The Rodeo is almost here, and that means it’s time for the local media to start promoting the event. Here’s an example from today’s Chronicle:
With a limb saw in hand, Ty Whitcomb was ready for his new role.
As chairman of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s new Gifting and Lifetime Legacy Opportunities (Gallop) committee, Whitcomb said he wanted to dispel a misconception about planned giving: It’s more than wills and bequests.
“This is my imitation of the Grim Reaper,” said Whitcomb, holding the limb saw up next to him like a scythe.
“I don’t want people to think when they see this, they’re going to associate planned giving or our committee with the Grim Reaper.”
“Or a limb saw,” joked his vice chairman, Houston Astros star Lance Berkman, peering from underneath a brown cowboy hat. “We’re not going to ask you to chop down any oak trees.”
They are, however, asking Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo fans to consider giving something back — in life or after their death — through charitable trusts, bequests and other long-term gifts that would support the show’s educational programs.
[snip]
Rodeo officials say the show has committed more than $100 million in education support since 1957 and has awarded scholarships to nearly 9,000 Texas high school seniors.
The show’s scholarships, teacher training programs and competition funds reach nearly 350,000 students per year, they said.
Sixteen percent of the show’s revenue last year went directly toward scholarships and junior auction awards, down from 17 percent in 2004.
It doesn’t look as if we are ever going to see Wayne Dolcefino follow up on that story about the Rodeo’s finances that KTRK-13 spiked last year. Some cows (pardon the pun) are sacred.
