Several
months ago a suggestion from one of the first MLP board members surfaced to find
a meaningful way to honor Gen. Bob Herres, the MLP’s first board chair. For those of you new to the community,
Bob retired as a four-star general from the Air Force and then went on to the
CEO position at USAA. He passed
away about 1 ½ years ago after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. When I first met with Bob to explain my
dream of starting the program in San Antonio he immediately saw the impact of
creating a new pool of volunteers for board service to our community. He was passionate about making sure the
curriculum was top notch so the program would attract people just like you –
leaders from all walks of life.
Working with the MLP Board and the MLP
Alumni Association board, a recommendation surfaced to name one of the two
scholarships that are awarded to Alamo College students participating in the
Student Leadership Institute after Bob Herres. The guidelines for this scholarship were
then changed to add that the recipient or a member of their family will have
honorably served in the military.
The General Robert T. Herres Masters
Leadership Scholarship is now officially designated at the Alamo College
Foundation. Shirley Herres, Bob’s widow now living in Nebraska to be close to
her daughter, is trying to work her schedule to be in San Antonio for our MLP
Alumni Association luncheon on April 15th, 2010 when we formally announced the scholarship
in Bob’s name.
In previous years monies for the two
$1500 scholarships that are awarded to two students from the Alamo Colleges
Student Leadership Institute have been generated from the current year’s class
and from the MLP Alumni Association.
Because of the generosity of all of you, we have been able to not only
award at least two scholarships each year (one year we awarded 7!) but also
build up some extra money in hopes of eventually being able to have an endowed
fund.
Several of you asked how you might help
with our endeavor to build a $30,000 endowment fund in Bob’s name. ($30,000 @ 5%
interest = $1500) After discussion
with Ed Kelley, our MLP Board Chair and our MLP Alumni Association board, we are
encouraging anyone whose life was touched by Bob in his years with the MLP to
make a contribution to his scholarship fund.
Here’s what
you need to know:
·
Checks are made out to
ACCD Foundation with the memo field reading – For the benefit of the General
Robert T. Herres Masters Leadership Scholarship.
·
Every donor will receive a
gift acknowledgement letter that includes information needed for tax purposes.
·
Mail checks to:
Jim Eskin
Executive
Director
Institution
Advancement Office and ACCD Foundation
201 W. Sheridan, Bldg.
C-3
San Antonio, TX
78204-1429
If you have any questions, please feel
free to give me a call at 210-352-7000.
Isn’t it amazing that because of YOU, Bob’s vision of providing a new
talent pool of passionate, informed nonprofit board members has been
reached!
With gratitude for all each of you do for
San Antonio and the MLP . . .
Jane
Phipps