WKU honors philanthropy on the Hill
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky University recognized its Philanthropists of the Year and Summit of Excellence recipients last week as part of its inaugural Philanthropy Week.
According to a press release from the school, multiple awards were given out to staff, students and others.
Tim and Sarah Ford named WKU’s Philanthropists of the Year for 2020
Tim and Sarah Ford are WKU’s Philanthropists of the Year for 2020.
The Fords support many areas at WKU. In 2018 they established the Brett Ford Scholarship to benefit students pursuing a degree in Special Education in honor of their son, Brett, who has special needs.
“Tim and Sarah Ford are the kind of active and engaged philanthropists that personify the WKU Spirit,” said WKU President Timothy C. Caboni. “Their dedicated philanthropy and countless hours of volunteerism have opened doors and provided our Hilltoppers with opportunities they otherwise would not have had. We are incredibly grateful for all that they do for our students and for WKU.”
The couple also supports WKU Athletics and the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation in honor of Tim Ford’s time on the WKU Football team (1979 to 1981) and the many distinctions he earned on and off the field. In recognition of their support, the Tim and Sarah Ford Strength and Conditioning Center was renamed in their honor.
Most recently, the Fords made a significant gift to the Tops Together Recovery Fund, an initiative to provide emergency philanthropic support to WKU Athletics to help offset expenses related to COVID-19. The Tops Together Recovery Fund supports student-athletes and the mission to continue winning championships and competing at the highest level.
“The recognition of Sarah and Tim Ford as WKU’s Philanthropist of the Year is most deserved,” said Todd Stewart, WKU Director of Athletics. “They truly care about the well-being of our student-athletes and staff, and their kindness, generosity and compassion are making a significant impact on the lives of our football players in multiple ways on a daily basis. We value the special relationship we have with them, and their commitment to WKU Athletics is truly appreciated.”
After transferring from the University of Tennessee, Tim Ford came to the Hill in 1979 and excelled immediately, picking up All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team honors in 1979 and Kodak/American Football Coaches All-American First Team honors in 1980 when he led the Hilltoppers in total tackles (111). For all the success of his first two seasons, Ford’s greatest was yet to come as he earned CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team accolades in 1981, still one of just six Hilltoppers – only the second at the time – to earn the distinction. His 171 career assisted tackles are currently eighth all-time at WKU. Ford was inducted into the W-Club Hall of Fame in 1999, and he was named to the WKU Football All-Century Team in 2018.
The Fords, who are Lifetime Members of the WKU Alumni Association, are recognized for their annual and cumulative giving to the University. Tim Ford, who worked in the oil industry as a petroleum geoscientist for more than 30 years, is semi-retired. The Fords, who have two sons, live in Franklin, Tenn.
Caboni presented the Fords with the Philanthropists of the Year award during the WKU Football game versus Southern Mississippi on Saturday.
Previous recipients of the WKU Philanthropist of the Year Award are George and CJ Nichols, Laura Dugas, C.M. “Bill” Gatton, Linda and John M. Kelly, Houchens Industries Inc., Dale Augenstein, Dorris “D.B.” and Lula Burchett, Dixie and Pete Mahurin, Rick and Ann Guillaume, Donald J. and Jennifer Waddle Greulich, Suzanne Vitale, Jerry E. Baker, Lowell Guthrie, Bud Layne, Don S. Vitale, Leon Page, Gordon Ford, and Raymond B. and Hattie Preston and the Preston Family Foundation.
2020 Distinguished Service Medals presented to Dr. Phillip W. Bale, current Regent, and Kristen T. Bale, former Regent
Kristen T. and Phillip W. Bale of Glasgow are the 2020 recipients of Distinguished Service Medals, WKU’s highest honor for volunteers.
Dr. Bale, a family physician with Graves Gilbert Clinic, has served on WKU’s Board of Regents since 2013. He was the Chair of the Board of Regents from 2017 to 2020. Dr. Bale is a former member of the WKU Foundation Board of Trustees and past inaugural Chairman of the Kentucky Museum Board of Directors.
Kristen Bale served on WKU’s Board of Regents from 1992 to 2005, and she served as the Chair from 2000 to 2003. Currently serving on the Student Life Foundation Board of Directors, she is a past member of the WKU Foundation Board of Trustees, the Kentucky Museum Advisory Council and the Clinical Education Complex Charter Committee. She is a founding member of the WKU Sisterhood.
“On behalf of all those at WKU, I am honored to present Distinguished Service Medals to Phillip and Kristen Bale,” said President Timothy C. Caboni. “They are long-time friends of WKU whose generous gifts of time and financial resources have advanced our students and our University. They are incredibly deserving of this distinction, and I thank them for their continued service.”
Over the years, the Bales have supported many areas at WKU including the Kristen & Phillip Bale Scholarship Fund, the Bale Leadership Excellence Fund and Hilltopper Athletic Foundation. They have said they support leadership because they both have a belief and conviction that leadership matters and that a strong university affects the entire region.
The Bales are recognized for their annual and cumulative giving to WKU. They have also included WKU in their estate plans and are Lifetime Members of the WKU Alumni Association.
Both are very active in the Glasgow and Barren County community.
Caboni presented the Distinguished Service Medals to the Bales on Friday.
WKU Sisterhood holds virtual meeting, awards three grants to University initiatives
In lieu of an annual in-person meeting, the WKU Sisterhood held a virtual meeting on Nov. 13.
Chair Julie Harris Hinson hosted the meeting. Previous grant recipients submitted short videos to provide updates on their initiatives. With members voting electronically, three grants for 2020 were announced last month, and the grant recipients expressed their thanks through video messages that were shared during the meeting.
The WKU Sisterhood is an organization of women advancing University priorities through philanthropic engagement and a collective voice. Members pool their financial gifts and award funds to a limited number of University designations to maximize the impact of their philanthropy. Any alumna, friend, faculty or staff member of WKU is invited to join this group of women.
Established in 2009, the WKU Sisterhood awarded its first grants in 2010. Since then, 29 grants totaling more than $477,000 have been awarded to the University community. The amount of money available for distribution is dependent upon the number of members and can vary each year. Although funds stay within the WKU community, benefits extend beyond the University campus.
James Graham Brown Foundation receives Outstanding Foundation Excellence in Philanthropy award from WKU
WKU is proud to present the Outstanding Foundation Excellence in Philanthropy award for 2020 to the James Graham Brown Foundation.
Based in Louisville, the James Graham Brown Foundation is the largest private foundation focused on the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Foundation collaborates with community and thought leaders to identify high-impact opportunities for transformational change throughout Kentucky.
The Foundation has supported WKU with three grants since 2011. Most recently, the Foundation supported the University’s efforts to centralize student services to address recruitment, retention and graduation rates, particularly for low-income, first-generation and underrepresented minority students through the creation of the WKU Center for Academic Resources & Success (WKU CAReS).
While Caboni was unable to present the award in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he extended his sincere thanks to Mason Rummel, President and CEO of the Foundation, and Bleik Pickett, Program Officer.
Outstanding Faculty and Staff Excellence in Philanthropy award for 2020 presented to Dr. Martha Sales
Dr. Martha Sales has received the Outstanding Faculty and Staff Excellence in Philanthropy award for 2020. Dr. Sales is the Executive Director of the Cynthia & George Nichols III Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) and WKU TRIO Programs.
ISEC and WKU TRIO Programs assist first-generation and/or low-income middle school, high school, college, adult and veteran participants with postsecondary enrollment, persistence and graduation. In just a few years, Dr. Sales has built a reputation for ISEC that continues to attract support for students.
Through her experience administering federal grants through WKU TRIO Programs, Dr. Sales understands the importance of demonstrating and documenting the impact of support in the philanthropic process. She is an important partner in the WKU CAReS grant from the James Graham Brown Foundation, which supports student success initiatives for first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students.
“Martha has been instrumental in securing many gifts and grants for WKU,” said Dr. Anthony McAdoo, Executive Director of the WKU Alumni Association. “She can generate a case for support at a moment’s notice to present to a prospective donor. I can personally attest to her work to connect one donor with the work of ISEC and the Pride Center. From that donor’s first visit to campus to every email or phone call made to her, Martha has been responsive and appreciative.”
Dr. Sales is recognized for her annual giving to WKU. She is also a member of the WKU Sisterhood, an organization of women who pool their philanthropic giving to make a broader impact on the University community.
Beyond her work and philanthropy at WKU, Dr. Sales is an active member of the community. She is a member of Loving Springs Baptist Church where she serves as a musician and youth/young adult Sunday school teacher. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
President Timothy C. Caboni surprised Dr. Sales with this award on Nov. 9.
2020 Outstanding Student Excellence in Philanthropy award presented to Will Harris
Will Harris, a senior from Glasgow, Ky., who is pursuing a degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication with minors in Marketing and Sales, has received the Outstanding Student Excellence in Philanthropy award for 2020.
A student in the Mahurin Honors College who has been recognized on the President’s List, Harris was elected Student Government Association (SGA) President for the 2019-2020 academic year. Through his role as SGA President, he also served as the Student Regent for that year. Harris is currently a Student Digital Engagement Officer for WKU Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement.
“I enjoyed working alongside Will during his tenure as Student Regent,” said Julie Harris Hinson (’90), a current Regent. “It is wonderful to see students get involved on campus and learn how powerful philanthropy is in the life of the University.”
Harris is also active with the WKU Spirit Masters, Phi Delta Theta, WKU Interfraternity Council, Omicron Delta Kappa Honors Society and the Business Association for Development. He was Vice President of Judicial Affairs for the WKU Interfraternity Council and was Director of Fundraising for Midnight on the Hill. In this role, his team successfully raised more than $45,000 for St. Jude’s Research Hospital. He was responsible for obtaining donations and sponsorships from corporations and other local organizations.
Harris is also a Group Facilitator for YMCA of Central Kentucky where he serves as a volunteer in various programs including the Kentucky Youth Assembly, Kentucky United Nations Assembly, Go For It and Leadership Training Conference.
Caboni surprised Harris with the award on Nov. 9.
