{"id":787,"date":"2024-04-11T16:19:11","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T16:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ar.mfi.org\/?page_id=787"},"modified":"2026-01-07T14:26:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:26:41","slug":"2023-annual-report","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ar.mfi.org\/?page_id=787","title":{"rendered":"2023 Annual Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lasting Legacy: 75 Years of Family, Philanthropy, and Impact<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Meadows Foundation exists to assist people and institutions of Texas improve the quality and circumstances of life for themselves and future generations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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2023 marked 75 years since Al and Virginia Meadows established The Meadows Foundation. They began this journey with a simple yet profound mission: to help the people of Texas now and forever. We\u2019ve accomplished so much together over the years, from the Meadows Museum to the Wilson Historic District to the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. Over 75 years, we\u2019ve given almost $1.4 billion in grants and have impacted all 254 counties in Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me share some of our highlights from the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson Historic District<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year saw tremendous growth in the Wilson Historic District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The introduction of Liberty Street Garden, operated by our tenant, New Friends New Life, has brought a renewed sense of purpose. Seeing the passion, commitment, and transformation of the women who nurture the garden and bring it to life is inspiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, we\u2019re starting a new chapter in the history of the St. James AME Temple. As one of the oldest historic Black churches built by the first Black architect in Texas, William Sidney Pittman, and by an all-Black crew, the church was a point of pride to show that anything could be done by their community. When the Foundation purchased it, we aimed to preserve a piece of history and keep its roots in the Black community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, we restored the building’s original mission by welcoming Project Unity and Lone Star Justice Alliance as tenants. These organizations work to eliminate discrimination and unify the community, honoring the spirit of the building and transforming it into a vibrant hub of activity and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last 40 plus years, the District has been one of our most significant investments because it has fostered significant growth, strengthened community ties, and created lasting positive change. With more projects on the horizon, the District’s future is bright and full of endless possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

75th<\/sup> Anniversary Open House<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An important part of our anniversary was our open house. It celebrated 75 years of history, achievements, and memories. Many of you joined us in commemorating our history, our past presidents, and our grantees. Five grantees joined the open house to highlight a legacy of each president\u2019s tenure. From Al Meadows\u2019 belief in education as the gateway to opportunity and Curtis W. Meadows Jr.\u2019s vision for creating a groundbreaking nonprofit neighborhood, Linda Perryman Evans’ conviction that the treatment of animals reflects how we treat people, and my dedication to safeguarding our water as the foundation of Texas\u2019 future growth, these organizations demonstrated to attendees how their mission impacts our state. In our annual report, you will hear from these nonprofits and learn about how they serve the people of Texas every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I transition into the final years of my presidency, I\u2019m moved by the extraordinary vision of our founders, the remarkable leadership of the presidents who preceded me, and the dedication of our Board of Directors, staff, and the Meadows family. This collective effort has been key to our 75-year milestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you explore our 2023 annual report, I hope you experience what our 75th anniversary means to everyone at the Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n

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Peter M. Miller
President & CEO<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our Founders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Algur Hurtle Meadows was born in Vidalia, Georgia, in 1899. Virginia Garrison Stuart was born in Ryan, Oklahoma, in 1902. After moving around the south, Al also settled in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he met Virginia. They married in 1922. Al worked for Standard Oil by day and studied law at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al left Standard Oil to start his own finance firm and later founded an oil and gas production company. He and Virginia moved to Dallas in 1936 where he built General American Oil Company of Texas into one of the largest independent producers in the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While they gave to causes in Louisiana, Georgia, and other national and international areas, Al and Virginia chose to give the majority of their wealth to benefit Texas as an everlasting gift to the state and its people who had been so generous to them. At the heart of their philanthropy was a commitment to be a perpetual resource for good in Texas.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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IN REMEMBRANCE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sally Rhodus Lancaster, Ph.D.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sally Rhodus Lancaster (1938-2023) was Al and Virginia\u2019s niece, who served on the Board of Directors for six years and as Executive Vice President of the Foundation for 17 years. After Al\u2019s death in 1978, Sally was pivotal in shaping the Foundation\u2019s grantmaking process with her cousin Curtis W. Meadows Jr. Legendary for her pursuit of excellence, she was unwavering in her dedication to Texas and the Meadows family\u2019s philanthropic legacy. She championed creative and purposeful risk-taking grantmaking to achieve transformational impact. Whether it was protecting environmental diversity, enhancing public education, improving health care access, or pioneering heritage tourism and preserving historic and cultural artifacts along the Texas-Mexico border, she accepted nothing less than the best for the people of Texas.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe greatest reward of working at the Foundation is meeting the wonderful people of Texas who are so dedicated to their communities.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nSally Rhodus Lancaster, Ph.D.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Meet our grantees<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

At our 75th anniversary open house, each grantee highlighted an important aspect of the Foundation\u2019s work. We invited them to share their mission in their own words to show how they serve the people of Texas every day.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter 1<\/h2>

Reading Partners<\/strong><\/p>

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