Balance and Opportunity

Beverly and Dan ’47 Arnold spent a lifetime enriching the lives of their family and the Houston community with their time and resources. The Kinkaid School is fortunate to have had an enduring relationship with the Arnolds for decades.

Their son, Steven Arnold ’79, says, “Academic excellence aside, Dad always valued Kinkaid’s approach and offering of sports and other extracurricular opportunities that forged special relationships. Balance and opportunity—attributes he always emphasized.”

They generously supported every major Kinkaid campaign and made plans in their estate to leave a lasting legacy by creating an endowment to fund the highest priorities of the School. Their gift was made through a trust they established years ago to support the institutions they most cherished. “Our parents believed in supporting primarily health care and education,” Steven says. “The Kinkaid philanthropy was enhanced by Dad’s special relationship with and respect for Tom Moore, which started when he chaired the Baylor College of Medicine Board where Tom worked in development.”

Kinkaid Director of Advancement Tom Moore shared, “I am forever grateful to Mr. Arnold because he encouraged Head of School Don North to visit with me in 2001 when an opening existed for the lead Advancement position. I enjoyed a close relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and today with their families and greatly admired their dedication to the betterment of our Houston community and Kinkaid.”

Kinkaid remained special to them through the years. “Beginning with John Cooper through the graduation of their youngest grandchild in 2015, Dad and Mom made great efforts to develop meaningful relationships with all Heads of School,” Steven says. “Our parents loved the openness and accessibility afforded to parents and grandparents. It translated into a beneficial exchange for both families and faculty—communication that helped shape the unique education experience offered by Kinkaid.”

Mr. North added, “Dan and Beverly Arnold were great friends of Kinkaid and so very gracious and welcoming to my wife Mary and me. They were always interested, always engaged, and always supportive in so many ways.”

Their close family remains the Arnold’s most cherished accomplishment. In addition to Steven, the family includes daughters Alice Helms and Susan Martin and grandchildren David Arnold ’11, Georgia Arnold ’15, Jeanie Arnold ’09, Becky Helms, Chuck Helms ’04, Daniel Martin (fs) ’04, and Weldon Martin. Steven feels their greatest legacy, which continues to serve as a great example, is “their intentional support of institutions that have served as foundational blocks for our family and for Houston.” These include The Kinkaid School, Episcopal High School, Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Kinkaid couldn’t agree more or be more grateful. The legacy of the Arnolds’ generosity will be felt for generations.

You, too, can support Kinkaid’s future educational excellence and high-quality facilities with a gift in your estate plan. To discuss the options that best meet your needs, contact Lisa Wood at (713) 243-5023 or lisa.wood@kinkaid.org.