Leadership Givers generously support our community by making an annual gift of $500 or more to United Way of the Mid-South. With these donations, United Way is able to have a greater, more positive impact on our community's concerns.
The Tocqueville Society
"When an American asks for the cooperation of his fellow citizens, it is seldom refused; and I have seen it afforded spontaneously and with great good will."
- Alexis de Tocqueville
Celebrating Tocqueville Society's 25th Anniversary
In 1984-85, seventeen local philanthropists banded together to support United Way of the Mid-South at the highest levels of giving to create the Tocqueville Society to support United Way of the Mid-South. Each member contributed $10,000 or more to impact the challenges facing the region. Twenty-five years have passed, and the Tocqueville Society now has over 240 members who contributed nearly $4 million in 2009. We salute the men and women who have joined the Society over the years. Their amazing demonstrations of support have helped improve education, income and health for countless thousands of people across the Mid-South.
The original seventeen members of the Tocqueville Society:
| Jack A. Belz | Saul Kopol |
| Charles B. Brakefield | Ira A. Lipman (founder) |
| Dr. Steven Charles | Max Ostner |
| William B. Dunavant | The Plough Foundation |
| Avron Fogelman | James H. Prentiss Foundation |
| The Goldsmith Foundation | Rudi E. Scheidt |
| Julien J. Hohenberg | Frederick W. Smith |
| J.R. Hyde III | Willard Sparks |
| Margaret Hyde | |
This philanthropic organization recognizes outstanding contributions by individuals whose generosity and dedication is motivated by the desire to improve the quality of life for all citizens in our community.
Each year, the Tocqueville Society honors an individual who displays the highest levels of committment to serving our community. Past recipients of this prestigious Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award include the following community leaders:
| Jack Belz
Ronald A. Belz
George W. Bryan
Bob Cannon
Dave Ferraro
J.R. "Pitt" Hyde III
Dr. E. Charles Leonard | | Ira Lipman
Herman Morris, Jr.
Max Ostner, Sr.
Carol and Jim Prentiss
Rudi Scheidt
Gary Shorb
Frederick W. Smith |
If you are interested in joining the Tocqueville Society of caring philanthropists, please contact Brenda Gaines-Ollie, Vice President of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, at
(901) 433-4351 or e-mail brenda.gaines-ollie@uwmidsouth.org
(Information as of January, 2010)
View a list of Tocqueville Society members.
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