Salt Lake City, Utah—May 21, 2010—Recipients of scholarships to BYU Hawaii and the students of Valley Crest Elementary School will be the first beneficiaries of funds raised by the newly organized public charity, The Glen L. Rudd Foundation, which held its kick-off dinner Friday night, May 21st in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. More than 100 family members and friends of Elder Rudd, a former General Authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gathered to begin a new “Legacy of Charity” inspired by his life of service. They also celebrated Elder Rudd’s 92nd birthday. He is best remembered for helping to build the Welfare Program of the Church under the direction of President Harold B. Lee.
Attendees were introduced to the experts who have helped in the formation of the Foundation: the law firm of Kirton & McConkie, the CPA firm of Lake, Hill & Myers, Zions Bank, marketing group Jibe Media, LLC, Mark Nelson Productions and others. The Foundation’s logo and seal were unveiled. A DVD focusing on Elder Rudd’s life and “Legacy of Charity” was shown. Charles Rudd, President, introduced the Foundation’s guiding purposes: 1) Preserve Elder Rudd’s legacy, 2) Provide service and 3) Promote charity. Additional Foundation events for the year—a 5K run and a golf tournament—were announced.
Elder Rudd was the concluding speaker. He encouraged Foundation participation by recalling that Matthew Cowley, a former member of The Quorum of the Twelve, taught him how to recognize great opportunity in small things. “I think that some people go through life with their eyes closed. Great things happen and they don’t pay any attention to them. I see great things every day,” Elder Rudd said. “Your contribution doesn’t have to be a monumental thing. It could be small and simple.”
Vice President & Treasurer, David Rudd said, “We are overwhelmed with the positive response to the formation of this Foundation. The family has rallied around and involvement of Dad’s many friends has been excellent. The generous gifts already contributed will allow us to immediately establish several scholarships for Polynesian youth to attend BYU-Hawaii and provide many supplies and educational tools to Valley Crest Elementary School. We express our deepest appreciation to all who have already supported the Foundation and who will do so in the future!”
About the Glen L. Rudd Foundation
The Glen L. Rudd Foundation is a public charity organized and directed by his children. Its guiding purposes are to 1) Preserve his legacy, 2) Provide service and 3) Promote charity. The Rudd family desires to honor their father by carrying on his legacy of service, by reaching out to people who have been or could be influenced by Elder Rudd and by giving all an opportunity to serve and donate funds for worthy causes dear to him. You can learn more about how to contribute to or give service through The Glen L. Rudd Foundation by logging on to www.glenlrudd.org or by emailing a member of the Foundation’s Board, Charles Charlie@glenlrudd.org, President, David Dave@glenlrudd.org, Vice President/Treasurer, or Susan Susan@glenlrudd.org, Secretary.