April and Mark Anthony of Dallas have contributed $30 million to Abilene Christian University, the largest gift in the school's history.
A member of Abilene Christian's board of trustees, April Anthony is founder and CEO of Encompass Home Health and Homecare Homebase. Mark Anthony is a senior vice president at Homecare Homebase and a founding board member of the Encompass Cares Foundation, which supports medical mission efforts worldwide.
The Anthonys’ commitment includes $15 million for construction of a football stadium; $7 million for ACU’s College of Business Administration, where both April and Mark studied; $5 million for a science building in honor of the late Robert R. Onstead; and $3 million in undesignated funds. One of the Anthonys’ three children is a student at Abilene Christian.
Kathy and David D. Halbert of Colleyville also gave the school $15 million through the Caris Foundation. He was founder of AdvancePCS, a pharmacy benefits management company that he sold in 2004. Currently, he is chair and CEO of Caris Life Sciences. The Halberts co-founded the Caris Foundation to provide medical services to impoverished areas of the world. The gift will fund a science building to honor David's grandparents, the late Dean and Thelma Walling. Dean Walling was a trustee of Abilene Christian from 1976-83. All three of the Halberts' children attended Abilene Christian.
A third gift of $10 million came from Houstonian Kay Onstead for a science building honoring her late husband, Robert Onstead, a co-founder of Randalls Food Markets.
The three gifts kick off a $75 million fundraising initiative that will result in three new facilities for the university’s science programs and new on-campus stadiums for its football, track and field, and soccer programs.
Founded in 1906 in Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a private university that offers 71 baccalaureate majors in more than 125 areas of undergraduate study in addition to its graduate programs. The school educates 4,600 students annually from nearly every state and 43 nations.
Mosaic gala Saturday
Mosaic Dallas, which provides services for people with intellectual disabilities, has named Tom and Madge Earnshaw to co-chair its Heart and Soul "Hollywood Night" gala. The fundraiser is at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Westin Galleria.
The Earnshaws have supported Mosaic for more than a decade. Tom, who is chief financial officer of Allison Publications, has served on the national Mosaic Foundation Board and the Business Advisory Board for Mosaic's document destruction business. Madge is a registered nurse at Southern Methodist University's health center.
"Tom and Madge are tireless supporters of Mosaic, and it is an honor to have them co-chair this important event," said Jo Beth Collier, executive director of Mosaic Dallas. "With cutbacks in Medicaid funding, Mosaic needs more outside assistance than ever to help enable those with intellectual disabilities to live lives full of possibilities."
This year's gala will feature auctioneer Trey Galloway and music from the All Saints Jazz band.
For tickets, call 972-866-9989, ext. 322.