Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2016
The Texas Southern University Foundation, a nonprofit corporation which provides support to the University to include securing funds for all legitimate University purposes, has bolstered its strength by adding 12 new business and community leaders who have agreed to support Texas Southern University.
These new members are: Mr. Henry Brown, past-Community Affairs President, Anheuser Bush; Dr. Judith Craven, Houston Businesswoman; Mr. James Donatto, President/CEO Academy Awards and President – Across the Track Pac; Mr. Charles Foy, President, Foy Insurance Agency; Mrs. Kim Gagne, Executive Producer, Steve Harvey Show; Ms. Marian Harper, Community Outreach & Foundation, Houston Astros Organization; Mr. Alan Helfman, President/Owner, Helfman Ford, Jeep, Chrysler, Dr. Melanie Johnson, President/CEO – The Houston Health Museum; Mr. Marchris Robinson, Houston Attorney – Robinson Law Group, PLLC; Ms. Judy Dyer, Olympic Athlete, President – Managed Medical Association; Rev. Manson Johnson, Pastor – Holman Street Baptist Church; and Mr. Ernest Ecung, Investment Officer – Ecung Investments.
“Any public or private college or university is only as strong as the caliber of students who attend and the financial support it receives,” said Gerald Smith, Foundation Chair. “Adding these 12 business and civic leaders to our Foundation will only help to increase Texas Southern University’s ability to provide our students with the opportunities they need to compete at a high academic and athletic level.”
“We worked very hard to come up with a strategic list of names of people who are passionate about education, care about Texas Southern University and are capable of providing our young adults with the resources they need to compete in a global market,” said Eva Pickens.
Because of the diverse addition of new members, the Foundation has appointed members to various committees. Those committees include, but are not limited to: Audit Committee, which along with the Executive Committee, will review the year-end financial statements with the internal and external auditors; Investment Committee comprised of Trustees, to the extent possible, who have some background and experience in investment, finance, real estate and mineral-related activities; Development and Scholarship Committee made up, to the extent possible, of Trustees who have a background and experience in student scholarship programs and the accepted policies for administering student scholarships; and Nominating and Membership Committee which will conduct a periodic review of membership guidelines and make recommendations as required to the Board.
The 12 new Board members will be inducted at the annual Foundation Board Retreat held in January, 2016. Their first task will be to host a major fundraising event to increase the amount of operating funds for the Foundation.
Current Foundation leaders are: Gerald B. Smith, Chair; Willie Alexander, Vice Chair; Joseph “Jody” Proler, Treasurer; Lamont Waddell, Secretary, Thomas Jones, Jr. Board Advisor ; and Eva Pickens, Executive Director.
Current Foundation members are: Jodie Jiles, Kamoru A. Lawal, Ramon Manning, Matthew “Matt” Rogers, Jr., Regina Rogers, Larry Veselka, Esq., Frazier Wilson, Ed.D, and Cary Yates.
The ultimate objective of the Foundation is to raise funds for projects and programs that ensure future excellence in all areas of the university including teaching, research, and service.
Category: News Media