Two checks for $2 million each in less than 12 hours.

That's what local philanthropists George and Kymberly Rapier donated to a pair of area nonprofits during separate events Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Half the money went to Morgan's Wonderland, the special-needs theme park; half went to Boysville, the home for at-risk boys and girls.

“We've been affiliated with Boysville for 15 years. They do a great job with these kids and have a lot of pressing needs,” George Rapier said.

“And we first visited Morgan's Wonderland a- bout a year ago. When you're there you can just see that great things are happening, not just for special-needs kids, but for adults with special needs, too.”

The $2 million gift is the largest given by an individual or family to Morgan's Wonderland, according to founder Gordon Hartman. 

It's also probably the single largest gift ever received by Boysville, CEO David McIlvoy said.

Dr. George Rapier is the founder, chairman and CEO of WellMed Medical Management, a health care company that specializes in senior care. Kym Rapier is president and founder of Silver Life Fitness, a WellMed subsidiary that offers fitness classes. The donations come from the couple's family foundation, the Blake, Kymberly and George Rapier Charitable Trust.

Already in 2011, the trust has distributed more than $17 million to local charities. Earlier donations include $500,000 to Communities in Schools in San Antonio in 2007 and $1 million to American Sunrise in 2010 to fund a solar hot water heater initiative for 200 homes.

Rapier says he hopes making such high-profile donations will serve as a challenge to others.

“We used to do things totally under the radar. But then it dawned on us that if let people know, it might be contagious.”

The Rapiers announced their donation to Boysville during a fundraising dinner at the Pearl Stable, during which they received the annual Arthur O'Krent Humanitarian Award.

“George had told me that he and Kym would be presenting us with a gift Thursday night, but he gave no indication of the amount,” McIlvoy said. “When he handed me the check I almost fell off the stage.”

McIlvoy says longtime employees can't remember Boysville receiving such a large donation. The money was designated to go to the Boysville Foundation, which supports operations of the home.

Things were even more dramatic during Friday morning's presentation of what initially was a $1 million donation to Morgan's Wonderland.

“Several of us spoke and, when Kym's turn came, she just said, ‘There's been a mistake,'” Hartman said. “She pulled out a Marks-A-Lot marker and went to the big check, crossed out the ‘$1 million' and wrote ‘$2 million' over it.

“I've been telling people all morning I'm glad she brought a Marks-A-Lot and not an eraser.”

Hartman, who says attendance at Morgan's Wonderland is double that of last year, has been involved in a public effort to persuade the city to help fund construction of a stadium for a pro soccer team.

He proposes to use profits from the stadium to help fund Morgan's Wonderland.

The theme park doesn't charge admission to those with special needs and those who accompany them pay only $10. The city recently rejected the proposal.