John B. Kleinheinz, founder of the Fort Worth private investment management firm Kleinheinz Capital Partners, and his wife, Marsha Kleinheinz, a community volunteer and graduate of Southern Methodist University, have donated $1.5 million to establish an endowed chair in the Division of Art History at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts. Their daughter, Marguerite, graduated from Meadows School of the Arts in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in art history. SMU President R. Gerald Turner, university officials and members of the Campaign Steering Committee for Fort Worth recently acknowledged the Kleinheinz family during a luncheon at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.
“We are deeply grateful to the Kleinheinz family and to all of our generous friends and supporters in Fort Worth,” Turner said in a news release. “The gift from the Kleinheinz Foundation supports a major goal of SMU’s Second Century Campaign to endow 110 faculty positions and brings the current total to 96. This kind of financial support makes an enormous difference in ensuring that SMU students benefit from a strong, vibrant faculty.” The Kleinheinz Family Endowment for the Arts and Education is the second commitment to SMU’s Second Century Campaign of $1 million or more from Fort Worth alumni, parents and friends of SMU. An earlier gift from the estate of Karl Kilinski II established The Karl Kilinski II Endowed Chair in Hellenic Visual Culture. Fort Worth donors have given more than 8,000 gifts totaling more than $9 million during the campaign, which began in September 2008, resulting in commitments to support faculty, scholarships and academic and student life programs. Thirty Fort Worth donors have made commitments of $50,000 or more and more than 737 donors have been recognized by SMU’s Hilltop Society for consecutive giving to SMU of two to 20 years. Albon Head (’68, ’71) of Jackson Walker LLP is co-chairman of the Campaign Steering Committee for Fort Worth with Stephen Tatum (’76) of Cantey Hanger LLP. To date, SMU’s Second Century Campaign has received commitments of more than $800 million toward its goal of $1 billion. The campaign coincides with SMU’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the university’s founding in 1911 and its opening in 1915.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS HIRES FORMER UTA DEVELOPMENT EXEC James C. Lewis, — photo – former vice president for development at the University of Texas at Arlington, will assume the same role as executive vice president for development at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Lewis will oversee all fund development functions for the agency’s service area, which includes all of North Texas, West Central Texas and the Greater Houston area. “We are pleased that someone with such impressive and distinguished development experience will be joining our organization,” said Rob Roby, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters, in a news release. “His ability to forge new partnerships and develop effective relationships with donors, along with his commitment to philanthropy, will allow Jim to immediately contribute to the success of Big Brothers Big Sisters.” During his six years at UT Arlington, Lewis helped to quadruple private philanthropy, which included the two largest current cash commitments in the history of the university. He also was responsible for re-establishing the university’s Development Board as a leadership group to advance philanthropy. Lewis has spent the last 24 years as the chief development officer at three institutions, including Austin College in Sherman and Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. He was previously a member of the development staff at Southern Methodist University. Lewis received an MBA from SMU and a master’s degree in counseling at what is now Texas A&M University-Commerce. He is a longtime member of the Council for the Advancement in Support of Education (CASE), serving as the board chairman of CASE District IV, and the Association of Fund Raising Professionals.
MUSIC FOUNDATION CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR FW SCHOOLS The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation continues its support of music education in the Fort Worth Independent School District by awarding $102,047 in instruments to four middle school band and orchestra programs. In 2013, the district and the foundation formed a Commitment to Music Education Partnership, with the first award of instruments and repairs totaling $192,719 to six secondary schools. The latest donation will directly benefit 76 students with a new instrument, according to school Superintendent Walter Dansby. The four schools receiving an award of instruments are: Leonard Middle School, $23,580; W.C. Stripling Middle School, $23,742; Wedgwood 6th Grade Center, $22,965; and Wedgwood Middle School, $31,760.
MARCH OF DIMES REPORTS ON HIGH COST OF PREEMIES Preterm babies cost employers $12.7 billion annually in excess health care costs, according to new statistics from the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes contracted with Truven Health Analytics Inc. to estimate the cost of prematurity and complicated deliveries to large employer-based health insurance plans for infants born in 2009. Analyses of medical costs included inpatient and outpatient medical care and prescription drugs for infants from birth through the first year of life and for mothers, including the delivery, prenatal services during the nine months prior to birth, and three months postpartum. Costs have been adjusted to 2011 dollars. According to the findings, the average medical cost for a healthy, full-term baby from birth through the first year was $5,085, of which $4,389 is paid by employer health insurance plans. For premature and/or low birth weight babies, the average cost was $55,393, of which $54,149 was paid by the health plan. The March of Dimes raises funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects through its national March for Babies campaign. The 2014 fundraising walk in Fort Worth is set for April 12 at Panther Island Pavilion, 395 Purcey St. This year’s goal is $1.2 million. For information, call 817-451-9174.
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