Grabbing The San Antonio CowParade By The Horns.

While you may have spotted grazing cows roaming the Alamo City, most notably around Alamo Plaza, the driving force behind these beautifully-painted bovines are co-chairs Al Aguilar and Gisela Girard, owners of advertising agency Creative Civilization, and John and Amy Hayes, who recently chaired the Cattle Baron’s Gala for the American Cancer Society.

The heifers, however, aren’t just here to be put out to pasture. With the help of over 100 local and regional artists, they are in town for CowParade San Antonio to raise funds for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society and the San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs.

“Al and I both got involved with CowParade to help fight cancer and our love of art,” says Girard, Creative Civilization president and COO. “It’s important to remember that all the proceeds raised here are for local cancer research and education.”

Girard, in fact, has been personally affected by the disease. Her mother is a cancer survivor, and in November 2002, the company president chaired the American Cancer Society Hispanic/Latino Summit in South Padre Island.

Hayes, also a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, is largely responsible for getting the cows to graze on South Texas grass. He invited Jerome Elbaum, president of CowParade Holdings, to San Antonio to convince him that the Alamo City would be the perfect place for the heifers to plop their hooves, and to be admired by the public, of course.
“Elbaum really liked San Antonio and from there everything fell into place,” says Hayes. “My wife, Al and Gisela, and I have been responsible for recruiting sponsors and raising awareness about CowParade San Antonio.”

As part of their commitment to fight cancer, Girard and Aguilar have sponsored a cow comically titled, “Moo-vie Goer,” which sits in a theater chair with soda and popcorn.

CowParade San Antonio is a public art exhibition of life-sized fiberglass cows designed to celebrate the spirit of San Antonio’s distinct cultural heritage, public art and the battle against cancer.

CowParade first began in Zurich, Switzerland in 1998 and both the 2000 Cowparade in New York City and the 1999 CowParade in Chicago were widely touted as the most successful public art programs in the cities’ history.