Posted on 04/21/2004 3:54:53 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
On a day reserved for honoring Alamo defenders, a group of noteworthy Texans today launched a college fund to honor some of the state's more recent heroes.
Using the Alamo as a backdrop, the leaders announced the creation of the Travis Fund, which will be used to help pay college costs for the children of Texas military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The announcement came on San Jacinto Day, which celebrates a decisive battle in Texas' fight for independence.
"We're here to honor a new set of heroes — those who died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and unfortunately, those who may die in the future," said former Texas Comptroller John Sharp, one of four founders of the fund.
Joining him were the other founders, Tom Frost, chairman of Frost National Bank; former Gov. Dolph Briscoe; and retired Gen. Pete Taylor, who was commander at Fort Hood.
The fund was named for William Barrett Travis, who left behind two young children when he died in the battle of the Alamo. The Austin Community Foundation is overseeing the fund.
Sharp said fund organizers plan to solicit private donations and hold fund-raisers such as benefit concerts to raise money for the fund. Currently, the fund has a value of about $50,000. No goal has been set, but Sharp said he hoped to raise at least $1 million so that meaningful college assistance could be given to eligible children.
Taylor estimated there are about 50 Texan children who have a lost a parent in one of the two military campaigns.
"We will do everything in our power to raise as much money as we can to help these children who have suffered and will continue to suffer," said Briscoe, who has given $25,000 to help establish the fund.
"This is a Texan way of saying our thanks and showing our appreciation for the protection of our liberty, our way of life," Briscoe added.
Donations can be made online at www.travisfund.org/, or by mail to the Travis Fund, c/o Austin Community Foundation, PO Box 5159, Austin, TX 78763. For more information on donating, call (512) 472-4483.
-------------------mflores@express-news.net
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