Oct. 11, 2011
Contact: Brent Ortolani, 918-295-6612 or 918-695-7078
Tulsa Area United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society Holds Fall Reception
Members of the Tulsa Area United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society, its most distinguished organization of individual donors, recently gathered at the home of Mary Ann and John Bumgarnerfor a fall reception and live auction to benefit this year’s United Way campaign.
The Tocqueville Society is comprised of the United Way's leadershipdonors who contribute $10,000 or more to the community’s annual campaign, which culminates on
Nov. 10.
The Alexis de Tocqueville Society was created locally in 1987 to promote and recognize voluntary community service and personal giving to the United Way at an exceptional level. The name comes from French Aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville who in 1831, visited our country and wrote “Democracy in America,”which contains observations of American society and praise for its voluntary spirit.
“All of you truly represent the ideals of Alexis de Tocqueville as evidenced by your giving spirit,” Mark Graham, President and CEO of the Tulsa Area United Way, told guests. “We are so grateful of your steadfast support of the Tulsa Area United Way.”
The goal of this year’s United Way campaign, which culminates on Nov. 10, is $24,556,573.
Last year,members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society contributed more than$4.1 million, which represented almost 17 percentof the United Way campaign. Since its inception, the society has raised more than $46 million dollars for the Tulsa area.
Graham welcomed guests to the penthouse home of Mary Ann and John Bumgarner, which overlooks the city of Tulsa, and thanked them for hosting the event.
Jim and Suzanne Kneale, this year’s co-chairs of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, presented several challenge giving programs available to United Way contributors, including a leadership challenge issued by the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation and an anonymous donor, a small business challenge grant offered by QuikTrip and a challenge from T.D. Williamson issued to members of the Tocqueville Society.
Jim Bender, who was present with his wife Kristin, updated guests on the progress of this year’s campaign. “We are at the mid-point of our campaign and doing well, having raised 53 percent of the total with four weeks to go,” Bender said. “But often the second half of a campaign is most challenging and we still need your support to help us reach our goal.”
The evening’s program included a live auction with some unique and interesting items to raise funds for this year’s campaign, including excursions to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Taos, New Mexico, rare wines from Hundred Acre Winery, one of California’s premier cult wineries, an evening with the world-famous luchadores of Tulsa’s popular Elote restaurant and a luchador created in the image of the highest bidder. The luchadores have served as mascots of this year’s United Way campaign.
Alexis de Tocqueville Society members in attendance included Shelly and Alan Armstrong, Kelli Bailey, BillieBarnett, Kristin and Jim Bender, Glenda and Jim Bertelsmeyer, Margery Bird, Toni and Roy Bliss, Mark Blongewicz, Marla and Steve Bradshaw, Gretchen and Brian Brauninger, Pat and Arnold Brown, William Buergler, Mary Ann and John Bumgarner, Kathleen Coan, Pat Chernicky, Bryan Close, Sarah Hansel and Mike Cooke, Pat Cremin, Brenda and Curtis Dinan, Phyllis and George Dotson, Margo and Kent Dunbar, Patty and Len Eaton, Judy and Ted Eliot, Julia and Ralph Evans, Robyn and Larry Ewing, Elizabeth and Brian Favell, Becky and Jack Frank, Jeanne and Bob Funk, Steve Ganzkow, Cathy and James Gates, Kirsten and Mark Graham, Tammy and Scott Grauer, Janet and Kevin Hayes, Debbie and Steve Hildebrand, Oliver Howard, Betsy and Gerald Jackson, Libby Johnson, Bonnie Klein, Suzanne and Jim Kneale, Claire and Phil Lauinger, Debbie and Dean Luthey, Marcia MacLeod, Gwen and Steve Malcolm, Mary and Rob Martinovich, Bob Parker, Cindy Peterson, Kim and Pat Piper, Lynn Anderson and Steve Ray, Lisa and David Roth, Ruth Libertus and Jeff Sanders, Mary Lhevine and George Schnetzer, Stephanie and Tom Seymour, Rita Singer, Norma and Richard Small, Susan and Bill Thomas, Jill and Bob Thomas, Demaris and Lyle Turner, Kayla and Scott Vaughn, Janet and Brad Vincent, Rachel Blue and Tom Vincent, and Peter Walter.
Guests in attendance included Steve Aberson, Laurisa Anderson, Cynthia Eckhardt, Peggy Schroedter, Phyllis and Steve Anderson, Ben Ganzkow, Anne Tarbel, Janet McGehee, Evelyn Hatfield, Pat Fox, Mike Krimbill and Laurie Adams, Adrienne and Phil Lakin, Lori and John Cowen, Johnna and Jim Taylor, Sherrill and Bob Vaught, and Pierce Norton.
Tulsa Area United Way Staff in attendance included Derk Tenzythoff, Brent Ortolani, Jessica Hargis, Gary Szabo, Sharon Gallagher, Jeff Rogers, Misty Heusinger,and Laura Bell.
In the past 87 years, the Tulsa Area United Way has invested more than $590 million in the Tulsa area by enhancing the community’s three building blocks to a better life: education, financial stability and health/safety. The Tulsa Area United Way provides services to more than 620,000 individuals annually through its 61 partner agencies in Creek, Okmulgee, Osage, Rogers, Wagoner and Tulsa counties. For more information, call TAUW at 918-583-7171 or visit
###