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Published Spring 2010
FOUNDATION RECEIVES LARGE
DONATION
The
Clinton Public School Foundation received a generous contribution of $40,000
from the estate of Viola Seher Wild, who died August 18, 2009. Her sister, Leona Goodman of Amarillo,
Texas, contacted former CPSF Trustee and family friend Paul Nieto about the
possibility of making a large bequest to Clinton schools earlier this year, and
through his facilitation, Mrs. Goodman presented the check to the CPSF Board of
Trustees at a special luncheon event in March.
Mrs. Wild was the
salutatorian of the CHS class of 1943, and had made several contributions to
the local education foundation through the years. “She always credited her education from Clinton schools as
being the reason for her success in her work,” said Mrs. Goodman during the
presentation. Mrs. Wild turned
down a scholarship from Phillips University in Enid to begin her career with
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, so that she could financially support her
sister and brothers through high school.
That career spanned nearly 38 years, with her retiring in 1981 from the
position of Marketing Supervisor of Southwestern Bell’s Retail Division.
Mrs. Wild lived most of her
life in the Oklahoma City area with her husband, Robert Eugene Wild, who
preceded her in death in 2004. She
was very active in various charities and organizations, including the Church of
the Servant, Skyline Urban Ministry, Lyric Theatre, Arthritis Foundation,
Christmas Connection, City Arts, SBC Pioneers, and the Oklahoma County Election
Board.
The $40,000 contribution
came with no specific stipulations.
“I know the Board of Trustees will use the money where it is needed
most,” said Mrs. Goodman. The
Trustees voted to place at least $20,000 into the CPSF endowment, which will
now be well over $500,000. The
other half of the donation will be used to provide operational support and
increased funding for Spring 2010 Teacher Grant Proposals; before the donation
was received, the Board had only allocated $3,493 towards Spring Grants, but
following the receipt of the Wild funds, the Trustees were able to provide an
additional $4,477 in grant awards.
To commemorate the life of
Viola Wild and this generous contribution, her and her husband’s names have been
placed on the Foundation’s Wall of Tradition, located at the northeast entrance
of the Tornado Bowl.
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