degollado, 8, and family are scheduled to spend their week at Holiday Inn Beach Resort South Padre at the end of September. She impressed arts festival judges with her answer to the question, “How can we be friends with Jesus?”
“We can be friends with Jesus by being a friend to one another,” Degollado wrote. “Jesus loves it when we are kind and loving. You can also be friends with Jesus by trusting him.”
Because of sponsors like Dr. Martin Garza of DLC Pediatrics, Bob and Karen Boggus and Melba’s Dance, there is no entry fee for the South Texas Children’s Arts Festival. Both Isla Grand Beach Resort and Holiday Inn Beach Resort South Padre Island are offering vacations in 2024 to winners and their families as well as credit to eat at restaurants on their properties that they own. To download entry forms with guidelines, please visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/stx. Deadline is Jan. 31, 2024.
To see artwork and writing from this year’s winners and finalists, please visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/finals2023.
