Named after the famous French historian and aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville, the Tocqueville Society is a national organization of individuals who demonstrate exceptional generosity and leadership through philanthropy. The Tarrant County Tocqueville Society consists of individuals, families and foundations giving $10,000 or more to address the needs in our community.
Tocqueville Society Wraps Up 20th Anniversary Year in Grand Style!
Beverly and John Snyder welcomed United Way Tocqueville Society members to their home on the evening of April 24 to celebrate the wrap up of the 20th anniversary of the Society in Tarrant County. The Snyders pointed out that it was their desire to have the first event in their new home be that of United Way because of its mission to “improve lives across our diverse community” and advance the common good of all Tarrant County citizens.
Members heard remarks from Tocqueville Founder Marty Leonard, who shared memories of the first gathering in 1991. Marty shared a picture of a very young Microsoft Founder Bill Gates who attended the first Tocqueville gathering to spur on this newly- created United Way Society recognizing exceptional generosity and leadership through philanthropy.
Since those first beginnings, the Society has grown and reached new heights in this 20th anniversary year. Tocqueville Chairs John and Cami Goff applauded members for their efforts this past year and shared the final results as compared to the early days:
• 28 members in 1991 growing to 173 members in 2011
• $525,404 contributed in 1991 growing to $2,540,668 in 2011
• Tocqueville Society members contributed 2.2% of the United Way Campaign in 1991 and in 2011, members’ contributions represented 11.5% of the United Way dollars raised to impact the community.
Special recognition was given to the four foundations that provided the $200,000 Impact x 2 Challenge Match, incenting 51 new members to step up to commit their philanthropy to the United Way:
-Amon G. Carter Foundation - $100,000
-Sid W. Richardson Foundation - $50,000
-The Ryan Foundation - $25,000
-Fischer Family Foundation - $25,000
A very special acknowledgment went to Betty Sanders, who became the first Tocqueville member to endow her annual gift. Betty endowed her $25,000 annual Tocqueville gift with a $500,000 donation to United Way’s Tocqueville Society. Betty commented that she and her late husband Hardy Sanders, owners of Bates Container Corp, had been loyal longtime United Way supporters as have the employees at Bates Container. Betty wanted to endow her gift during this 20th anniversary year as a special tribute to Hardy and their joint efforts to support the work of United Way.
John and Cami Goff thanked all who had helped increase the awareness of the work that United Way funds in the community. Several former Tocqueville chairs were in the audience including: Marty Leonard, John and Jean Roach, Lou and Nick Martin, Becky and Jon Brumley, John Snyder, David Minor, Larry Autrey and the Tocqueville Chair for 2012, Tim Carter, joined by his wife, Nancy.
United Way of Tarrant County thanks John and Cami Goff and all 173 Tocqueville Society members for a year that lives out the definition of Tocqueville Society: exceptional generosity and leadership through philanthropy that advances the common good of Tarrant County.
For more information about the Tocqueville Society:
Debbie McGee, Vice President and Manager, Major Gifts Division, 817-258-8047
