May 14, 2008

LIVINGSTON, Ala.--In conjunction with “The University We Will Be” campaign, The University of West Alabama recently established the Richard and Rebecca Holland Legacy Society to recognize and honor generous donors who, like the presidential couple, have named UWA as a beneficiary in their estate plans.

Richard and Becky Holland have dedicated their lives to serving The University of West Alabama and the surrounding Black Belt region. Now, in addition to their previous campaign gift, the Hollands have ensured their continuing support by bequeathing a sizable portion of their estate to the University.

The Hollands’ gift will support five major UWA initiatives, including the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, where Richard Holland still teaches one course each semester; the Rebecca Guy Holland Scholarship Fund, which was established in honor of UWA’s first lady to support education majors; and separate endowments for the Center for the Study of the Black Belt, the Black Belt Museum and the Black Belt Garden.

“This university has been our lives,” said Dr. Richard Holland, the only alumnus to serve as university president. “It’s appropriate that we include UWA in our estate plans because we are looking toward the future of the institution that has meant so much to us and to this region.”

Richard Holland graduated with UWA biology degrees in 1965 and 1967 and earned his doctorate in botany from the University of Tennessee. He began his career in Livingston in 1967 and was named president in 2002. Becky Holland holds education degrees from Troy University, the University of Tennessee and UWA. She taught for 35 years in Sumter County, including 30 years at Livingston Junior High School.

Richard Holland encourages other graduates and friends to consider this type of gift to “The University We Will Be” campaign as an opportunity to make long-term arrangements to support the institution.

“I challenge everyone to look at the importance of UWA in their lives and think about what they can do to give back to this great University,” said Holland, the two-time recipient of UWA’s prestigious William E. Gilbert Award for Outstanding Teaching. “If we are going to continue to excel and to enhance the institution, UWA needs more gifts of this type.”

“Our development staff is most helpful in tailoring your requests to meet the University’s needs and your own desires,” he continued. “Supporting UWA through our estate made sense for Becky and me, and I look forward to the legacy society’s continued growth as more donors take advantage of this type of planned giving.”

Holland Legacy Society members may restrict their estate gift to a particular area, program or project, or they may leave the gift unrestricted, allowing the University to designate the funds to the areas of greatest need. Members will be honored at an annual reception and dinner hosted by the University. They will also be listed on a plaque displayed prominently on the UWA campus and recognized in annual publications.

"The University We Will Be" campaign is an ongoing initiative to raise $15 million in gifts and pledges by 2011 for The University of West Alabama. These funds will improve campus facilities, provide additional scholarships, enhance the campus learning environment, support the faculty and fund community outreach projects. If you are interested in talking with our staff about including UWA in your estate plans, please contact the Development Office at 205-652-3533.