At the Heart of Giving

Houston Endowment Inc.

Houston Endowment awards grants to benefit charitable and educational organizations. Board of Directors, left to right, sitting: Rosie Zamora; H. Joe Nelson, III; and Melissa A. Jones; left to right, standing: Laurence E. Simmons; Anthony W. Hall, Jr.; Harold Metts; and D. Kent Anderson

D. Kent Anderson, chairman of the board of Houston Endowment, speaks passionately about the purpose of the Endowment, noting the pleasure that comes from carrying forward the mission of Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

Their commitment to the advancement of education can be seen in many corners of the Rice campus. During the Rice: The Next Century Campaign, Houston Endowment made one of the largest campaign gifts for the enhancement of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, the majority of which was used toward the total cost of construction of the impressive new Jones School building.

“Rice’s business school was the perfect legacy institution for Jesse H. Jones,” says Jack Blanton, chairman of the board of Houston Endowment at the time the campaign gift was made. “The school needed a new building, and we were pleased that our gift was used for that purpose. The Jones School has become a significant player nationally. We made a good investment.”

It was fitting that the campaign gift was directed to the Jones School since the school was founded in 1973 with a multi-million dollar gift from Houston Endowment. The relationship between the Endowment and the school has flourished with other gifts allocated to faculty chairs, scholarships, and programs.

At the Heart of Giving - A commitment to the advancement of education