Named in honor of our founder’s trailblazing mother, the Mary Elizabeth Society is a group of supporters who are key to realizing The Holdsworth Center’s vision for a strong superintendent and principal at the helm of every district and school in Texas.
The new giving society includes educators, philanthropists, business leaders and public-school advocates who contribute $10,000 or more annually to Holdsworth’s mission.
“Education is the most noble profession because it makes all other professions possible,” said Dr. Nolan Perez, a South Texas gastroenterologist and society member. “I would not be a physician today if it were not for a teacher. I am proud to invest in the educators who serve our students by supporting the incredible work Holdsworth is doing.”
Who was Mary Elizabeth?
As a young woman in the 1920s, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Center Point, near Kerrville, Texas.
She believed education had the power to lift people from poverty and that America should provide a high-quality public education for all students regardless of background or geography.
Throughout her life, she worked tirelessly to promote opportunity for the underserved and alleviate suffering. Learn more about her trailblazing legacy here.
She passed her core beliefs on to her youngest son, Charles Butt, who went on to lead the family retail company, H-E-B. Inspired by his mother, Charles has directed much of his personal giving toward public education.
Mary Elizabeth’s legacy lives on today through Holdsworth’s deep reverence and respect for educators. Driven by a belief in people, Holdsworth invests in the teachers and leaders in the field doing the hard work to help students succeed.
As the story goes, one day Charles pulled a book from the shelf of his home library and found an inscription inside written by his mother.
He smiled when he saw what she wrote: “If you think business is hard, you should try being a teacher.”
Benefits and Members
Joining the Mary Elizabeth Society means being part of a statewide network of like-minded philanthropic leaders who are engaged in making a positive, long-term impact on public education.
It also leads to a deeper connection to Holdsworth and our work through invitations to special events, campus tours and more.
Members include:
- Susan and Stephen Butt
- Charlie and Stacy Clines
- Travis Danysh and Milly Wang-Danysh
- Dr. Robert and Becky Gates
- Wallace Jefferson and Renee Knake Jefferson
- Robert Kaplan
- Judith Lindquist
- Nolan and Sandra Perez
- Jim and Beverly Postl
- Regina Rogers
- Dr. Ruth Simmons
- Ann and Karl Stern
- Sam and Catherine Susser
- Memo and Tammy Treviño
- Suzanne and Richard Wade
If you are interested in learning more or in joining the Mary Elizabeth Society, please send an email to giving@holdsworthcenter.org.
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