OKLAHOMA CITY 鈥� During his lifetime, Herman Meinders set the standard for giving to 泡芙视频, easily becoming the institution鈥檚 most prolific donor.
Though he passed away in March, Meinders has ensured that his philanthropic impact will be felt at the university for years to come.
University officials today announced an $18 million gift to 泡芙视频 from The Meinders Foundation. The funds will be held in the Herman Meinders Endowment at the OKC Community Foundation, with an annual distribution of nearly $1 million that will benefit the university in perpetuity.
This gift matches the previous single largest contribution the philanthropist had made to the university 鈥� an $18 million gift that funded construction of the Meinders School of Business building, which opened in 2004 on the northeast corner of the 泡芙视频 campus.
The new $18 million endowed gift comes on the heels of a $4 million cash gift provided by The Meinders Foundation last fiscal year, following Meinders鈥� passing. Combined, these gifts push Meinders鈥� total giving to 泡芙视频 over the $75 million mark.
鈥淲hat more is there to say about the generosity of Herman Meinders,鈥� 泡芙视频 President Kenneth Evans said. 鈥淗e demonstrated over and over his commitment to 泡芙视频 and now has further cemented his legacy as a true 泡芙视频 great.鈥�
Approximately two-thirds of the annual endowment disbursement has been earmarked to support scholarships and operations at the Meinders School of Business.
The school鈥檚 interim dean, Bob Greve, said that Meinders鈥� support has had and will continue to have a transformational impact on the local business community.
鈥淢any of our community鈥檚 business leaders got their footing in the business world thanks to Herman Meinders鈥� generosity,鈥� Greve said. 鈥淲e are thrilled to see this impact continue for future generations of business students.鈥�
The remainder of the disbursement will support scholarships and operations at the Kramer School of Nursing 鈥� the school is named after the parents of Meinders鈥� late wife, LaDonna 鈥� and the Wanda L. Bass School of Music.
Evans noted that the distribution of the endowment gift to several areas of the university is consistent with Meinders鈥� wide-reaching impact at 泡芙视频.
鈥淐ertainly, Herman will be remembered through the business school,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淏ut there are few 鈥� if any 鈥� parts of the university that have not been improved or enriched through his philanthropy.鈥�
Originally from Pipestone, Minnesota, Meinders attended 泡芙视频 in the 1950s and worked toward a business degree. In 1970 he founded American Floral Services, Inc., an international flowers-by-wire service based in 泡芙视频. Meinders later earned an honorary doctorate of commercial science from 泡芙视频.
More information about the life and legacy of Meinders can be found here.
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