By Shelbi LeMeilleur
Sam Sharp
In 2002, Sam Sharp was recognized by the Bryan College Station Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year. As he stepped up to the podium, he used the platform to challenge the Bryan College Station community to establish a community foundation. As if presenting the idea wasn’t enough, he generously donated a $10,000 gift to get the program off the ground, and as they say, “The rest is history.”
The Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley celebrates their 15th anniversary this year. Sharp’s gift has grown into more than $8 million and more than 80 different funds that are designated to benefit different nonprofits and other donor-advised funds, according to Community Foundation President Patricia Gerling.
“Last year, we celebrated $1 million [in grants back to the community],” Gerling says. “Not only are we building an endowment to benefit important quality of life needs, but we’re making sure those grants are going back to benefit nonprofits and important needs in the community.”
Patricia Gerling and Molly Watson
The goal of the Community Foundation is to build and manage charitable endowments to help provide funding for nonprofit organizations, scholarships, local charities, businesses, and community grants. Funds range from the Donor Designated Funds – where the donor can specify which organization or cause receives the endowment – to the Unrestricted Funds – allowing the Community Foundation to identify where the need and interest is greatest. Other funds include the Donor Advised Funds, Scholarship Funds, Field of Interest Funds, and Nonprofit/Agency Funds.
“All of our endowments benefit outside of the foundation,” Gerling assures. “They are not self-serving.”
Another large part of the Community Foundation is the annual Tribute Luncheon, where the Foundation recognizes individuals who have impacted the community through their gifts of time, talent, and resources. The luncheon also helps raise funds to keep the Community Foundation running year-round. This year’s luncheon will be held on Monday, April 23, at the Hilton College Station and Conference Center.
“The purpose of our annual tribute luncheon is ... to benefit the administrative operations of our community foundation, because we are out there helping nonprofits build endowments as well as working with companies and individuals who want to establish funds,” says Gerling. “This just helps us with our administrative expenses on an annual basis.”
Ann and Bob Wiatt
The first Tribute Luncheon was held in 2005 and honored Ann and Bob Wiatt. Just as the Community Foundation has grown, the luncheon has grown, too. The luncheon now honors three individuals. Some years — such as this one — a couple is honored together as one individual.
“Sometimes [the honorees] are very visible people in the community, but we aren’t limiting it to that,” says Tribute Luncheon Chair Molly Watson. “We are really just looking across the [community] to those that just care and give. And I think it provides a little diversity, too.” She adds that looking beyond some of the more visible givers in the community to the unassuming philanthropists is part of the tribute luncheon, too.
Each year, the honorees are designated by the Community Foundation board of directors. This year’s honorees include Judy and Larry Holt, Ron Schmidt, and Brigadier General Joe E. Ramirez, Jr., each of whom Watson and Gerling speak highly.
“In and of themselves, [the Holts] have committed so much time, both through their financial donations as well as giving up their time and leadership, to see this vision and this dream that Sam had become a reality,” says Gerling.
Sharing of time and talents is a common thread with all the nominees this year.
“Ron has been involved in so many things,” Watson says. “It was an easy choice for Ron, I think, because he has touched so many different nonprofits. ... and they don’t really have a similar thread, you know. It is very diverse.”
General Ramirez also contributes his time and talents to the community, but it’s his ambassadorship for education that sets him apart. “I think what you will also see in some of the little threads is that he is very committed to ensuring that children today have the vision and the dream of being a leader and going to college,” says Gerling. “Education is very important.”
Sponsorships and individual tickets are still available. The ‘Your Legacy’ Presenting Luncheon Sponsor is Mission Ranch, A Caldwell Community. Available sponsorships begin at $350 and go up to $2,500. Individual luncheon reservations are $60. For more information, email Patricia Gerling at president@cfbv.org, call (979) 589-4305, or visit www.cfbv.org/events/tributeluncheon.
“It’s just so inspirational to hear how much time and how much resources people have given to our community,” Watson says. “[The Community Foundation] makes it easy to be able to give.”
Meet the Honorees Biographies Courtesy of The Community Foundation Photos by Mark Sykes, CPP
Judy and Larry Holt Early in both of their lives, Judy and Larry Holt recognized education as the foundation upon which they would build their future. That knowledge served as the basis of their substantial generosity and service to our community and our state.
Both native Texans, Judy was born in Tyler, and Larry in Temple. Larry grew up in College Station, where his parents were both educators and active in the community. He received his law degree from Baylor University and later earned his Master of Law degree at Southern Methodist University. Judy attended Tyler Junior College, the University of North Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M University. Together, they have played major roles in higher education in Texas, and have supported and served many community nonprofits.
Larry has practiced law in Bryan College Station since 1980, where his expertise in estate planning in probate further fueled an interest in representing and serving nonprofit organizations. He was among the community leaders who co-founded the Brazos Community Foundation in 2003. Larry currently serves as general counsel to the Greater Texas Foundation and as Chair of Board of Trustees of the Mary Rode’s Gibson Hemostasis-Thrombosis Foundation. Larry has been active in State Bar of Texas affairs serving on both the Advertising Review Board and Continuing Education Board as well as the District 8 Grievance Committee. He has been a Commissioner of the Texas State Library and Archive Commission since 2009, appointed by Governor Rick Perry, and reappointed by Governor Greg Abbott.
Judy, who shares Larry’s commitment to public service, has been a strong advocate for Texas higher education through her work with the Greater Texas Foundation. Judy served as the Foundation’s vice president of operations from 1987 to 2005, and as interim director from 2005-2006. She remains actively engaged as a member of the board of directors and as a consultant.
The Holts’ firm belief in the value of education is reflected in their financial support for students in college. They have personally funded scholarships, including one at Blinn College which benefits students from the Still Creek Boys and Girls Ranch, and have established endowed scholarships at Tyler Junior College, Prairie View A&M University, and the Baylor University School of Law.
Beyond supporting education, Larry and Judy have been actively involved community volunteers, including Habitat for Humanity, the Veterans Park, Hospice, the Arts Council, Voices for Children, and the Prenatal Clinic. Their commitment to helping others and improving the quality of life in our community is outstanding, as is the quiet, yet determined way they have served others.
Always reluctant to be in the spotlight, Judy and Larry Holt represent the best of our community, as they give generously of their time and resources to help make our community, and our state, a better place for all.
Joe E. Ramirez, Jr. ‘79 Brigadier General (Ret); Commandant, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Brigadier General Joe Ramirez is a leader who values service to country and to community. His commitment to excellence and exceptional service in all things is one of the many reasons General Ramirez is a 2018 Tribute Luncheon honoree.
A native of Houston, Brigadier General Joe Ramirez graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1975. He attended Texas A&M University and joined the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band in the Corps of Cadets. He received his commission in the U.S. Army Field Artillery from Texas A&M in 1979 as a Distinguished Military Graduate.
During his 31 years of military service, General Ramirez commanded soldiers and served in leadership positions in various joint and operational commands around the world. He commanded B Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Field Artillery at Fort Sill, OK, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 41st Field Artillery in Bad Kissingen, Germany; the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery at Fort Stewart, Georgia; the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery at Fort Hood, Texas; and was the Deputy Division Commander for the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. He was also the Deputy Chief of Staff for United States Central Command during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. His most recent assignment was as Deputy Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
General Ramirez holds numerous military awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Parachutists Badge. However, his greatest contributions are to the nonprofit organizations that he cherishes.
General Ramirez currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The United Way of Brazos Valley, The Salvation Army of the Brazos Valley, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas, Texas Lone Star Veterans Association, Mission Readiness (Retired Generals/Admirals Advocating for Quality Education & Physical Fitness for our Youth), and the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts. He is also on the planning committee for the Texas Weekend of Remembrance scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend in 2018.
General Ramirez has made a difference in the lives of many students in university life, and he continues to make our community a better place to live, work, and thrive with his dedication to impactful nonprofits.
Brigadier General Joe E. Ramirez, Jr. is a true inspiration in public service. He represents the best of our community, giving generously of his time and resources to help make the Brazos Valley a better place for all.
Ron Schmidt Ron Schmidt moved to Bryan College Station in 1981 and has held many leadership positions with civic, nonprofit, commerce, and educational organizations. More of a behind-the-scenes man, Ron’s quiet and effective style is reflected throughout his many contributions in the community in which we live.
After growing up in Waco, Ron Schmidt served in the United States Marine Corps before settling in the Brazos Valley. With a strong vision for Bryan’s growth and development, Schmidt served on the Bryan Development Foundation when there was no budget or city staff. He played a key role in helping Blinn identify the acreage that would become the foundation of its current campus on Villa Maria Road in Bryan.
Ron Schmidt was one of the founders of Keep Brazos Beautiful and served for 33-plus years with the Boys & Girls Club.
Ron Schmidt has not separated his business, Texas Commercial Waste, from serving the community. The business has provided services for more than 250 homes built by Habitat for Humanity and has partnered with Junction 505 to employ individuals with disabilities and extend them an opportunity to gain self-confidence and a level of independence.
Schmidt’s commitment to service to the community also includes current and past board membership for the Better Business Bureau, Bryan Civil Service Commission, Brazos Animal Shelter, Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, Blinn College Foundation, and Junction 505, among others.
Over the years, Ron Schmidt has been honored with numerous awards for his service — B/CS Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, B/CS Habitat for Humanity Volunteer award, Boys & Girls Club of the Brazos Valley Man and Youth award, the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas Community Builders Award and the prestigious Jefferson Award in 2011.
Ron Schmidt is a community leader, an ethical business leader, a visionary, and a true public servant. His time, knowledge, and resources impact our community. His devotion to the betterment of our citizens, his continual leadership to community development and nonprofit growth, and his quiet, committed way lead to his recognition. Ron Schmidt’s life mission exemplifies continual giving to others and makes our community a better place to live.
