|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abner McCall Award Endowed by Group
By Todd Copeland
 When
the Baylor Alumni Association (BAA) was preparing to launch its
Sesquicentennial Campaign to increase the organization's endowment, the
fundraising experts on the BAA’s governing board recommended dividing
up the overall goal into smaller components.
Put a dollar amount on each of the BAA's core programs, they said, and
alumni and friends will be drawn to contribute toward the endowments of
the specific events and programs most meaningful to them.
They were right. Only a year and a half into the campaign, several of
the BAA's awards programs have already reached their endowment goals,
including the Abner V. McCall Religious Liberty Award, whose endowment
goal was set at $25,000.
A poignant story is connected to the effort to fully endow the McCall
Award, which was established in 1998 in honor of the former Baylor
president. At the story's center is Babs Baugh, Class of '64, who
served as president of the BAA in 2006.
Baugh said that after BAA executive vice president Jeff Kilgore lost
his father, Orval "Luke" Kilgore, in November 2007, she wanted to do
something to let Kilgore know how much he and his family meant to those
serving on the BAA's board. After settling on the idea of endowing the
McCall Award in his father’s memory, she sent out a note to fellow
board members asking for donations.
The responses came by the dozens. "The enthusiasm from the other
directors was amazing," said Baugh, a San Antonio resident who serves
on numerous Baylor and Baptist boards. "Almost every person who sent me
a check also sent me a letter, saying what a wonderful idea it was to
give to the alumni association and honor Jeff’s father in this way.
That is really indicative of what we call the Baylor family."
One of those to respond was Jackie Morrison Moore '86 (pictured with
her mother), Baugh’s daughter and a fellow BAA board member. "I know
everyone wanted to express their love to Jeff by honoring his father in
a meaningful way," said Moore, who also serves on the board for
Associated Baptist Press and is vice president of the Baugh Foundation.
Eventually, more than forty-five board members made a gift, and more
than $30,000 was raised. On January 12, 2008, during a Board of
Directors meeting—to the complete surprise of Kilgore—Baugh made an
official presentation of the endowment of the McCall Award in memory of
Luke Kilgore and in honor of Jeff Kilgore.
Baugh said she chose the McCall Award—which honors individuals who have
demonstrated the courage and dedication to defend and advocate for
religious liberty—because the values it stands for are of great
importance. "Religious liberty is the topic of the first sixteen words
of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and without religious
liberty we have no rights," she said. "That's one of the basic tenets
of Baptist life, so supporting an award that champions it—especially
considering that the award is named after a champion of religious
liberty like Abner McCall—was a wonderful thing to do."
The award is also close to Baugh’s heart because in 2005 the BAA gave
it to her father, John F. Baugh, for his contributions to Baptist
organizations around the state and nation and his unwavering commitment
to religious freedom.
Moore said that while she is glad to have helped one of the BAA’s
programs achieve its endowment goal, the overall goals of the campaign
remain to be achieved and will require a broad participation among the
Bayor family for a successful completion.
"The Sesquicentennial Campaign is a critical effort," she said.
"It's important to be an organization that works for Baylor while being
independent of Baylor. This allows us, as alumni, to speak with our own
voice, and that ability has been important for Baylor’s well-being,
especially during the last ten to fifteen years."
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
