By Sarah Long
Wichita Falls resturanteur Steve Shipp and attorney Erwin Davenport have been appointed by the Board of Regents to run the Annual Fund and Charitable Trust, respectively.
In recent years MSU has taken quite a beating when it comes to the budget.
The university has received less funding from the state every year, forcing administration to find money elsewhere.
A client at Davenport’s law firm created the MSU Charitable Trust in 1989.
After the death of trustee Frank Gibson, the Charitable Trust Board recommended Davenport to serve in his place.
Gibson was one of the original trustees in addressing issues regarding the drafting and creating of gifts and endowments to the trust.
“We are fortunate in Wichita Falls to have a community that realizes the positive impact of MSU,” Davenport said. “Gifts from donors are invested and administered in accordance with the terms of the trust or the particular endowment agreement to benefit in those areas that are most needed and that carry out the intentions of a particular donor.”
Davenport said without organizations such as the MSU Charitable Trust, students, faculty and the entire community would be adversley affected.
With 35 years of experience as a trusts and estates lawyer, Davenport said he is confident that his working knowledge will be beneficial to the ongoing activities of the MSU Charitable Trust.
Davenport attended MSU 44 years ago and said he couldn’t imagine how his life would be if he didn’t attend the university.
“Contributing to MSU is an investment in the lives of students who deserve the same opportunity that I received,” Davenport said. “I would encourage our alumni to give.”
After a national search, Shipp, local SalaDeli owner, was hired at a $60,000 salary as annual fund director.
“The annual fund is a clearing house for MSU,” Shipp said. “Gifts are sent to many areas at MSU, based on the donors’ desires.”
To date, the Annual Fund has collected $172,701. From October 2011 to January 2012 the Annual Fund took in $139,911 in contributions.
“The Annual Fund is a young entity just coming up on 10 years old,” Shipp said. “While there have been fluctuations from year to year the overall experience has been very positive.”
Shipp said consistent annual giving allows MSU to have some flexibility in making plans and choices critical to its future.
“Donor dollars also allow the university to respond to immediate challenges and opportunities,” he said.
What is Leadership • Apr 5, 2012 at 4:01 AM
. The suspect asked
me to pass this on to the officer. After I finished fingerprinting, I went
to the police radio and called for Officer Bedard to attend my office.