FACES OF THE FOUNDATION

UNT Foundation board member Ken Newman is CEO and co-founder of the highly successful Horizon Health Corporation, a publicly traded health services company based in Lewisville, Texas. Horizon has been listed the last two years among Forbes’ “200 Best Small Companies.”

A 1966 Business graduate who played on the UNT golf team, Newman is recognized for his many years of service to the University of North Texas. He received the Green Glory Award in 1986, President’s Citation in 1994, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1997.

He served as the first chair of the Foundation’s Investment Committee.

Another graduation day has passed for former students who will be making a life for themselves outside the University of North Texas. Their futures are bright as they move on with a sense of accomplishment that only a degree can give. It reminds us all of why we work so hard to make our university the best it can be and why we give so generously.

Each of our gifts, large or small, has contributed to the quality of education UNT has provided to students over the years. It is inconceivable to imagine what UNT would be like without the many donors who placed their trust in the Foundation Board of Directors to grow the endowment and provide for scholarships, professorships and research.

We invite all faculty, staff, alumni, donors and friends to join with us to add to the endowment and to participate in fundraising events, such as the recent Book and Author Luncheon, that benefit the university.

As stewards of the endowment, the Foundation Board remains focused on its overall goal to make sound investment decisions that insure longterm growth and also have the greatest potential for creating money for distribution. Half of this equation cannot be sacrificed when short-term problems arise. All of us have had varying experiences with down markets and up markets, but the fact remains that the Foundation endowment’s rate of return has averaged 15-16 percent overall. The endowment has grown from $1.5 million to almost $50 million. We must remain proactive and stay that long-term course; otherwise, we react in a knee-jerk fashion that could cause greater losses over time. The endowment has grown in the past and we are confident that it will continue to grow.

Though our long-term record is excellent, the investment committee exercises ongoing diligence, as well as patience, to monitor and adjust the funds to meet our investment goals. In addition to the committee’s collective expertise, we partner with outside specialists, including the Institutional Consulting Group at RBC Dain Rauscher, meeting at least quarterly to assess the portfolio’s performance.

The process is dynamic, not static. After analyzing the performance of the various funds, we evaluate the fund itself, such as examining changes in key management. We can adjust the asset allocations of a particular fund if it is not on target. For example, the allocation to fixed income in the Growth and Income Fund can move from its present level of about 30 percent bonds to as much as 50 percent bonds.

While we cannot lead the market, the UNT Foundation Board will continue to position the endowment funds to make the best of tumultuous times. We are committed to growing the endowment for the benefit of all. Please join us in helping it to grow.

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Website updated: June 8, 2004. Website comments or corrections: rsimmans@unt.edu