The event, which was held on Nov. 12 in Louisville, Ky., included new gift announcements and a status update for the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus.

The Angus Foundation would like to thank all who attended its 2011 Supporter Recognition Event, an event intended to honor and thank all Angus Foundation supporters who have contributed $250 or more the past fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2010 – Sept. 30, 2011). The event was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Louisville-Airport Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Ky., in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition.

More than 250 people attended the event. Following a social hour, the program began with a video highlighting various donors to the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus. The theme of the event, “Champions of the Vision,” was selected to portray the Angus Foundation’s gratitude toward its contributors, who have served as “champions” of the Angus breed through their selfless financial contributions this year.

“It is only because of the efforts of our Angus breeders and allied industry partners throughout the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus that the scope of your Angus Foundation’s outreach in education, youth and research exists today,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Our ‘champions’ have indeed made an indelible difference in the Angus breed, our Angus family and for that, we say thank you for helping all of us more clearly see the Vision!”

Highlights of the event included honoring Camron “Cam” Cooper of The Talon Ranch, Twin Bridges, Mont., for reaching the prestigious “Angus Builder” donor level ($100,000-$249,000) in outright cash contributions during the 2011 fiscal year; a special presentation to National Junior Angus Show Steer Carcass Contest winners, including the champion winner, Michael Cropp of Damascus, Md., and reserve champion winner Hannah Wright of Spring City, Tenn., by award sponsor Dr. Curtis Long of Briarwood Angus Farms, Butler, Mo.; recognition of members of the Leadership Cabinet for the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus; and recognition of Angus Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Phil Trowbridge for his service and leadership during the past year.

A distinct part of the program each year is the announcements of new major gifts to the Angus Foundation. These four announcements will contribute to the Vision of Value campaign:

• $10,000 commitment from Dr. Curtis and Ann Long of Briarwood Angus Farms, Butler, Mo., to the Briarwood Angus Farms/Curtis and Ann Long Endowment Fund for the National Junior Angus Show Carcass Steer Contest Awards.
  
  
• $25,000 matching contribution by Bob and Margaret Duprey of Cherry Knoll Farm, West Grove, Pa., to the “Green Gives Back” National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) Alumni and Friends Scholarship Endowment Fund, which brings the total to $50,000 to provide additional scholarship opportunities for Angus youth.
  
  
• $25,000 commitment from Wichita, Kan.-headquartered INTRUST Bank, which is based on a credit card account campaign it will hold from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2012. It will require 500 existing and/or new American Angus Association members to apply for the Angus credit card. INTRUST Bank has pledged to give the Angus Foundation $100 for each new card, so when added to the $25,000 gift if 500 accounts are reached, this commitment could total $75,000 in support.
  
  
• $50,000 commitment by Jay and Chris King of Sauk Valley Angus, Rock Falls, Ill., through the Angus Foundation’s planned giving Angus Legacy Society program.
  
  

“Each and every donor, regardless of the size of their gift to the Angus Foundation this fiscal year, has made an impact and difference in the lives of our Angus youth and members,” Jenkins says. “It is very humbling for all of us in the Angus breed when donors are in a position to make large outright cash gifts, pledges or planned giving commitments to our organization. These four wonderful gift announcements are certainly no different, and we feel very honored to be the beneficiary of their philanthropy, as we know there are many other worthy causes competing with us for their charitable support!”

The auction of American Angus Association® registration No. 17 million concluded the event. It was purchased for $10,000 by David McMahon, Sr. of Belle Point Ranch, Lavaca, Ark. McMahon donated the registration number to the heifer calf of the 2012 Angus Foundation Heifer, SydGen Buena 9511. The cow/calf pair will sell in Denver prior to the National Western Stock Show Angus Bull Sale on Jan. 11. The proceeds from the sale of this prestigious registration number will also contribute to the Vision of Value campaign.

In this final year of Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, the Angus Foundation announced at the event that more than $7.5 million in outright cash gifts, pledges and planned giving commitments has been raised to-date toward the ambitious $11 million campaign for education, youth and research. The campaign concludes Dec. 31, 2011, so it’s still not too late to make your contributions to the campaign and have your name included on a campaign appreciation plaque that will be displayed at the AAA headquarters in St. Joseph, Mo.

Go to www.angusfoundation.org and click “Donate Online” to make your contribution. Your contribution, payable to the Angus Foundation, can also be mailed to the Angus Foundation at 3201 Frederick Avenue, St. Joseph, MO 64506. Feel free to call Angus Foundation President Milford Jenkins at 816-383-5100 to discuss the wide array of charitable giving strategies available to donors interested in making a major gift commitment to the campaign.

The Angus Foundation was established in 1980 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization to support Angus education, youth and research. To learn more about the Angus Foundation and the programs it supports, call the American Angus Association® at 816-383-5100 or go to www.angusfoundation.org.