Arkansas Community Foundation lost one of its most cherished donors in 2023, Dr. Ruth Marie Allen. However, her legacy lives on. Every step along her illustrious career she left a path of charity and endowments.
While a pioneer in biochemistry and instructional design and technology, Dr. Allen also served in the Peace Corps in Malaysia. She was an esteemed professor and practitioner at various universities across the United States and China. While she worked tirelessly to build her career, she also found a way to be of service to every community where she lived.
One of the many ways she made an impact was through establishing scholarships. At Michigan State, just one of her alma maters, she endowed several student and faculty scholarships. At the University of Arkansas’ Clinton School of Public Service, she contributed to their curriculum, and established the Dr. Ruth Allen Scholarship for students.
One of her greatest passions was orchestral music. A loyal volunteer for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, she endowed the Dr. Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series which still provides concerts at UAMS.
Beyond the brilliance of her career, Dr. Allen was also wise with her charitable giving. She used her Roth and traditional IRAs to create the Ruth Marie Allen Endowment for Wildwood Park. Because of her foresight and smart giving strategies and planning while alive, generous gifts were immediately made to Wildwood Park for the Arts when she passed.
Dr. Allen holds a special place in the Community Foundation’s heart. She was a regular volunteer for the Foundation’s annual Arkansas Gives campaign and gave generously to various funds. Our staff worked closely with her to make sure her charitable intentions would continue to be fulfilled long after she passed. It was our honor to work with her and we are so grateful that Dr. Allen trusted us. Through the power of endowment, her legacy—like our appreciation—will live on forever.