May 8, 2007 For More Information Contact: Shelia Stannard at 816-383-5152 or sstannard@angus.org More
than 250 Angus breeders from In January 2007, the Birkels pledged $250,000 toward the Angus Foundation’s ambitious Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus goal to raise $11 million by December 31, 2011 if Texas Angus breeders and the Texas Angus Association raised $250,000 in matching funds at $50,000 per year the next five years. Impressive by any measure, including the Birkels generous challenge, outright gifts and multi-year pledges received now total more than $487,000 in support of The Texas Challenge while counting simultaneously toward the $11 million Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus goal. “Validated
by over $75,000 in outright gifts and pledges far exceeding the 2007
first-year goal of $50,000 for The Texas Challenge, it is safe to say that
Texas Angus breeders have risen to the challenge,” says Milford
Jenkins, Angus Foundation president.
“As a member of the campaign’s leadership cabinet,
visionary Angus breeder and a philanthropist at heart, Klaus viewed it his
responsibility to invest significantly in the Angus breed and help add value
to education, youth and research for the benefit of future generations of
Angus breeders in The
Texas Challenge provides donors the freedom to designate how their gift will
be used by the Angus Foundation in the areas of education, youth and
research. The Birkels unselfishly
earmarked $75,000 of their contribution to establish a Texas Angus
Association Scholarship Endowment Fund in the Angus Foundation to provide
scholarships to Angus youth from “I am committed to this because I believe it is essential that we provide the next generation of young cattle raisers with the knowledge and skills essential to stay competitive and to make a business out of raising cattle,” says Klaus Birkel. “Additionally, there are still many open questions that research can answer about how to manage and raise cattle in a better way. Education and research must be continual and focused toward our industry’s special challenges. Bright young individuals must be encouraged to stay in this business and must see what is possible.” Guests
were treated to beautiful decorations around a “Six Flags over Texas
Angus Association President Randy Roden served as emcee for the event with
guest speakers including “The
power of one idea; the power of one ranch and the power of one campaign are
incredible,” Crouch said.
“Using the above statements from our most successful national
advertising campaign to date, I know that the power of one Texas Challenge
will be phenomenal in influencing For more information on The Texas Challenge and Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, contact Angus Foundation President Milford Jenkins at mjenkins@angusfoundation.org or 816-383-5100. ### |