The Watkins family of Salt Lake City, Utah donated toys to the children of married BYU-Hawaii students during a luncheon on Monday, August 2.
The presentation was made by the grandchildren of the Watkins family. Each of them was allowed to pick out toys for the children of TVA and personally give them to the university.
The gifts were received by Paul Buckingham, director of counseling services, and Leilani Auna, a counselor for married students and the coordinator of services for students with special needs.
"On behalf of the married students of BYU-Hawaii, mahalo nui loa and thank you very much for your generosity," Auna said with tears in her eyes. "I'm sure the children will be very excited to have your gifts."
Auna and others will distribute the toys personally to the families of TVA.
The gift for TVA children, however, was not the only purpose for the Watkins visit to BYU-Hawaii. They also came to consider BYUH as a potential recipient of charitable donations.
Their visit to Hawaii was initiated and organized by Elizabeth Gerner, daughter of Mack and Julie Watkins and wife to Glenn Gerner, 1986 alumnus of BYUH. Elizabeth Gerner is the executive secretary of the Simmons Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by the family of Roy W. Simmons, chairman of Zions Bancorporation and Gerner's grandfather. Heber Lloyd, a donor liaison for the LDS Foundation, works with Gerner and recommended BYUH to her as a prospective beneficiary of the Simmons Foundation - so Gerner came to investigate.
BYUH has also incurred the interest of the Watkins themselves, the family having independently donated to charities and foundations in the past. They are now considering BYUH as a potential recipient of family funds, so the all came to visit.
The Watkins were special guests at a luncheon at which the gift of toys for the children of TVA was presented. "Uncle Bill" Wallace, director of the Hawaiian Studies program, greeted the Watkins with a traditional Hawaiian chant, and he had the grandchildren participate by doing the pa'i pa'i lima or clap at the end.
Vice president of University Advancement Napua Baker shared a stirring testimony of the vision and mission of BYU-Hawaii. Several students, most of which work as interns with Auna in counseling services, also addressed the Watkins family, expressing their heart-felt gratitude for the donations that made their education possible.
"You guys have no idea how much you help make people," said Maria Revilla from Bolivia. "It's not only money that you give, but you also help people to make dreams come true."
"When [my husband] finishes his education, we want to go back to Korea," said Su-jin Kim from South Korea. "We really hope we can serve our family, the Church and our country in Korea."
The Watkins family was very touched by the warm welcome they received, the spirit of the university and the testimonies of the students.
"We're very impressed and know that the Lord's hand is over this university and with all of you," said Julie Watkins, mother and grandmother of the Watkins family. "We'll remember this day forever."
"The thing I like about you students is that you're willing to go back to your countries and help someone else," said Mack Watkins, Julie's husband and head of the Watkins family. "The Lord has been very good to us, and if we can somehow help someone along the way, then the purpose of life is accomplished. We hope that in our small way we can contribute to your success."
"Hopefully it will lead up to even more for the university," Auna commented after the event.