SAMMONS DALLAS FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTES HISTORIC $100 MILLION GIFT

Transcription

1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media contact: Theresa Badylak Director, Corporate Communications Sammons Corporation SAMMONS DALLAS FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTES HISTORIC $100 MILLION GIFT TO SIX DALLAS ORGANIZATIONS Donation Continues Tradition of Community Involvement Started by Founder of Sammons Enterprises, Inc. Dallas (January 13, 2010) The Sammons Dallas Foundation today announced a $100 million gift to six Dallas-area beneficiaries. The gift is made possible by the estate of founder Charles A. Sammons and the 3,500 women and men of Sammons Enterprises, Inc. With this historic contribution we are honoring Mr. Sammons conviction that the worth of a company should be based on its profitability and its contribution to the community, said Heather Kreager, President, Sammons Dallas Foundation. The beneficiaries will be able to continue their missions of helping improve the quality of life for the people within our community who are facing challenges. Charles Sammons identified the six beneficiaries of the Sammons Dallas Foundation prior to his death in The six Dallas beneficiaries are: Baylor Health Care System Foundation, on behalf of Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas: the $20 million will benefit the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and its new cancer complex that will include both inpatient and outpatient services as well as clinical research facilities. An endowed breast cancer research chair will be named in honor of Charles Sammons two sisters, Hattie Belle and Mary Sammons, who both had cancer. The Salvation Army of Dallas County: $15 million will establish the Elaine and Charles Sammons Endowment to support the Dallas County programs. 1

2 Methodist Health System Foundation: $20 million will establish an endowment to deliver quality indigent care or emergency room trauma services. Communities Foundation of Texas: $20 million will support the foundation s discretionary grant making in perpetuity, extending the Sammons legacy each year through grants invested by the foundation in projects which demonstrate the greatest positive impact in the Dallas community. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas: $20 million will endow heart, lung and vascular patient programs at UT Southwestern University Hospital with a proposed name of the Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons Heart, Lung and Vascular Comprehensive Center that will include both inpatient and outpatient services as well as clinical and translational research program. This endowment will complement previous gifts from the Elaine Dewey Sammons Foundation. The educational trust fund of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas: $5 million will establish The Charles A. and Elaine D. Sammons Diocesan Education Trust Fund. The fund will provide financial aid and tuition to elementary school children attending parish schools and students attending the three diocesan high schools. Charles Sammons and his companies made countless charitable contributions in the Dallas area long before the Sammons Dallas Foundation was established in Since 1974, Sammons Enterprises, Inc. has contributed more than $11 million dollars which was distributed through this foundation and two others bearing the Sammons name. Founder Charles Sammons and previous chairman Elaine D. Sammons were both quiet philanthropists who were personally generous, as well as encouraging of the people of Sammons Enterprises to be involved in the communities where we live and conduct business, Sammons Enterprises, Inc., CEO Mike Masterson added. The spirit of community involvement instilled by Mr. and Mrs. Sammons, and continued today by the women and men of Sammons Enterprises can be felt throughout the City of Dallas. Four months ago, the Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons Park, located within 2

3 the new AT&T Performing Arts Center opened in honor of the company s founder Charles A. Sammons and chairman Elaine D. Sammons, who passed away in January The $15 million gift was announced in October 2008 during Sammons 70th anniversary celebration. Prior to his passing in 1988, Mr. Sammons approved a significant gift by which the Sammons Center for the Arts became a reality in Dallas. That gift was made as part of the 50 th anniversary celebration of Reserve Life Insurance Company in Mr. Sammons set the standard and Chairman Bob Korba enabled us to continue this approach to our community involvement, Sammons Enterprises, Inc. President Heather Kreager said. During our long-term relationships with these organizations, we have observed how our contributions have made a difference to the people of Dallas. We hope that life will be better for millions of people because of these contributions. About Sammons Dallas Foundation Charles A. Sammons and his companies made countless charitable contributions in the Dallas area long before the Sammons Dallas Foundation was established in Since 1974, Sammons Enterprises, Inc. has contributed more than $11 million dollars which was distributed through this foundation and two others bearing the Sammons name. The six beneficiaries of the Sammons Dallas Foundation are: Baylor Health Care System Foundation on behalf of Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Methodist Health System Foundation, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Salvation Army in Dallas County and the educational trust fund of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas. # # # 3

4 About the Beneficiaries of the Sammons Dallas Foundation Ashley Howland About Baylor Health Care System Foundation Baylor Health Care System Foundation, a separately incorporated not-for-profit organization, raises and manages charitable funds to support Baylor Health Care System s mission of providing exemplary health care, education, research and community service. Since the foundation was established in 1978, it has distributed more than $304 million to Baylor Health Care System. Support comes from more than 10,000 active donors, including individuals, corporations and other private foundations. For more information about Baylor Health Care System Foundation, visit Kathleen Beathard, APR kathleenbeathard@mhd.com About Methodist Health System Foundation Methodist Health System opened its doors in 1927 with a mission to provide compassionate medical care for people from all walks of life. Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Methodist Midlothian Health Center, and Methodist Family Health Centers are part of the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Our founding principles of life, learning, and compassion guide us today as we deliver care in an environment that brings together some of the world s most sophisticated medical technology with professionals who share a dedication to service. Methodist is one of Texas leading teaching and referral centers with a medical staff of more than 1200 physicians representing more than 60 specialties. Physicians trained at medical schools from across the United States and all over the world participate in our residency programs in internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and family practice. As part of our ongoing investment in exceptional clinical services and facilities, 1

5 Methodist Health System has one of only three adult trauma centers in Dallas; offers multi-organ transplant services; and provides nationally rated high-risk infant care, including a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that is a referral center for more than 30 hospitals in North and East Texas. Methodist believes in doing more with less and giving more than is asked. The system annually far exceeds the 5 percent charity care ratio required by the state for nonprofit organizations. Our hospitals provided more than $81 million (or 17%) in uncompensated charity care in With a mission to improve and save lives, Methodist Health System is an evolving system of care focused on improving the quality and accessibility of health care for the diverse communities we serve. Additional information is available at John Walls John.Walls@UTSouthwestern.edu About UT Southwestern Medical Center UT Southwestern Medical Center, one of the premier medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. Its faculty includes many distinguished physicians, educators and scientists, including four Nobel laureates, three of whom are active faculty members. Numbering more than 2,200, the faculty is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in 40 specialties to nearly 97,000 hospitalized patients and oversee 1.8 million outpatient visits a year. Physicians care for patients at UT Southwestern University Hospitals, Parkland Health & Hospital System, Children s Medical Center Dallas, VA North Texas Health Care System and other affiliated hospitals and clinics in Dallas, Fort Worth and North Texas communities. Three degree-granting institutions UT Southwestern Medical School, UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and UT Southwestern School of Health Professions train nearly 4,400 students, residents and fellows each year. UT 2

6 Southwestern researchers undertake more than 3,500 research projects annually, totaling more than $400 million. Visit for more information. Laurey Peat About Communities Foundation of Texas Since its founding in 1953, Communities Foundation of Texas has grown to become one of the nation s largest community foundations. Through its work, the foundation enhances the experience and impact of charitable giving. It serves as a hub for collaboration between donors, nonprofits and other funding organizations to stimulate creative solutions to key community challenges. This is accomplished through a variety of donor-advised, designated and discretionary funds. The foundation professionally manages almost 900 component funds and has awarded over $1 billion in charitable grants. Patrick Patey Patrick_Patey@uss.salvationarmy.org About The Salvation Army The Salvation Army is a worldwide Christian organization that in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex provides 77 different programs and services to help make life better for individuals and families. Services include: substance abuse treatment, homeless shelters, life-skills classes, nonperishable food, Christmas gifts for children, domestic violence programs, emergency financial assistance, child care, after-school programs, summer day camps, computer training, senior citizens services, and low-cost youth sports leagues. The Salvation Army s religious and social service activities serve millions of men, women and children in more than 100 nations around the world. Volunteers, contributors, and other supporters make the services possible in local communities across the country. For more information, go to 3

7 Annette Gonzales Taylor About the Schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas has 37 Catholic schools located within its nine county area. The Diocese owns 28 parochial elementary schools and three high schools while the remaining six Catholic schools are independently owned by religious congregations or other recognized religious groups. These schools serve a diverse student population of 15,062 with approximately 50% of the school serving low income areas. The vision statement for Catholic schools is to educate diverse student bodies to form Catholic, person-centered learning communities; provide academic excellence through educational programs infused with Catholic doctrine and social teachings; serve and support society in the parish, civic, and global communities; graduate students who are critical thinkers, productive moral citizens, and spiritual leaders; and recognize and appreciate parents as the primary educators of their children. # # # 4