Tulsa Area United Way
TULSA AREA UNITED WAY created the Tocqueville Society in 1987 to foster, promote and recognize voluntary community service and personal giving.
Tocqueville Society members are philanthropic leaders who, through generous gifts of $10,000 or more, demonstrate our commitment to tackling the community’s most pressing problems. Together we open pathways to action, funding innovative solutions and a safety net to help those in need by improving health, expanding education, growing livelihoods, and increasing access to essential needs.
The Society is named after the 19th-century French political thinker and historian Alexis de Tocqueville who recognized the importance of voluntary action on behalf of the common good. Tocqueville members develop a strong network and sense of community with other local philanthropists, growing awareness of ways we can ease suffering and improve the well-being of children and families in our community.
LIVE UNITED – you see that phrase on our cool Tulsa flag t-shirts, in our social media posts, and on our brochures, but the recent historic windstorm gave us a chance once again to demonstrate what those words truly mean in our community.
On June 1, 211 Eastern Oklahoma (211EOK) transitioned to Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW). Living united meant that our board had voted for TAUW to take on the ownership and operations of 211EOK when Community Service Council determined that changes to their nonprofit meant they could no longer sustain the program. We know that 211EOK is a critical front door for services, a 24/7 response for those in need across 37 counties. We navigated the transition with no service disruption. Then 17 days later, 100+ mph winds tore through our region. Call volumes to
211EOK doubled throughout the following week as temperatures rose and people reached out for services.
I’m grateful for the employees keeping the database of resources up to date, along with the call specialists who strive to connect people with the services they need, whether to find a cooling station or to replace lost food and medication.
Your support empowers us to show up and live our mission, uniting people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities. I recently told our summer intern that living united for me means waking up every day looking for an open door even when another one has closed. Living united means going through those doors with courage, even when we don’t always know what is on the other side, because we’re united in purpose with you.
Some doors closed during the pandemic, but TAUW emerged on the other side with strong financials and prepared for the future with the digital expertise and tools to reach the growing remote and hybrid workforce. Living united on the other side of the pandemic means now we organize multiple Days of Caring each year, mobilizing 9,000 volunteers in 2022. Our volunteers showed up to build wheelchair ramps, help kids catch up on reading skills, do makeovers for women in recovery, and more. Some of our volunteers helped 2022 Campaign Chair Peggy Simmons and our team raise more than $25.5 million in a tough economic year, and 180 volunteers spend 5,000 hours to ensure the dollars raised were invested wisely.
Helen Keller once said, “Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” We walked through the open door to take on the work of 211EOK, collaborating to solve problems with compassion because we know our neighbors are experiencing hunger, homelessness and underemployment –and more recently, unexpected after-effects from high winds and power outages.
Out of crisis comes opportunity, and we’re committed to working together with community partners to understand what solutions are working – what efforts and programs should
be expanded and what new approaches could make a bigger impact with increased funding. In this magazine, you’ll read about three programs changing lives – programs your donations support.
After 99 years of advancing positive change in our community, TAUW excels at bringing people together across sectors to clarify and solve problems. As we face the next hundred years in our community, we’re opening doors to new ways of thinking, and we ask for your help. Not only are your financial contributions essential to our work, but you are some of the brightest, most creative people in our community, and we would love to hear your ideas for addressing the critical needs we face.
As you read this issue of Philanthropie, my hope is that you are more committed than ever to continue through the open doors with us, living united as our most generous donors and sharing your innovative ideas back with us of how we work together, united in purpose.
YOUR SUPPORT EMPOWERS US TO SHOW UP AND LIVE OUR MISSION, UNITING PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.
Gratefully, aa
KARL NEUMAIER AND KATHY TAYLOR are no strangers to community and service.
A longtime leader at Hilti North America, Karl Neumaier brings the same level of commitment to his community, passionately leading within for-profit, not-for-profit, and educational boards of directors, including ARVEST Bank, Tulsa Area United Way, Catholic Charities, and the Tulsa Community College Foundation, among others. In addition to his service as a board member, Karl has served in various roles at Tulsa Area United Way, including the community collaborations committee and as a leader of campaign cabinet teams who raised more than $5 million.
Kathy Taylor is known as a change agent. Whether as an attorney, corporate board member, Mayor of Tulsa, or Oklahoma Secretary of
Commerce and Tourism, she has built a legacy of transformational change that delivers purposedriven results and impacts people’s quality of life. In her role as the Genave King Rogers Dean of the Collins College of Business at The University of Tulsa, she is focusing her inspirational leadership on the academic landscape to support a successful learning and research environment for students and faculty. Kathy has close ties to the Tocqueville Society, serving as chair in 2019 when she guided the Society to $4.3 million and 248 members, including 40 new members.
We are excited about the generous spirits, determination, and ability to have fun while doing great things that these two bring to our 99th year of fundraising! The lead-off hitters for our 2024 Centennial Celebration will no doubt hit a homerun for this community.
FEBRUARY
3rd Thursday
Brad Carson, The University of Tulsa
MARCH
Live United Awards
APRIL
Time for a Cause
MAY
Executive Leadership Forum
Featuring Tocqueville Society member Steve Ganzkow, American Residential Group, along with Becky Gligo, Housing Solutions; Ginny Hensley, Tulsa Housing Authority; Kian Kamas, Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity, and Cameron Walker, Habitat for Humanity
JUNE
3rd Thursday
Abby Kurin, Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture
Jennifer Loren, Cherokee Nation Film Office
AUGUST
Downtown Deco Challenge and Campaign Kickoff
OCTOBER
Fall Reception
Greenwood Rising
FEBRUARY 4
A Night at the Symphony
MARCH 7
Live United Awards
APRIL 27
Society Supper
Hosted by Betsy and Gerry Jackson
MAY 11
Time for a Cause
MAY 16
An Evening at Westhope
JUNE 8
Society Supper
Hosted by JoAnn Schaub
AUGUST 3
Society Supper
Hosted by Teri and Marc Maun
SEPTEMBER 28
Fall Reception
Hosted by Chris Murphy and Ben Stewart
OCTOBER 12
Society Supper
Hosts to be announced
Your generosity enables TAUW to fund nearly 170 programs at more than 70 organizations to provide essential services that expand education, improve health and safety, and open pathways to financial independence.
These three stories of hope and resilience are the direct result of your support.
tutoring services. Jasmine said that having an additional adult in her corner and a few extra hours of tutoring after school improved her academic performance and confidence.
“When I started high school,” Jasmine said, “I was like, ‘I can do this. I’m going to get straight A’s all year. But once COVID hit, I lost my motivation during a very dark time for me.
“When we came back from COVID, I had my teachers, my friends, and City Year volunteers who always helped me.”
JASMINE HAD BIG PLANS for high school, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she fell behind in her studies. But thanks to Tulsa Area United Way’s support of City Year Tulsa, Jasmine found the extra help and encouragement she needed to get back on track.
City Year Tulsa places Americorps members in low-income schools to support students like Jasmine, one of many students who have benefited from the program’s mentoring and
With City Year Tulsa and Tulsa Area United Way on her side, Jasmine returned to the classroom determined to become McLain High’s 2023 Valedictorian. In the process, she earned a fullride scholarship to the University of Tulsa.
“I did it,” Jasmine said, with emotion in her voice. “I did more than what other people thought I could do.”
Way to go Jasmine and City Year!
LINDSEY SPOON is a fierce advocate for disability rights and a board member of The Arc of Oklahoma, a United Way funded organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Lindsey was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects her movement and speech, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing her passion for beauty and advocacy. She created a show called “Makeup and Mobility,” where she shares her tips and stories with thousands of viewers.
“I advocate because I find such beauty in it,” Lindsey said. “But it’s not only bills and legislation that we’re advocating for. It’s people’s everyday quality of life.”
Amplifying The Arc’s advocacy efforts is just one example of how Tulsa Area United Way supports nonprofit partners beyond funding alone.
Lisa Kelly, the executive director of The Arc of Oklahoma, knows firsthand the impact of Lindsey’s advocacy. Lisa and her daughter were once members of The Arc’s Special Education Advocacy program.
“I’m honored to call Lindsey a board member of The Arc of Oklahoma, a friend, and an advocate for my daughter,” Lisa said. “She is our hero.”
Looking back on her advocacy, Lindsey said she is motivated by the challenges she faces and the people who doubt her abilities.
“I love proving people wrong,” she said.
I LOVE PROVING PEOPLE WRONG. “ ”
MERCEDES FACED MANY CHALLENGES after she was released from incarceration. She managed the stigma, the anxiety, and the difficulty of finding a job to support her children. Then she found the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a Tulsa Area United Way partner nonprofit that gave her a job and a chance to rebuild her life.
The caring staff, many of whom had previously been in her situation, helped her gain skills and confidence to thrive in society.
“My life before incarceration was a vicious cycle,” Mercedes said. “The only thing I was consistent with was the lifestyle that led me to incarceration. When I got out, I was determined to break that cycle, but I was not prepared for how hard it would be to get a job.”
Frustrated, Mercedes googled ‘felon friendly jobs’ and came across the CEO website.
“I read the success stories of other people like me, and I thought: ‘This is me.’”
About a year into the program, Mercedes became not only a work crew supervisor, but she became the first female to oversee the first-of-its-kind all-female work crew. She also completed her first full year living in a home with her daughter.
Tulsa Area United Way’s partnership enables CEO to operate efficiently, placing hundreds of people like Mercedes into employment.
“When I had family members who wouldn’t loan me a piece of paper,” said Mercedes, “I had these strangers who were putting everything into me and my future.”
“ THIS IS ME. ”
WE ARE VERY
to serve as Chairs of the 2023 Tocqueville Society Committee. We give every year because we believe partnering with Tulsa Area United Way allows us to make a meaningful difference in addressing the widest number of needs. United Way has been a leader in our community for almost 100 years. It deeply understands our region’s most pressing needs and responds to those needs with innovative and collaborative solutions.
In the last campaign year, Tocqueville Society members contributed over $4.8 million—an increase over the previous year and nearly 18% of the total donations to the 2022 campaign. Your support is integral to the work that will be carried out by our nonprofit partners in 2023.
Thanks to your leadership, Tulsa Area United Way was able to help our community navigate through perhaps the most daunting years in most of our lifetimes. You have played an enormous role in strengthening our ability to tackle the toughest issues. Through our programs and partners, we are moving families toward more sustainable financial situations. We are helping build success in school and beyond for our children. And we are meeting basic needs like food and shelter for our most vulnerable neighbors.
As we prepare for the year ahead, though, we can’t pretend the toughest days are behind us – at least not for the low-income
family losing ground due to inflation or the child who struggles in school after several years of learning loss.
During this year’s campaign, your leadership will be called on again. Your support can be the bridge that will take us to the next level of making long-term change happen for our community. Thank you for your continued support, vision, and dedication to our shared mission.
TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY MEMBERS are part of a national program recognized as America’s leading philanthropists investing $10,000 or more annually in Tulsa Area United Way. Our members understand how generosity today impacts the generations of tomorrow.
When you joined the Tocqueville Society, you became part of a group committed to impacting the Tulsa community with purposeful, sustainable giving that creates meaningful solutions for thousands of local people in need. In addition, members will:
• Enjoy exclusive networking and social events throughout the year
• Connect with like-minded local leaders who share your passion for making a positive difference in our community
• Receive special communications with stories and updates about how your gift is making a difference in the community
• Experience first-hand the work of our nonprofit partners
• Be recognized in the world’s largest individual
giving Society with your name listed in the lobby of the TAUW offices in downtown Tulsa and in the annual membership registry
You can help by inviting others to join in our cause. One entry into the Tocqueville Society is the Step Up program.
Tulsa Area United Way offers a “Step-Up” membership plan for members of the Tocqueville Society.
The Step-Up Program empowers individuals with time to shift their giving and encourages a multi-year pledge to achieve Tocqueville status.
The Step-Up Program requires a minimum personal pledge of $5,000 to the current campaign in the first year, with a commitment to “step-up” personal giving to $7,500 to next year’s campaign and $10,000 by the following year’s campaign.
Step-Up participants will receive full Tocqueville Society recognition and benefits in the $10,000 to $14,999 category beginning with their first pledge of $5,000.
AS TULSA AREA UNITED WAY PREPARES for its 100th anniversary in 2024, we aim to raise $10 million in endowment and planned gift commitments, securing unprecedented support to endow our community impact work into the next century. By creating this diversified revenue stream, we will have a strong foundation of support for innovations, collaborative work, and emergency services for the unexpected.
TULSA AREA UNITED WAY will recognize its 100th anniversary of meeting the needs of our community in 2024. As part of the celebration, we created the Tocqueville Centennial Society to honor extraordinary gifts from extraordinary people that drive extraordinary change. Members can join with a multi-year pledge of support to reach a specific donation goal from now through the end of our centennial year. We offer our heartfelt thanks to these donors who have already joined the Society.
HERITAGE CLUB $500,000 Cumulative from 2019–2024
Casie and Chet Cadieux
FOUNDERS CLUB $100,000 Cumulative from 2019–2024
Fran Biolchini
Patty and Joe Cappy
Fred Dorwart
Kirsten and Mark Graham
Lynn and Jeff Hilst
Louise and Dave Johnson
COMMUNITY CHEST $75,000 Cumulative from 2021–2024
Myra and Ron Jeffris
Randi Wightman
TAUW $50,000 Cumulative from 2021–2024
Alison Anthony and Mark Wilson
Monica Basu and Todd Brown
John Cowen
James Higgins
Mary Ann Hille
Beverly and Bill Kellough
Roxana and Bob Lorton
Julie and Sanjay Meshri
Caron and Shawn Lawhorn
Cindy and Bob Peterson
Deanna and Daryl Woodard
Frauke Petersen and John Burdge
Kathy Taylor and Bill Lobeck
For information on how to qualify to join or to make a pledge to either the Tocqueville Centennial Society or Unite Forever endowment, contact Clint Rataczak, Major Gifts Director, at 918-295-6692 or crataczak@tauw.org.
Pat* and Keith Bailey
Joe Craft III Foundation
$75,000
Irene Burnstein
Cathey Cadieux
Casie and Chet Cadieux
$50,000 - $74,999
Anonymous
Mary Ann and John Bumgarner
Kim and Rob Coretz
Judy Davis
Sarah and John Graves
$25,000 - $49,999
Julie and Phil Allen
Anonymous
Sandra and John Barnett
Patty and Joe Cappy
Barbie and John Chandler
Connie and Jeff Cope
Mollie and J.W. Craft
Fred Dorwart
Wendy and Gentner Drummond
Robyn and Larry Ewing
George Kaiser
The Lorton Family
Lynn Schusterman
The Siegfried Family
Joe Craft
George Kaiser
Ruth Nelson* and Tom Murphy
Cindy and Bob Peterson
Lynn Schusterman
Stacy Schusterman
Miranda and Phil Kaiser
Betty Ketchum
Gina and Brian Ketchum
Susan and Craig Ketchum
Sandy and Kent Ketchum
Cindy and Kevin Ketchum
Ronda* and Jim Norton
Susan and William Thomas
Debby and Steve Ganzkow
Lynn and Jeff Hilst
Betsy and Gerry Jackson
Susie and Bob Jackson
Glaudia and Ted Jacobson
Myra and Ron Jeffris
Suzanne and Jim Kneale
Gwen and Steve Malcolm
Mary and Rob Martinovich
Debbie and Pierce Norton
Frauke Petersen and John Burdge
Hannah and Joe Robson
Judy and James Scheel
Ginger and Terry Spencer
Jill and Robert Thomas
Brandon Thompson
Vanessa and Scott Thompson
Vicki and Tom Warburton
Frank Westbrook
$15,000 - $24,999
Susannah and Jim Adelson
Shelly and Alan Armstrong
Billie and Howard Barnett
Fran Biolchini
Monica Basu and Todd Brown
Martin Martinez and Dan Burnstein
Pam and Terry Carter
Bryan Close
Mary and Jeff Crippen
Arlo DeKraai
Krista and Micheal Dunn
Pam and Lee Eslicker
Calvin Frank
Jana and Phil Frohlich
Kristie and John Gibson
Kirsten and Mark Graham
$10,000 - $14,999
Caroline Abbott
Ellen and Steve Adelson
Nick Allen
Rachel and Steve Allen
Laura and Scott Andrews
Anonymous
Alison Anthony and Mark Wilson
Mandy and Blake Atkins
Liz and Bob Austin
Pat* and Keith Bailey
Lucy and John Barker
Erin and David Bendel
Sue and Tom Bennett
Rebecca and Tom Bennett
Nina and Alan Benson
Kathy and Pete Boylan
Marla and Steve Bradshaw
Amanda and Heath Bringham
Brittany and Austin Buerge
Melanie and Kevin Burdick
Teresa and Robert Burkett
Sherri and Mark Calcut
Cara Shimkus and Michael Hall
Nancy and Hank Harbaugh
Fayenelle and Jay Helm
Lea and Hans Helmerich
Susie and Dave Hentschel
Barbara and Steve Heyman
Lori and Jeff Holmes
Susan and Wade Huntsman
Judy and Tom Kishner
Buddy Kleemeier
George Krumme
Caron and Shawn Lawhorn
Christy and John Lindsay
Roxana and Bob Lorton
Ellen and Carlisle Mabrey
Mindy and Greg Mahaney
Shelly and Derek Martin
April and Sid McAnnally
Kathy and Mike Mears
Sarah and Matt Miller
Rona and Randy Nelson
Jody Parker
Leigh and John Reaves
Lauren and Dave Sherry
Jo and Tray Siegfried
Sally and Stuart Sullivan
Sandra and Steve Walton
Randi Wightman
Deanna and Daryl Woodard
Stacey and Steve Wyett
Jamie and Darton Zink
Pat and Mike Case
Frances and Kevin Cavanah
Lanette and John Celoni
Erin and Don Chappel
Pat Chernicky
Janice and Bill Chevaillier
Sarah Hansel and Mike Cooke
John Cowen
Bonnie and Bob Darby
Jackie and Billy Deatherage
Mary Kay and Stuart DeSelms
Brenda and Curtis Dinan
Erica Dorwart
Nikki and Matt Dunham
Whitney and Dan Eslicker
Marlys and Carl Fallen
Ann and Mark Farrow
Ray Fossett
Becky and Jack Frank
Marge and John Gaberino
Cathy and James Gates
Deborah Gist and Ronnie Jobe
Ashley and Al Givray
Leigh and Mark Goodson
Shelly and Kevin Gore
Tammy and Scott Grauer
Kirsten and David Griffin
Susan and Kevin Gross
Karen and Marty Grunst
Kerrie and Bryan Guderian
Shannon Habermehl
Julie Haddock and Jon Hoover
Cara and Michael Hair
Holly and Jeff Hall
Deanna and Jonathan Hall
Kellie and Fred Harlan
Janet and Kevin Hayes
Peggy Helmerich
Karen and David Heston
James Higgins
Debbie and Steve Hildebrand
Mary Ann Hille
Anita Holloway
Mary Lee Townsend and Burt Holmes
Matt Wallace and Greg Holt
Mary Lynn Mihm-Howk and John Howk
Glenn Hudgens
Jamie and Robert Jared
Jackie and Alan Johannsen
Louise and Dave Johnson
Connie and Greg Kach
Beverly and Bill Kellough
Stephanie and Michael Kelly
Shannon Kelly and Jerry Thompson
JayCee and David Kerns
Tracy and David Kyle
Angel and Stacy Kymes
Donna and Rick Lawrance
Allie Lay
Hayli and Adam Leavitt
Kathy and Ed Leinbach
Janet and Ken Levit
Carol and Tim Lyons
Julee and Scott Mabrey
Marcia and Ron MacLeod
Meredith and Pete Madden
Anne and Phil Marshall
Teri and Marc Maun
Susan and Phil McCoy
Carol and Steve McGrath
Mary and Mike McGraw
Christine and Clint McQueen
Lori and John Meinders
Julie and Sanjay Meshri
Cindie and Aaron Milford
Donna and Don Millican
Chris Murphy
Ben Stewart and Chris Murphy
Diane and Frank Murphy
Morgan and Blake Murry
John Southard and Dennis Neill
Malisa and Steven Nell
Meg and Elliot Nelson
Julie and John Nickel
Bob Norman
Alison and Jacob Odom
Melinda and Drew Phillips
Jennifer and Jason Pigott
Kim and Pat Piper
Leslie and Bob Pritchard
Cyndy and Bob Purgason
Olga and David Randolph
Lynn Anderson and Steve Ray
George Records
Denise and Jeff Reid
Shannon and Eric Richards
Gail and Kip Richards
Anne and Keith Roberts
Beth and Robert Sachse
Susan Savage
JoAnn Schaub
Mary Lhevine and George Schnetzer
Kala and Gary Sharp
Lissa and Jim Shaw
Kellner and Bailey Siegfried
Milann Siegfried
Amy and Raegen Siegfried
Peggy Simmons
Gentra and Jim Sorem
Peggy and Charlie Stephenson
Debbie and Blake Steudtner
Cassie and David Stratton
Kathy Taylor and Bill Lobeck
Kate Thomas
Laura and Robert Thomas
Kurt Tschaepe
Becky and Gary Tucker
Suzanne and Scott Vandergriff
Janet and Brad Vincent
Torre and Robert Waldo
Peter Walter
Susie and Don Wellendorf
Carrie and Carley Williams
Janetta and Dick Williamson
Mollie Williford
Bronya and Chad Zamarin
Lisa Zarrow
Gaye Lynn and Stuart Zarrow
This registry is reflective of membership as of June 5, 2023. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this list. Contact Clint Rataczak at 918-295-6692 or crataczak@tauw.org with donor listing questions or updates.
