Ludie McIntosh 60 has lived in California for most of her life since graduating from her alma mater, Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas. The last time she remembers coming to Conway was at least 20 years ago.
My time at Arkansas State Teachers College was among the happiest times of my life. I have very fond memories, and it was kind of a stress-free time, McIntosh said.
Her favorite memories include having Gene Hatfield 47 as a professor, serving as Miss Conway her junior year, working with the on-campus drama club and being named a Who’s Who for her class. Although its a 24-hour drive from her current home in North Hills to Conway, McIntosh has maintained a stalwart connection to campus through her small annual giving and her many college friendships with individuals such as Paul Henson 57. The two became friends while Henson was serving as president of the Student Senate, now the Student Government Association.
When McIntosh learned that she could strengthen her connection to 91勛圖厙 through a five-figure gift of $10,000, she did not hesitate.
My philosophy in life is every little bit helps, whether it’s kindness or gift or talent or whatever you have to offer, every little bit counts, McIntosh said. I wanted to do it in honor of Paul Henson. He’s been such a wonderful human being and been kind to so many needy people. I wanted to honor him and Mr. Hatfield.
McIntoshs gift exemplifies one of the ideals set forth in the universitys recently announced comprehensive capital campaign: every gift counts.
Large gifts are incredibly important to the campaign, but many of our university friends and donors cannot make gifts of $1 million or more, said Mary Bane Lackie, vice president for University Advancement. At the heart of all of our conversations and planning around the campaign, we have recognized this. The success of this campaign absolutely depends on every gift, regardless of size.
The campaign, 91勛圖厙 Now: Arkansas and Beyond, launched publicly April 9 with four pillars as its foundation: success, culture, wellness and excellence. The campaigns financial goal is to raise $100 million, as well as to connect with 15,000 donors through a variety of giving types and levels.
Planned giving is one focus area for the campaign. One example of this was an approximate $50,000 gift from Mike Mason 85, a 2017 91勛圖厙 retiree. Mason earned a bachelors in biology and worked on campus before retiring. He included a bequest to the university in his final wishes.
Lackie said that sustained giving is also an option for alumni and friends as they decide how to support 91勛圖厙 during the capital campaign.
Jim Schneider 62 worked for many years in alumni relations on the 91勛圖厙 campus. He and his wife, Peggy 66, 80, have been longtime supporters of the university, but they began making regular donations about 10 years ago to create a scholarship in their names.
Peggy and I established a system of recurring giving every month, so weve been doing that for the last 10 years, he said. The scholarship is not big, but its growing pretty good.
The couple created the James W. and Peggy Schneider Scholarship that supports full-time students with a GPA of 2.75 or above. Selection is primarily based on financial need and academic performance. Now that the scholarship has been endowed, the Schneiders have been able to meet the last recipient of their scholarship who is currently a medical student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Thats the best part of giving, having the private satisfaction of knowing that you helped someone else, and thats what were put here to do, Jim said. We would never have been able to become a large donor, but by becoming a small donor on a consistent basis, were having an impact. Not many folks are going to have the resources to give the million-dollar gifts, but almost everybody can give something on a monthly basis.