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M/CLOUDY Temp: 42 °F Wind: WNW at 3 mph Monday, March 3, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend February 8, 2003 Reed and Carolee Walker A $29 million legacy plants seeds of hope By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune An unassuming Ashland couple has left a $29 million bequest to the Oregon Community Foundation — the largest gift of its kind in the state’s history — that will directly benefit Jackson County programs that assist the poor and needy. The bequest, which was announced Friday and more than doubles the foundation’s $20 million in available charitable funds, will provide $1.4 million annually in grants, while still preserving the original bequest. Reed and Carolee Walker, who moved to Jackson County in 1988 partially because they wanted a good place to grow roses, have made the largest philanthropic contribution in the foundation’s 29-year history. "This is the largest single gift to a public foundation in the state as far as we can discern," said Kathleen Davis, foundation director of development in Southern Oregon. "They have made the ultimate quiet gift to the people," said foundation Chairman Bill Thorndike. The family of Reed Walker, who died on Sept. 5, began to make its fortune after the family bakery in Kansas City, Miss., was sold to Anheuser Busch in the early 1940s. The company made the purchase with Anheuser Busch stock. His wife, a gardener and supporter of children’s programs, died on April 13, 1999, on her 66th birthday. The couple also has left a $500,000 bequest to the Jackson County Salvation Army and a $25,000 gift to the Ashland Garden Club. Capt. John Van Cleef, commanding officer of the Salvation Army, said the bequest to the foundation will be a boon to those with limited resources. "When financial resources are as scarce as they are, these funds will feed families, provide clothing, health care for children who have none, and educational enrichment for our schools," he said. The foundation won’t physically have the money in hand until 2004, but this will allow enough time to decide where the money will do the most good, said Davis. "We’ll be in a listening mode for the next 10 months or so," she said. "We’re very aware that there are a number of fine programs that it would make an impact." Still, Davis said the bequest won’t fill all the budget holes of schools and other organizations that have been hard hit by state cutbacks. "A million and a half a year isn’t going to solve all of Jackson County’s problems," she said. The foundation will only spend 4.5 percent of the market value of the fund annually to preserve the principal. A friend of the Walkers, Carol Bennett of Medford said, "They were very wonderful people. She was a very positive influence on my life." Despite their wealth, the Walkers had a nice, but not ostentatious house, in Ashland, she said. "He would go unshaven," said Bennett. "She liked gardening and was real involved with the Ashland Garden Club." Each year, Mrs. Walker would grow flowers for a garden sale and the proceeds would provide scholarships. Her greenhouse would be completely depleted of plants for the sale, said Bennett, and she would have to go out the next week to buy more flowers for her own garden. "I said, ‘Why not save a few for yourself.’ She’d say, ‘Oh, no, those are for the garden club." The couple had been living in Twin Falls, Idaho, before they chose to Jackson County over Bend, partly because of the long growing season here, said Thorndike. They led a quiet life, he said. He liked to fish, hunt or play golf and support his wife, who wanted to be generous with the community. "He would wear the same pants for two or three days," said Thorndike. "She had a woman’s love for gardening and roses." With so much need in Jackson County, Thorndike said the foundation will prioritize how it will distribute the funding, while keeping in mind that the Walkers specified the money can only be spent in Jackson County to support nonprofits that serve children, the poor and the needy. Tom Cole, director of Kids Unlimited, said he would welcome any additional funds that might be available to his social service agency. "Our organization is challenged like most organizations after Measure 28’s failure," said Tom Cole, director of Kids Unlimited. Recently the rent for the agency’s popular teen nightclub, VIBES, was raised substantially, he said, making it more difficult to help Jackson County’s youth. "Any new grant that comes in to supplement a decline in services will be great," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S