Annual REPORT 2011
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Annual REPORT 2011 knowledge . education . future . opportunity . success “We feel it’s important to GIVE BACK to a community that has given so much to us. If locals like us don’t care enough to help our own COMMUNITY, who will?” - Salem Abraham, OPI Sustainers Society member, Canadian Message from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Anyone who has had the experience Moreover, in a time when of paying for college knows there are nonprofits across the nation indeed a lot of pieces for that puzzle. are suffering from lack Finding those pieces, determining the of support, contributions correct shape and getting them in the to OPI’s loan divisions, right order can be a challenge. scholarship funds and operating expenses have Some students truly do not have access risen 48.4 percent in the to the resources needed to finance last five years. their educational goals. They might be great kids from strong families, having Those contributions are finished high school with a B average the only reason OPI and involved in extracurricular activities exists. From the original while helping on the family farm but $500 given in 1954 by Dr. institutional scholarships are reserved for A.E. “Gene” Quest to the funds OPI is blessed to those whose grades are at the very top manage today, individuals’ (whether singularly, as a of their class. They likely do not qualify for part of their family or as a member of an organization) enough federal aid (either grants or loans) who have worked hard for their resources and feel a to make ends meet, and with the costs need to pay a bit of their reward forward make OPI of education rising approximately five function. For that, I am thankful. More importantly, percent each year, parents are not often in however, the students we are assisting are extremely a situation to foot the bill. Or, they might grateful. just need a little encouragement to realize they can pursue higher education. To those students’ success, That’s why the work of Opportunity Plan, Inc. is so crucial. For 57 years, OPI has provided that missing piece to literally thousands of students. In 2010, students M. Keith Brown received $1,522,379 in aid from OPI. Executive Director ANNUAL REPORT LETTER 1 Board of DIRECTORS Opportunity Plan, Inc. is governed by a board of directors who represent the Panhandle and South Plains regions of Texas. Their insight and wisdom serve to guide the organization toward continued success. Executive Committee Cathryn Wright, President • Amarillo Larry Johnson, D.V.M.*, Vice President • Amarillo Lynda Tinsley*, Secretary/Treasurer • Canyon A.C. “Bub” Smith • Amarillo Raymond Mann, D.O. • Lubbock Carolyn Baxter* • Hereford M. Keith Brown*, Executive Director • Canyon (ex officio) Directors Richard Bechtol, M.D.* • Amarillo Robert Lyons • Amarillo Anne Campbell • Pampa Mary Jo Merriman • Lubbock (honorary) Martha Campbell • Pampa Fran Morrison • Pampa Debbie Collier* • Canyon Wayne Pierson* • Muleshoe J.J. Gomez • Dallas Jane Potts* • Pampa Helen Hall • Pampa (honorary) Lynn Singleton • Amarillo Barry Harp, C.P.A. • Dalhart Frank Stogner, C.P.A.* • Lubbock Wiley Harp* • Canyon Heidi Taylor, Ph.D.* • Canyon Duane Lloyd • Lubbock (honorary) Susan Tripplehorn • Pampa Brock Lovett, D.C.* • Amarillo Donna Warrick* • Hereford Bonnie Wuerflein* • Hereford *Denotes OPI alumnus. 2 OPPORTUNITY PLAN, INC. 2011 Brock Lovett did well as a student at Palo Duro High School, graduating number 26 in a class of 321 and participating in a wide variety of activities. He excelled in choir, being selected to the All-State Choir and Alumnus Provides SUPPORT performing in school musicals. That success led him to study voice for a year at West Texas State University where he received several small scholarships and achieved a 3.72 grade point average. He spent two Brock began contributing to the OPI years in California working with his church where he program even before he began paying supported himself with money he had saved. But, even back his loan. He and his wife Debbie with the successes and experiences he had in his late have increased their giving through the teens and early 20s, nothing fell into place as a career. years and last year became charter members of OPI’s Sustainers Society. Then he began pursuing chiropractic medicine. In addition to his monetary gifts, Brock Becoming a chiropractor offered Brock “time to spend gives of his time to OPI by serving on with my children so that I was more able to be a good the Board of Directors, a position he has husband and father and to have a happy family, my held since 1988. highest goal in life.” “I believe in this program, and I believe Little did he know that finding funding for that pursuit that it will continue to grow and thrive. would lead to a relationship with Opportunity Plan, Inc. OPI has always given the average kid a that has lasted decades! chance to go to school, and there will always be average kids that need to go Brock needed assistance attending Palmer College of to school.” Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. His parents already had debt from having supported Brock’s three siblings “Alumni like Brock are exactly what in school, so they were unable to provide enough funds OPI needs more of,” M. Keith Brown, and of course, working much of a job and studying OPI executive director said. “All of to become a chiropractor was not possible. So, he our operating dollars are generated anticipated he would need in excess of $30,000 to completely separately from loan and attend Palmer. scholarship funds. Alumni should be the first to want to help out students “I didn’t know how I was going to pay for school, but I following behind them because were it knew I was going to school,” Brock said. “I had been to not for those who supported them, OPI the bank for help and they told me if I didn’t know how wouldn’t exist.” I was going to make it work then they weren’t going to help.” For more information on supporting OPI’s activities through the Sustainers While Brock was trying to determine how to pay for Society or other avenues, log on to college, his church was also building a new chapel. He www.OpportunityPlan.com, call Brown was asked to contribute to the building project and at (806) 655-2528 or email him at decided that if he gave half of what he had saved for [email protected]. college, $800 of the $1600 total, it was not going to make much of a difference in his overall need. Two days later, he learned about OPI. “OPI is based on the correct principles and that has always resonated with me,” Brock said. “Philanthropy, responsibility, thrift, accountability, those are all things that make OPI a principle-driven organization and not a personality-driven one.” ANNUAL REPORT BOARD MEMBER PROFILE 3 Opportunity Plan, Inc.’s Sustainers Society began in 2009 as a way of SUSTAINERS Society recognizing individuals and organizations who support OPI’s ongoing operations. Unrestricted gifts are extremely important to sustaining and completing our mission. The OPI board, staff and especially our students, are grateful to the members of the Sustainers Society. All donors making unrestricted gifts of $1000 or more annually receive membership in the Sustainers Society. Eddie and Dawn Abraham Wiley* and Becky Harp Ronnie and Chris* Brady, D.D.S. Linda and Larry* Johnson, D.V.M. M. Keith Brown* Debbie and Brock* Lovett, D.C. Frances Clifton* Gary and Paula Moore Aurelia and Arden Colette, Ph.D. Fran Morrison Debbie* and Gary Collier Jeff and Kathi Nunn Brian* and Amanda* Cox Stanley and Geneva Schaeffer Pattilou Dawkins Jim and Sue Whitlock Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, Inc. Mark C. Wilson, M.D.* Frances Shaller Haley Carroll and Cathy Wright V. H. Harman *Denotes OPI alumnus 4 OPPORTUNITY PLAN, INC. 2011 OPI does not charge administrative fees Membership CONTRIBUTIONS on the loan divisions and scholarship funds we oversee. All unrestricted funds (used for operating purposes) are raised separately. Total support of OPI’s operations in 2010 reached almost $40,000. PLATINUM MEMBERS Rex* and Karla Martin Waldo and Carolyn* Baxter David and Cydne* Mooney Lori Gilliland D’Atri Roy and Sharon Newkirk Stacey Owen* Jane Potts* Michael and Lynda* Tinsley Robert K.* and Robin* Sandlin Mark Scioli* GOLD MEMBERS Randy* and Traci* Shields Lynn and Colette* Borel Charles and Polly SoRelle Dr. and Mrs. Tom* Essex Beth Turner* Robert and Kathy Lyons Kirk Walters* Heidi Taylor, Ph.D.* Tom and Pat Whitacre Donna* and Dan Warrick James Wright Henry* and Patti Webb BRONZE MEMBERS STERLING MEMBERS Patsy Douglas Ray and Barbara Bain Zach Gerger* Clifford* and Linda Kay Baker Amanda Greene* Leslie Horton Tom and Jo Jinks Mark Lawless* Bette Johnson Carla Leingang* Roy* and Dixie Martin Wendy and Stanley Marsh 3 Ron and Pam Nease “Not one penny of the money OPI receives for student loans or scholarships is used for operating expenses. That is why gifts for our operations are so important to us. ” - Cathryn Wright, OPI President, Amarillo *Denotes OPI alumnus ANNUAL REPORT MEMBERSHIP 5 BEQUESTS Provide In June of 2010, Ms. Ingham passed away at her Significant Support home in Bedford, Massachusetts. True to her lifetime commitment to the friendship, Ms. Ingham’s estate provided an additional bequest to the Thelma Brummett Loan Division. At present, the scholarship fund has a balance of $67,000 and the loan division a When Thelma Brummett and Dorothy balance of $140,000. Ingham completed their undergraduate degrees, neither had money for additional “These ladies had a wonderful friendship, and their education; both worked for a time before shared interests and values led them to support returning to school to receive graduate our programs,” Cathryn Wright, OPI president, said.