Benedictine College Fund Newsletter
Spring 2009
SpiritofGiving Special memorial issue honoring the life of
Mary Kay McAllister
1934 – 2008
Features 3 In the words of a friend Frank O’Malley reflects on a lifelong friendship
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Rays of hope
Chicago Scholarship opens the door to a world of opportunity for three young women
Who could have known that a teenager headed off to a Catholic high school in Chicago would grow up to be the embodiment of the Benedictine values of community, family, work and prayer and would come to mean so much to so many. Mary Kay McAllister was that teenager and her legacy touched thousands of people through her generosity and example. In 1952, Mary Kathryn Rochford graduated from St. Scholastica Academy, a wellestablished high school for women taught by Benedictine Sisters. They had a profound affect on the young lady, so much so that she chose to continue her education with the Benedictine’s at Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison. After only one academic year as a Mountie (1952-1953), she was unable to return. First, her mother, a widow with three sons serving in the military, needed her at home. Second, she needed to go to work in order to pay the $200 she still owed the Mount for tuition, room and board. Mary Kay was able to complete her Catholic college education in 1956…just a little closer to home at Loyola University in Chicago. Entering the work world, Mary Kay took a job as the executive secretary to the head of the Brunswick Corporation, an international sports manufacturing conglomerate best known for billiards and bowling balls. There she observed the world of big business and learned about the stock market and investing. “She was a pretty shrewd operator when she was a young gal,” said Frank O’Malley ’52, a longtime friend of hers and childhood friend of her husband. “Most people at that age don’t even know what’s going on and here she was playing the stock market already.”
A celebration
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Cross of the Order of St. Benedict presented Feb. 21 Stories written by Steve Johnson
In 1961, Mary Kay married James McAllister and focused exclusively on home and family. For 20 years she worked hard to raise five children, Kevin, Maura, Timothy, Paul, and Mary Rose. It was during these years that she gave of her time, talents and treasure as an active volunteer within her community, church and the local schools. She delivered “Meals on Wheels” and worked for the Public Action to Deliver Shelter for the homeless organization; was active at the parish and regional levels of the Council of Catholic Women; served on { continued on pg. 4 }
Benedictine College
Spring 2009
A Message from the Vice President of Advancement Kelly J. Vowels The Benedictine College community lost a dear friend, a leader among our board and one of the great supporters of the College she loved so passionately. Mary Kay McAllister, 74, passed away December 9, 2008, in her hometown of Chicago. I was blessed to know Mary Kay personally for many years and benefited from her friendship and her tutelage. In this issue of Spirit of Giving we will provide you with a glimpse of who this amazing woman was; how she chose to use her gifts to help others and what she meant to so many. Perspectives will be offered from her childhood friend, to students who benefited from her love of education and even presidents. Her generosity helped guide Benedictine College along the path to future greatness. Her true passion was education, and she exercised her philanthropy in everything from facilities to endowment. Her bottom line was to help deserving students attend a quality college. All of us will miss her company and good counsel. It is often said we stand on the shoulders of giants; Benedictine looks forward to those who will follow the great example of Mary Kay McAllister.
“She was one in a million... no, one in 10 million. In my opinion, she was a living saint.” —Frank O’Malley pictured above with Mary Kay McAllister and Dr. Dan Carey at the dedication of the O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium
Mary Kay McAllister with her grandchildren.
Benedictine College
At Benedictine College, the names O’Malley and McAllister are forever intertwined. The O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium in the Student Union is the primary venue for notable speakers, concerts, cultural events and gatherings of the college and Atchison community. Most people don’t know the beginnings of that relationship, though, which dates back to 1930s Chicago. Two boys first met in grade school in the late 1930s and formed a lifelong friendship. They would go through high school together and would even spend a brief stint together at St. Benedict’s College, now Benedictine College. Frank O’Malley and Jimmy McAllister grew up together on the west side of Chicago. The two rough and tumble Irish lads excelled at sports, especially football. At high school graduation, Frank had a scholarship to St. Benedict’s. Jimmy decided to stay home and work. After a semester in Atchison, Frank was able to convince his pal to give college a try. Jimmy managed to get a football scholarship as well and made the trip to St. Benedict’s. “He gave it a shot, but it wasn’t for him,” Frank remembers. “He left college and started selling toilet paper…ended up a multi-millionaire!” Jimmy left. Frank stayed, graduating in 1952. The two never lost touch, though. Jimmy was at Frank’s wedding in 1954 in St. Benedict’s Church in Atchison and Frank attended Jimmy’s wedding in 1962 in Chicago. Frank’s wife, Bobbie, and Jimmy’s wife, Mary Kay, enthusiastically joined the friendship and began building a lifetime of memories. The couple enjoyed a great deal of
Spring 2009
The Words time together over the years. They traveled together, even going to the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. They bought vacation condos in Florida near each other and spent many winters in the sunny south. “Nothing was handed to Jimmy and Mary Kay,” Frank said. “They came from humble beginnings. Mary Kay came from a family of seven children and Jim’s family had 11 children. Mary Kay’s dad was a sergeant on the police force. In those days, everyone worked a second job, so he was also a plasterer. You can see that times were tough.” Jim was a hard worker and a good businessman. Mary Kay managed to finish her college education through both Mount St. Scholastica College and Loyola University. Her first job was as an executive secretary at the Brunswick Corporation. It was there she learned about trading stocks and general business operation. The couple did very well, building businesses and expanding their holdings. Jimmy passed away suddenly in 1991, leaving Mary Kay in charge of nine businesses. “She took it all over and she did great,” Frank said. “All those companies have done very well. She began to give back. She always believed in stewardship and tithing, with the first 10 percent going to the Lord.” Mary Kay donated extensively to Catholic education, the Archdiocese
of a Friend
of Chicago, the Chicago Art Institute, St. Bernard’s Church in Holme’s Beach, Fla., St. Luke’s Church in River Forest, Ill., the American Parkinson Disease Association and many other charities. She began giving to Benedictine College as well. In the 1990s, the school was struggling to raise funds to complete a new student union building and with Frank’s urging, she agreed to a million dollar donation, effectively saving the project. It was out of this gift that the college auditorium got its name. Benedictine College officials offered to name the fine arts center within the building in honor of her donation, but, ever humble, she had a simple request. Her desire was that her husband and his lifelong friend be immortalized with the naming. And she stressed that Frank’s name should be first. Frank and Jimmy are now together forever in O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium. “She was a giant among philanthropists in the Midwest,” said Frank. “She was filled with kindness and generosity, a real role model as a wife, mother, and daughter. My wife and I are honored to have been friends with her for 50 years and she’ll be in our prayers every day.” “She was one in a million,” he concluded. “No, one in 10 million. In my opinion, she was a living saint.”
Benedictine College
Spring 2009
{ continued from pg. 1 }
the school board of St. Bernardine Elementary School; and volunteered at Fenwick High School and Immaculate Conception High School. Her passion to help non-profit organizations corresponded to her personal drive, and in business, that served her well. Pal Graphics, the family printing company, flourished under Jim’s direction and Mary Kay, while still home raising children, decided to try her hand in the business world in a completely different field. She started a “pizza-bythe-slice” franchise in one of the area malls and ran it successfully for several years. Upon the untimely death of her husband in 1991, she and two of her children took over the operation of Pal Graphics and other businesses Jim had either started or acquired. As business grew, Mary Kay continued to diversify, adding a computer services company and a cellular telephone antenna manufacturing company. All have been successful in their own right and the businesses today are worth many millions of dollars. Her natural business sense was matched only by her love for others, and her business success allowed her to give back more than she could have imagined when she was working to pay off that $200 balance to the Sisters. She repaid that debt many times over, and in the process helped secure the future of Benedictine College and the many young men and women who have walked its campus.
At Benedictine College, she was a regular contributor to the Golf Classic and the annual Scholarship Ball. But when the college was ready to take the next step toward building one of the great Catholic colleges in America, Mary Kay was right there. Between 1993 and 1996, she donated $1,150,000 toward the construction of the student union. The project, complete with a new gymnasium, performing arts center, student lounge, offices and classrooms, opened in 1997. Always humble, Mary Kay wanted the new performing arts center within the facility to carry the name of her friend, Frank O’Malley, in addition to memorializing her husband, Jim. Today, the O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium is a mainstay of cultural activity for both the college and the Atchison community and the two friends’ names are forever linked. Mary Kay’s generosity continued… in 1996 she also helped launch Benedictine College’s unique Discovery Program with another major gift of $250,000. The establishment of the extra-curricular experiential learning program has been a major selling point for the college when attracting top high school prospects. The collaborative research helps make the Benedictine experience special to hundreds of students every year. Mary Kay played a major part in bringing football back to campus, with numerous donations to the stadium
James and Mary Kay McAllister married in 1961; together, they raised five children.
project. In addition, she gave the lead gift and served on the campaign committee for St. Scholastica Plaza, paid for new fiber optic cabling across campus, and gave substantially to the college endowment. In 1998, Mary Kay made the largest single gift to the endowment in the history of the college, donating $500,000 to establish and fund the Chicago Scholarship. Each year, the scholarship pays full tuition for four years for two deserving young women from the Chicago area. The grant gives preference to graduates of St. Scholastica Academy and is awarded based on academic merit and leadership ability. The first students, Laura (Guerrero) Santa Maria and Jessica (Macias) Perjes, came to Benedictine College as freshmen in 1998. Two additional young women have come to Benedictine each year since, many of whom would not have been at BC without the help of the Chicago Scholarship. Over the years, Mary Kay was honored by the college in many ways. She received the prestigious Cross of the Order of St. Benedict in 1992. Recognizing her business acumen, former BC President Dan Carey, along with Frank O’Malley, recruited her onto the college’s board of directors in 1996. She served as the grand marshal of the annual golf tournament, and in 1999, was honored with the Offeramus Medal as a distinguished alumna. Throughout her life,
Mary Kay donated funds for the Student Union project which included the O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium, named in honor of the lifelong friendship between Frank O’Malley and her husband, Jim.
Benedictine College
“She believed her money belonged to God and she was just the caretaker.” —Frank O’Malley though, she remained humble in the Benedictine tradition. “She was definitely the difference maker at Benedictine College,” O’Malley said. “She was an impact player, a very dedicated and valuable member of the board. She received many awards, but that’s not what she was about. She believed her money belonged to God and she was just the caretaker.” In a note written to the Benedictine College alumni office in 1999, she reflected on the Benedictine Sisters of both St. Scholastica Academy and Mount St. Scholastica College. She said she had been impressed with their intelligence, grace, and spirituality and noted how they were wonderful role models for young women in their formative years. Mary Kay returned everything back to those around her. A loving mother and wife, an astute business person, a faithful servant of the church, an amazing role model, and a remarkable benefactor…all this was wrapped into one remarkable woman who will truly made a difference in the world. Her legacy will live forever through those she has touched.
Spring 2009
A woman of vision reflections from the presidents
Mary Kay McAllister’s impact on Benedictine College will be felt for many years to come. She was a woman who understood how enhancements such as the installation of fiber optic cable before it was commonplace and endowing the creation of the signature Discovery Program would expand and enhance Benedictine College for many years to come. “She was truly a woman of vision,” said Stephen D. Minnis, Benedictine College President. “She understood how things done today can help far into the future.” Prior to becoming president, Minnis served with Mary Kay on the Board of Directors of the college and found her to be incredibly insightful. She understood what the college was trying to do and was willing to help finance those dreams. “Her financial situation allowed her to make an immediate impact with the completion of the Student Union,” Minnis said. “What we didn’t realize at the time was the far greater impact she would have in the future.” Dr. Daniel J. Carey, who served as president from 1995 to 2004, agrees that Mary Kay understood the college’s needs and how to help provide for them. “She really listened and learned what we needed and then she did what she could to help,” Carey said. “And it was never about her. There was a tremendous humility about her. She never called attention to herself. It was always about what she could do to make things better.” Mary Kay’s vision allowed her to make an incredible impact on the college’s endowment as well. She gifted enough money each year to pay the premium on a life insurance policy to which she made Benedictine College the beneficiary. That policy has given the college more than $4 million, increasing the endowment by 30 percent. “When you think about it, she did it all. Completing the construction of the Student Union, funding scholarships, increasing endowment… she was a champion,” Carey said. “She was doing more than almost anybody, and yet she would always look at me and say in her soft voice, ‘Honey, I wish I could do more.’” “Mary Kay helped lay a foundation that we will continue to expand upon for many years to come,” Minnis said. “We were so fortunate to have her in our Benedictine family.”
Mary Kay, pictured with scholarship recipients.
Postscript: In April of 2000, Mary Kay transferred to Benedictine College ownership of a life insurance policy with a value of $4.3 million upon her death. It was her intent that the gift would ultimately benefit the Benedictine College Endowment Fund. The college received those funds on January 5, 2009.
Benedictine College
Spring 2009
NANCYVasquez-Sanchez
Nancy Vazquez–Sanchez is a shining example of the dreams, success, and values Benedictine College hopes to give all its graduates. She is happily married and the mother of a new baby girl. She was an honor student at BC and is now heading back to college for an MBA with the hopes of going on to earn a Ph.D. She is working to help at-risk youth better themselves through a non-profit group. In short, she is a caring and engaged member of the community actively working to make a difference in the world…and it almost never happened. She is the oldest child and the first one in her family to ever attend college. As a high school student in Chicago, she was certain she would remain at home. Her parents were adamant that she stay in the area. But one of her counselors at St. Scholastica Academy knew about Benedictine College and the Chicago Scholarship established by Mary Kay
McAllister. With a little persuasion, Nancy’s father allowed her to take a trip to Atchison for a campus tour. Nancy loved the campus, the college, and the students and professors she met. She desperately wanted to go to Benedictine and the scholarship would provide the means. But her father would not budge. He still preferred to reject the scholarship and keep her closer to home. Nancy was persistent; stressing the financial freedom the Chicago Scholarship would give the family while still providing a high-quality education for her. A second trip to Atchison, with her father, did the trick. “As soon as he touched Benedictine ground and met some of my professors, especially Dr. John Settich, he was changed,” Nancy said. “That really made a difference to him.” She is also appreciative of Mary Kay McAllister’s investment in her. “If it weren’t for her, I don’t know where I would have been,” she said. “I have tremendous gratitude to her for allowing me to be a part of the Benedictine family.” While still in school, Nancy found the distance from home quite difficult for a child from a close-knit family. She then had several close relatives pass away. On top of that was the ever-present pressure of her studies. All this made life seem very difficult and she questioned her decision. But Nancy had the opportunity to meet Mary Kay face to face at the time. She was speechless, unsure of what to say to the woman who had virtually made her college education possible. But she found that Mary Kay was very down-to-earth and comforting. They had a conversation that Nancy can still quote today. “Mrs. McAllister had such an impact on me,” she said. “Not only through the scholarship, but in my personal life. I can still remember
a very powerful thing she said when we met. She told me ‘No matter how hard life gets, you always have to challenge yourself to do the best you can.’ I’ve never forgotten that and I tell the teenagers I work with now the same thing.” Nancy went on to make her parents proud, graduating with honors and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Political Science and Business Administration. “You can imagine the joy and pride they felt when I walked across the stage to get my diploma,” she said. “They had tears in their eyes. They knew I was paving the way for so many others. And I was proud to lay that path for my siblings, my cousins, and my friends. My brother is in college right now and I hope my little sister will someday be a Raven.” Along with being a wife and mother, Nancy is also working with at-risk youth at the Mattie Rhodes Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The center is a non-profit set up to bridge cultures and communities through arts, mental health, and social services. Nancy is a prevention specialist and works to help build leadership skills, self-confidence, and communication ability in Hispanic youth, ages 11-17. Her goal is to keep them in school. “I enjoy motivating them to go on with their education and live life to its fullest,” she said. “There were a lot of adults that helped me when I was younger and I want to do the same thing for these students. It’s been challenging, but I really enjoy what I’m doing now. I think I’m in the right place and I’m ready to take on more.” As Mary Kay told her, there will always be challenging times and you have to be able to handle it. And as her father told her, everything happens for a reason.
Benedictine College
Spring 2009
CATRIONANally The opportunity presented to Catriona Nally ’05 in high school brought the inspiration for her to excel in many areas of her life. She graduated from Benedictine College; went on to St. Louis University to get her law degree; and recently passed the Illinois State Bar Exam. Had it not been for the McAllister family, Catriona might not have even been at BC. “As a student from the Chicagoland area, I had yet to even visit the state of Kansas!” she laughed. “The McAllister family first introduced me to Benedictine.” Mary Kay’s niece, Kate Gancer, approached her about the college and the availability of the Chicago Scholarship which Mary Kay established. “The scholarship was an award and the freedom that came with it was a gift,” said Catriona. “I am extremely grateful for her generosity towards myself, my classmates, and Benedictine.” That freedom allowed Catriona to
excel in school and set goals for herself that she might not have been able to visualize without the help of the scholarship and the influence of her professors. “The professors and faculty truly challenge, encourage, and pray for the success of their students,” she said. “As a result, my classmates are currently working, finishing graduate school, maintaining homes, starting families, volunteering, and contributing to their communities. I’m proud to be a member of the 2005 class and part of the larger Benedictine community.” Catriona said she felt sure Benedictine adequately prepared her for the challenges of law school by emphasizing thorough research, clear writing, and effective oral communication in a supportive and faith filled environment. Of course, it was all thanks to the start she got with the Chicago Scholarship. Catriona was lucky enough to have had the opportunity
to meet Mary Kay on the Benedictine campus in 2001 and it is a memory that will never fade. “She was wearing sparkly clothes and it fit her personality perfectly,” said Catriona. “She was immediately warm and kind. I really think the fact that she didn’t graduate from BC but so enthusiastically and generously supported it speaks volumes about her, her family and BC.” Catriona intends to take Mary Kay’s example to heart. “My professors, my classmates, and the Chicago Scholarship inspired me toward goals and helped shape the person I’ve become,” she said. “It is my intention to pay it forward and support future students - I know both my parents and Kelly Vowels will hold me to my word!”
EDNAHernandez
Though she never met her in person, Mary Kay McAllister provided a ray of hope to Edna Hernandez, currently a senior at Benedictine College. Without the Chicago Scholarship established by Mary Kay, Edna would not have been able to attend Benedictine and might not have even been able to continue her academic career. “From the moment I heard about the scholarship she offered to girls from St. Scholastica Academy to go to Benedictine College, I was thankful to know that there are people like Mary Kay McAllister,” Edna said. “To be honest, I do not believe I would have been at Benedictine had it not been for the scholarship.” The young woman first heard about Benedictine in relation to the scholarship. School counselors began talking about various colleges and scholarships during her junior year of high school and Edna took interest in the Chicago Scholarship. As part of the process, the girls were given the opportunity to visit BC and learn more about its potential. Edna’s campus visit made her comfortable enough to make the decision to move from the hustle and bustle of Chicago to the small-town charm of Atchison. “At first I was trying to adjust to the size of the town,” she said. “But with everyone I saw, I was able to meet new friends. I was convinced to come.” She has been quite comfortable at Benedictine and it has become her second home. The full tuition scholarship established by Mary Kay opened many doors for her. “Benedictine has not only provided me with an excellent education, but has also taught me much about life,” Edna said. “As I move on and search for a job, I feel I am much more prepared because of Benedictine…an opportunity made possible by Mary Kay McAllister.”
Benedictine College Office of Advancement 1020 North Second Street Atchison, Kansas 66002
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Dan & Mary Carol Garrity Matt & Ann Anthony are being honored with Benedictine College’s Cross of the Order of St. Benedict Join us in honoring them at the 38th Annual Scholarship Ball Saturday, February 21, 2009 Westin Crown Center Hotel, Century Ballroom For reservations: 913.360.7401 or www.benedictine.edu/scholarshipball Limited seating.