Of the 1500 state and local
leadership programs across the country, Leadership Wyoming is the only one
to reach a million dollar endowment. This within just two years and
with only one graduating class, compared to programs that have been in
existence for 40 years! This historic milestone was celebrated in March 22,
2002 by the Leadership Wyoming partnership, the Wyoming Heritage Foundation
and the University of Wyoming.
The original organizers of Leadership Wyoming "were all concerned about funding" according to University of Wyoming President Phillip Dubois. "Our goal was to create a $1 million endowment and the University included Leadership Wyoming in its $100 Million Distinction Campaign."
Rick Kaysen, Chairman of the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation, believed getting to the largest endowment of any leadership program in the country "wasn’t just luck. It was perseverance and belief that it could be done". The first gift — $100,000 anonymous — was secured by Bill Schilling in April of 1999. The thirty-fifth gift — that took the endowment over $1 million — was given by Eli and Nick Bebout. The McMurry Foundation’s gift of $200,000 presented at the Wyoming Heritage Foundation Annual Public Forum on November 23, 2001 was the largest gift received.
The total endowment today stands at $1,251,525 — $787,262.50 private sector dollars from Governing Board contributors and State match of $463,762.50 for the University of Wyoming’s endowment campaign.
ENDOWMENT CONTRIBUTORS
Anonymous
Antler Motel
AT&T
Bank of Commerce
Eli and Lorraine Bebout & Nick and Paula Bebout
Black Butte Coal
BTI
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation
ChevronTexaco
Church and Dwight
Coastal Chem
Community First Bank
U. S. Representative Barbara Cubin
Jerry and Barbara Dilts
Jack Ellbogen
First National Bank of Evanston
FMC Wyoming
Debbie Hammons
Cliff and Martha Hanson
Gary and Patricia Havens
John Hay III
Jerry Housel
Kennecott Energy
McMurry Foundation
Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Ins.
Nucor Drilling
OCI Wyoming
Powers Masonery Supply
Qwest
John Resor
Stanley Resor
Bill and Sue Schilling
Thorson Foundation
True Foundation
Wells Fargo Bank
Xcel Energy