The Ruelas Family Foundation story begins with Raul and Karen Ruelas. Although they came from vastly different backgrounds, they were raised with shared values of family, education, service, generosity, and faith.
Our Story – Different Backgrounds, Same Values
Imagine an elevator ride that changed everything. Fate brought Raul and Karen Ruelas together one afternoon when each held the elevator door open for the other, not knowing that this chance encounter would set the course for an extraordinary journey. With this one act of kindness, these two fell in love and began a lifelong commitment to one another and to others.
Karen was raised in a white-collar community outside of Los Angeles, California. One of five children, she was instilled with a deep sense of service by her father. Karen pursued this mandate with incredible determination and achieved her undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling. She has always put others before herself—whether it be her clients, her family, or her community—and has dedicated her career to serving those who most need her help.
Raul grew up in the Segundo Barrio (the “Second Ward”) neighborhood of El Paso, Texas. During his childhood, the Barrio was widely acknowledged to be one of the poorest neighborhoods in the United States. The youngest of five siblings, his parents stressed the importance of taking care of each other and achieving an education above all else. As a result, Raul pursued higher education with a single-minded resolution. He has since earned an undergraduate and a master’s degree and is pursuing a second master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry at the University of the Incarnate Word.
A History of Service Shapes the Ruelas Family Foundation Story
Though Raul and Karen were raised in drastically different households and different parts of the country, both sets of parents stressed the importance of education, family, and empathy for others.
Their drive to serve is what led them to:
- Open their first substance-abuse treatment center, Red River Recovery Center, in 2002.
- Open the San Antonio Recovery Center (SARC) in 2010, offering hope and recovery to countless individuals. They have since opened multiple outpatient, inpatient, and sober living homes under the SARC umbrella in San Antonio.
Both Karen and Raul have seen the impact of addiction first-hand and felt compelled to help those struggling with the disease of substance use and mental health. Their devotion to their faith and call to serve led them to start the Ruelas Family Foundation.
The Ruelas Family Foundation History Starts Now
Guided by the same principles that shaped their childhoods, Raul and Karen have embarked on their latest chapter, the Ruelas Family Foundation. This foundation is a testament to their unwavering commitment to education, family, and faith, which guides their mission: to serve the least among us.
The Ruelas Family Foundation is dedicated to giving back to communities in dire need. This unwavering commitment to serve has provided educational scholarships and expanded support for causes that benefit vulnerable communities and individuals who find themselves in need.
Become Part of Our Mission to Help the Least Among Us
The Ruelas Family Foundation story is only just beginning. If you or someone you know has a need, please contact us. Together, we change more lives for the better and spread hope to people and communities that need it most.
