Clark Society Articles
Investing Today -
For Tomorrow's Leaders
(Source: TCU Outlook
Special 2005 Donor Report Edition)
TCU’s Clark Society
Contributes to
Excellence
With their gifts of
$1,000 annually,
members of the
Addison & Randolph
Clark Society make a
difference in the
lives of TCU
students — the
difference between a
good private
education and a
great private
education.
“Clark Society
members have the
common goal of
helping students
benefit from the TCU
experience,” says
Richard W. Wiseman
’73, chair-elect of
the Clark Society
and chair of its
marketing committee.
“In the words of our
new tagline, we’re
‘investing today —
for tomorrow’s
leaders.’”
The organization is
named for TCU’s
founders, Addison
and Randolph Clark.
These two brothers
devoted their lives
and their resources
to making a dream
come true: a liberal
arts college on the
rugged Texas
frontier.
“But the Clark
Society isn’t about
the past,” observes
Clark Society chair
Janet George Herald
’74. “It’s about the
future — 8,632
futures.” Since this
group is so vital to
the University, its
leaders have
rethought every
aspect of the
program, from Clark
Society Weekend to
donor recognition to
the content and
design of the Clark
Web site.
“We want the focus
of all we do to be
on the students,”
Richard notes.
“After all, that’s
why we give to TCU.
We also want
potential members to
know that this is a
welcoming and
inclusive group.”
Clark Society
Weekend, which
celebrates fall,
football and
philanthropy, is
designed to be both
entertaining and
instructive. The
weekend offers
events that appeal
to members from the
TCU Class of 1927 to
the Class of 2004.
“Clark Weekend is a
time when we can get
together, have fun
and meet the
students who benefit
from our
contributions,”
Janet says. “We also
have the chance to
get to know other
generous Horned Frog
alumni, parents and
friends.”
Giving Forward:
The Junior Clark
Society Encourages Young
Alums to Support TCU
“It’s vital that the
tradition of alumni
support be passed on
to each new
generation of TCU
graduates,” Janet
comments, “and the
Junior Clark Society
encourages young
alumni to give
forward.”
“Not many students
or young alums know
that we paid only
about 60 percent of
the true cost of our
TCU education,” says
Ruth Morris ’04, who
in her senior year
was the student
representative on
the Clark Society
Board.
“We try to let them
know that gifts from
alumni and other
friends help keep
TCU functioning and
on the cutting-edge
of education.
Contributions by
Clark Society and
Junior Clark members
also help to keep
tuition as low as
possible.”
Alumni who are just
beginning their
careers may find the
$1,000 price tag on
Clark Society
membership a bit
steep. “The Junior
Clark Society
provides a way for
young alumni to
receive the same
benefits as TCU’s
biggest donors — but
with a gift that we
can afford,” Ruth
adds.
For the first three
years after
graduation, alumni
can become members
of the Junior Clark
Society with an
annual gift of $100.
In their fourth and
fifth years out, a
gift of $300 is
required. During the
seventh through
ninth years after
graduation, Junior
Clark membership
comes with a gift of
$500. “In other
words, we start with
a relatively modest
gift,” Ruth says.
“As we become more
established in our
professions, that
amount increases.”
When Junior Clark
members designate
their gifts of $500
or more to the TCU
Frog Club, they get
the added bonus of a
named, reserved
parking space for
home Horned Frog
football games.
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