By RYLEE MOORE
Editor-in-Chief
The Ware family, owners of Amarillo National Bank, gifted $1.2 million to Amarillo College on Sept. 6. This $1.2 million gift is said to be the lead gift for the Badger Bold comprehensive fundraising campaign, which will begin in October according to Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, president of Amarillo College.
“This amazing gift will support the Mary Ware scholarship foundation, capital support to continue to have the Ware Student Commons evolve as our student needs evolve and establish a Ware athletic scholarship,” Lowery-Hart said.
The Mary Ware Scholarship endowment will receive $500,000 of the gift. Since the scholarship was established in 2009, it has awarded $137,000 to female students who are either employed outside of the home or active in student or community activities.
Capital support for Ware Student Commons renovations will receive $500,000 of the gift and the establishment of the Ware Athletic Scholarship will get $200,000.
“ANB and the Ware family have been our most consistent benefactors, a driving force of AC philanthropy for decades,” Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, president of Amarillo College, said. “The Wares’ $1 million gift in 2015 was a driving force behind the renovation of the Ware Student Commons.”
According to William Ware, president of ANB, AC is critical to the foundation for the local community and the economy. The hope is that the gift inspires others to continue to give and support the increasing momentum of AC.
This is the 34th consecutive year that the Ware family has donated to AC. Since their inaugural gift, given to AC in 1963, ANB and the Ware family have given $3.3 million in total according to Joe Wyatt, Communications and Marketing coordinator.
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