donors
Ron and Carol Allen
Over a span of twenty years, they were blessed to
have ten children, five girls and five boys. Nine survive to this day, giving their parents thirty-nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
All nine children attended BYU. Two of the girls are
nurses, one son excels in sales, and the other four boys are dentists. All have eternal companions who attended BYU, including an engineer, a nurse, an accountant, a police officer, an office manager, and several homemakers.
Ten years into Ron’s thirty-plus-year career in
orthodonics, the Allens purchased fourteen acres of farm land thirteen miles southeast of Portland in Clackamas, on which they built their dream home where they raised their large family. The cows, turkeys, chickens, dogs, cats, fruit trees, vegetable gardens, barns, rabbits, hay, and
R
good neighbors all served the primary purpose of raising a
Utah State University in 1957. Ron had returned from
the Eastern States Mission the previous year. They were
finished their educations, the timing was right for Ron
married in the Logan Temple on August 1, 1958. Four years
and Carol to sell their paradise to the North Clackamas
at Utah State; four years at the University of Washington;
Parks for a community park, replete with softball, baseball,
three years with the United States Air Force, including
football, soccer, and lacrosse fields. The park was to be
one year in Thailand during the Vietnam War; and two
contiguous with a simultaneously constructed elemen
more years at the University of Washington set the stage
tary school and high school to the south of the park. The
for endless possibilities, the realities of which they could
proceeds from the sale of their home and property made it
not foresee or even dream possible. But from the vantage
possible for them to fund a charitable trust given to BYU to
of fifty wonderful years together, they can now discern the
promote the threefold mission of the Church.
on and Carol Allen met on a blind date at
family unto the Lord. When the children all had families of their own and
fruits of their labors.
Anonymous
D
onated funds made possible a beautiful
blessing the worldwide Church as video clips
photo history titled Hallowed Ground,
are being broadcast by BYU-TV and KBYU-TV.
Sacred Journeys: Salt Lake City, An Ensign
to the Nations. The book takes readers on a
ects such as this? One donor wrote that while
Why do people donate to ambitious proj-
virtual tour of significant sites and includes a
he found great value in studying economics and
DVD-ROM with hundreds of photos not found
music, “it was my religion classes that inspired
in the book. Video clips are narrated by Lloyd
a shaky freshman to gain a vibrant testimony of
D. Newell and others. A companion volume
the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and to
outlines walking tours around downtown Salt
go on to serve a mission. Out of that has grown
Lake City. The books and DVD-ROM feature
a lifetime commitment to sacred covenants. In
sites such as the Salt Lake Temple, the Beehive
the world, we have choices to make between
House, the Lion House, the Conference Center,
good, better, and best. Donations to Religious
the Family History Center, the Capitol, and the
Education seem to fit in the highest category
expand our understanding of the eternities and
Pioneer Memorial Museum. Now the project is
because of the way faculty members help to
bring others to salvation.”
To donate to Religious Education programs, visit Friends of Religious Education at fore.byu.edu. W INT E R 2 0 0 9 21