Kevin Benz to head Lutheran Social Services board

      Kevin Benz has been selected as chairman of the Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS) Board of Directors. Benz, a member of Triumphant Love, Austin, has served as a board member for LSS since 2005. 
      Benz is editor-in-chief of CultureMap Austin, a daily digital magazine covering issues of lifestyle and culture in Austin. Most of his career has been in broadcast journalism as an award-winning news photographer at KTBC-TV in Austin, then WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C., and KPRC-TV in Houston. Benz returned to Austin and KTBC, where he became assistant news director.
      In 1999, he launched the 24-hour news channel, News 8 Austin, and was news director there for more than 11 years. Under his guidance, News 8 Austin received national recognition and numerous awards.
      Benz is the current chairman of the Radio, Television, Digital News Association (formerly RTNDA) National Board and recently served as chairman of the Texas Associated Press Broadcaster’s Board of Directors. 
      Selection for the LSS Board is based on demonstrated interest, expertise, and involvement in serving LSS through its social ministries, and carrying out its mission of providing help, healing, and hope to those in need, regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender, or age.
      LSS is a multifaceted social services agency based in Austin that serves more than 45,000 people throughout Texas and Louisiana each year. LSS provides foster care and adoption services through the agency’s 16 offices throughout Texas, and operates three children’s residential treatment centers, one emergency refugee children’s shelter, six senior living communities, Trinity Charter Schools on four campuses, emergency assistance in the Lubbock area, and help and support for hurricane and disaster victims. 
      The mission of Lutheran Social Services is to provide help, healing and hope in the name of Jesus Christ.  It is the social service arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, serving in four ELCA synods (including the Southwestern Texas Synod) and three LCMS districts.