There are more donor walls in Little Rock than anyone can count.
Have you wondered what it would take to see your name on a plaque?
Well, it depends on the charity. For small nonprofits without many resources, a $2,500 gift could get you top billing on a donor wall. Maybe $100,000 would be a tremendous gift for a struggling art organization and $500,000 might endow a scholarship at a college or university, and you would most likely be on the donor walls. But for $1 million donors, they not only go on the wall; but most likely such a large gift would get their names on a university building, a museum, a park, a fine arts facility or a library.
So, what would $378 million get you?
Strong Foundation
Over a number of years $378 million dollars has been given to Arkansas through a foundation funded by an American businessman to build and support an incredible number of buildings and programs.
His name is on approximately 22 buildings in Arkansas. Can you guess? Hereâs a clue. Itâs not Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-American businessman, who funded the building of 3,500 libraries in the United States. Just for the record there were only four built in Arkansas.
Some 20+ buildings in Arkansas carry his name.
Donald Worthington Reynolds was born and spent his childhood in Oklamhoma City often âhawkingâ copies of the Oklahoma News at the townâs railroad depot. He wanted to be a journalist and chose the University of Missouriâs School of Journalism to get his education. To help pay the costs he worked for a meat packing plant until he graduated in 1927. While working in newspaper-oriented positions, he bought and sold his first newspaper, using the proceeds to launch the Donrey Media Group
In World War II he served as the officer in charge of the Pacific and London editions of âYANK.â He received the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Bronze Star; he was honorably discharged as a major in 1945.
He expanded and soon owned more than 100 enterprises in the newspaper, radio, television, cable television and outdoor advertising industries. It was his strategy to focus on businesses in small, growth-oriented communities. It paid off. He built one of the countryâs largest privately held media companies. During his lifetime he made gifts through the foundation he founded in 1954 to the states in which he had businesses; Arkansas, Nevada and Oklahoma. When Reynolds died in 1993, Donrey Media Group was sold to Stephens Media Group.
Future Funding?
The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation was formed to fill unmet needs and to make a transformational impact in four areas:
1 | Meet the greatest needs in Arkansas, Nevada and Oklahoma through improved facilities for their outstanding local nonprofits;
2 | Accelerate the fight against atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic heart disease through cutting-edge, translational research;
3 | Improve the quality of life of Americaâs growing elderly population through better training of physicians in geriatrics
4 | Enhance the quality and integrity of journalism, focusing particularly on better training of journalists who serve smaller communities and on business journalism.
Reynolds was not just about buildings, though he did have a passion for them. There were other projects not related to buildings such as grants to Arkansas Hunger Relief and Arkansas Foodbank Network as part of Charitable Food Distribution Initiative; and Museum of Discovery for a Childrenâs Discovery Initiative; and to UAMS Reynolds Institute on Aging, which oversees eight Centers on Aging across Arkansas as part of the Arkansas Aging Initiative. Additionally, the Reynolds Foundation funded special projects, such as Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Reynolds wanted to commit and support nonprofit organizations and institutions that demonstrated sound financial management, efficient operation, program integrity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Rather than continue in perpetuity the Foundation board will cease to make grants on or before 2022.
Whatâs in a name?
Buildings in Arkansas named for Donald W. Reynolds include:
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Continuing Education Center & Lodge, Arkansas 4-H Foundation Inc. Little Rock
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Campus, Arkansas Sheriffsâ Youth Ranches, Batesville
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Center for Health Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Public Library, Baxter County Library Foundation, Mountain Home
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Training Center, Boy Scouts, Quapaw Area Council, Little Rock
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Infirmary, Donald W. Reynolds Pool Facility and the Arkadelphia, Booneville, Fort Smith, Pine Bluff, Springdale, Rogers, Okmulgee and Ely Cabins, Camp Aldersgate, Little Rock
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Whatâs in a name?
Buildings in Arkansas with the name of Donald W. Reynolds continuedâ¦
⢠Support House, Cancer Support Foundation, Fort Smith
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Youth Center, Boys and Girls Club, Fayetteville
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Center for Music and Communications, Harding University, Searcy
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Science Center, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Center for Life Sciences, Hendrix College
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Center for Education Excellence, Mid-South Community College, West Memphis
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Childrenâs Shelter, Donald W. Reynolds Recreation Center, Northwest Arkansas Childrenâs Shelter, Bentonville
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Administrative & Treatment Center, Pathfinder Foundation Inc., Jacksonville
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Library & Technology Center, Philander Smith College
⢠Donald W. Reynolds P.A.R.K. Building, Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids, Little Rock
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Campus Center, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business & Economic Development, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
⢠Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, Conway
⢠Donald W. Reynolds YMCA of Warren and Bradley County