Stories of giving often have many layers, building upon one another to highlight God’s amazing grace. In this case, it’s the story of how the Foundation brought a high-profile charitable institution and a Southwestern University student together to continue the good work others began many years ago.

The student, Seth Allen, a member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, did some remarkable work during the time he served as an intern for The Salvation Army of Austin. Making the most of his newfound gift for development work, Allen assisted consultants in researching and gathering information to develop nearly 20 grant proposals in nine months.

One of those proposals resulted in a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to construct a $4.2 million 59-unit facility for the elderly and physically challenged in Austin. Suddenly, Allen’s efforts became a decisive event in a long line of work on behalf of those whom society easily forgets.

“We were able to take the generous grant from the Foundation that made Seth’s position possible and leverage it many times over through his efforts,” said The Salvation Army’s Financial Development Director Walter Laich.

Allen’s time spent with the Army gave him an opportunity to help others he was seeking through an internship and introduced him to the possibility of a career in non-profit development work. “The whole experience gave me a real sense of personal and professional accomplishment. I’m grateful that they put so much faith and trust in me.”

Long before the creative collaboration that brought Allen and the Army together, Methodist clergyman William Booth and his wife, Catherine, used their gifts to help the homeless and hungry in 19th century England by founding The Salvation Army, thus establishing a legacy of grace and caring.   

More than 100 years later, Francis Gillum Creech shared her own gifts to establish the Gillum Family Fund specifying a number of agencies who held special meaning to her and her family as possible grant recipients, including The Salvation Army. Through the grant that funded this outstanding internship program, her generosity continues to touch lives.

“What better way to honor Frances Creech as the farsighted donor she was than to witness an achievement like this?” asked Candy Gross, Texas Methodist Foundation’s vice president of grants and board administration. “We wanted to make a difference in the life of a Southwestern University student, and partner with The Salvation Army to further their mission,” continued Gross.  “The grant Seth wrote was one of those wonderful, unexpected gifts – kind of like amazing grace, isn’t it?”

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