Page 11 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2017- Online Magazine

Lubbock's Hidden Treasure

I first met Kay Sanford just over 10 years ago while working with the Foundation 22 years ago as
working on the financial plan for the Overton Hotel an assistant to the Founding Executive Director,
with the City of Lubbock. I was introduced to The Nelda Thompson and her work there has been
CH Foundation and Kay by then City Councilman monumental. Since she has been there, the
Jim Gilbreath. Since then, I have been blessed to Foundation has made over $120 million in grants
have continued working with Kay on both the to public education, visual and performing arts,
completion and opening of the Overton Hotel and higher educational institutions, and workforce
most recently on design of the Buddy Holly Hall development to name just a few. The Foundation
of Performing Arts and Sciences where she sits began years ago in a garage office, and today shares
on the Board of the Lubbock Entertainment and a beautiful office near 82nd Street and Iola with The
Performing Arts Association (LEPAA). LEPAA is West Texas Community Foundation, a direct result
a non-profit corporation that will own the Buddy of Kay’s leadership and partnering ability for the
Holly Hall when completed. common good of the community.

There are many ways that I could describe Kay. Two very important causes that I am acutely
She is passionate, smart, competent, driven, aware of might never have happened if not for
charming, humble and the list goes on. But she Kay’s passion and the commitment of The CH
is also one of the kindest and friendliest people I Foundation. I am referring to the Overton Hotel,
have ever met. Kay loves Lubbock and has worked a successful public/private partnership between
throughout her career to make Lubbock a better the City of Lubbock and 1859 Historic Hotels (the
place to live, work and play. During our working owner of the hotel), and the Buddy Holly Hall of
relationship, Kay has continually amazed me with Performing Arts and Sciences. The Foundation
her ability to clearly see and focus on important made a $6 million grant to the City of Lubbock
issues, articulate her position on these issues, and to help pay the construction cost of the ballroom
persuade most of those around her that she is right! and meeting space attached to the Overton Hotel.
And she usually does it in a way that you want to These spaces are owned by the City of Lubbock.
give her a hug at the end. That does not however The CH Foundation and The Helen Jones
mean she isn’t capable of putting fear in your eyes Foundation provided seed money for the initial
if the situation warrants it. Kay has a drive to get market study and design work on Buddy Holly
things done and knows how to deliver. Hall, a $150 million multi-use performing arts
center that broke ground on April 20th. It took
Kay Sanford is President, Grants Administrator, almost 6 years to get to this point and it all started
and Trustee for The CH Foundation. She began with a phone call from Kay to my office at Garfield

Lubbock Senior Link 11