
CLAY STRIBLING
President & CEO
President’s Letter
Moving forward
As we work to emerge from the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear the effects of this crisis are not just a memory. In 2021, we made great strides in working to transition from crisis management to addressing the specific needs of our community moving forward.
The strategic priorities for the Amarillo Area Foundation were temporarily paused as we addressed the unique challenges our community faced while dealing with COVID-19. These priorities included addressing the Health, Education, and Economic needs of our region. In returning to these priorities, we were able to more carefully identify the areas of greatest need and greatest opportunity.
In Health, it was clear that both before and after the pandemic, mental health was a significant challenge. The loss of life and health, the stress of dealing with interruptions to our lives, and the absence of a sense of “normal” took a toll on our friends and neighbors throughout the Panhandle. In addition, food insecurity has similarly been identified as a significant need throughout our region and one that we are working diligently with our partners to address.
The Foundation has always had a strong presence in education, and we will continue to work on postsecondary achievement through our scholarship programs and our Panhandle Community Partnership (formerly No Limits, No Excuses) initiative. In addition, our data show a significant need to address literacy in our early childhood population. To do so, we are seeking to address this challenge for young children and parents alike through a variety of creative initiatives.
As many entities are working to bring high-speed broadband into Texas Panhandle communities, we will look for partnerships that will bring additional tools needed to make these initiatives truly successful. This can include access to digital devices such as laptops, digital literacy training, and technical support. Finally, we are working to address the critical needs of families and employers in our region by working to create childcare solutions for our residents that will allow parents to return to the workforce with a childcare plan that is convenient and affordable. To accomplish this, we will need to work closely with regional employers to research their needs and resources as more and more employees look to re-enter the workforce.
As we focus on all of these critical areas, we will continue to support many of those constituents that have long looked to the foundation for critical support. We will support Arts and Culture initiatives through a generous program funded by The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation, and we will support nonprofits in crisis who need immediate assistance to continue their great work.
It is exciting to consider all the possibilities in our region as we move through 2022 and beyond. By focusing on these key challenges, we are confident that we can prepare our region for continued success and improve the quality of life for all our residents.
2021 Staff Members

As President & CEO of the Amarillo Area Foundation, Clay directs the organization in fulfilling the Foundation’s mission to improve quality of life for Texas Panhandle residents. Clay is originally from the Texas Panhandle and after just short of a decade in Dallas, found himself called to return. He moved back to the area in 2002 with his wife, Katherine, and son, Spencer.
CLAY STRIBLING
President & CEO

KERALEE CLAY
Senior Vice President

LARA ESCOBAR
Vice President of Community Investment

DAVID HURTT
Vice President of Finance

Melanie grew up in the Texas Panhandle and graduated from West Texas A&M University with her Bachelor of Music and Master of Business Administration degrees. It's been a joy for her to return to her roots and serve the people of the Texas Panhandle.
MELANIE SMOOT
Vice President of Development

KIMBERLY ANDERSON
No Limits, No Excuses
Program Officer

ROXANN BALL
NSC Program Officer

CONNIE BRADFORD
ACE / Thrive Coordinator

Beth rejoined the Foundation in January of 2018 as the Scholarship Program Assistant and became the Scholarship Program Officer in 2020. She enjoys being a small part of removing financial barriers which could hinder deserving students from pursuing higher education. Beth has lived in Amarillo her entire life and comes to work every day excited to be part of the mission of the Amarillo Area Foundation. In addition to her work at the Foundation, Beth is pursuing a degree in Education from West Texas A&M University.
BETH CAMERON
Scholarship Program Officer

She grew up in Clinton, Oklahoma, moving to Amarillo in the 6th grade. She attended Palo Duro High School but eventually moved and graduated in Oklahoma from Clinton High School. She moved back to Amarillo and married her high school sweetheart, and they have one son. While working on her associates degree, she had the opportunity to work for Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in the Donor Services Department where she was able to gain experience with children and how organizations regulate. She is proud to be a part of Amarillo Area Foundation’s mission and success in the community and looks forward to helping students prosper.
JADA CARR SIMS
Scholarship Program Assistant

Broc grew up in Canyon and has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from West Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the staff at AAF, Broc was the Director of Marketing, Communications, and Advocacy at the High Plains Food Bank and United Way of Amarillo and Canyon. Broc believes that a community cannot thrive until all parts of the community have the access and ability to thrive! He has two amazing daughters that keep him on his toes!
BROC CARTER
Director of Marketing

KATHIE GRANT
Grant Administrator

Sarah joined the Amarillo Area Foundation in September 2016. Prior to joining AAF, Sarah was busy full-time raising three wonderful children, serving within her church, the Junior League of Amarillo (JLA), and within various other civic and educational volunteer roles. Sarah has worked as a Communications Coordinator at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, as an accounting assistant for grants in the Controller’s Office at Rice University and assisted seven Computer Engineering Professors with grant submissions in the Electrical Engineering Department of Princeton University. Sarah also has grant writing experience through her JLA placement.
Sarah was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and attended the University of Texas at Austin where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Learning and Development for Elementary and Special Education. Sarah and her family moved to Amarillo in 2010 and has thoroughly enjoyed living and serving in the Texas Panhandle.
SARAH GRIFFIN
Grants Program Officer

KYLA HODGES
Donor Services Coordinator

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2016, Angie was the Executive Assistant to the CFO of Hastings Entertainment, Inc. until its untimely closure that same year. Angie also previously held positions in the Mortgage and Home Equity Lending Departments of Amarillo National Bank prior to becoming the assistant to the Executive Vice President of Operations at AIG Annuity.
After growing up on the East Coast, Angie moved to the Texas Panhandle in the late 1980s. She completed her secondary education at Tascosa High School prior to attending Amarillo College.
ANGIE KNIGHT
Executive Services Manager

Evans graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2017 with a Bachelors in Finance & Accounting, and a Masters in Professional Accounting in 2020.
Evans lived in Amarillo for four year, and one year in Dallas before returning to Amarillo in 2018. He and his wife have been blessed with one son.
EVANS LANGAT
Staff Accountant

AMY LOVELL
Director of Philanthropic Partnerships

Janet has lived in the Texas Panhandle all her life. Amarillo is her home town although she has deep family roots in Armstrong County where her family has farmed for 4 generations.
Janet graduated from Amarillo High School and received an associate degree from Amarillo College. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 25 years.
JANET LUMAN
Office Coordinator

Matt grew up in Amarillo, TX but left for 4 years to earn a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. Prior to joining the AAF team, Matt was the Director of Personnel for a bank equipment and security company. Since Matt began his career in non-profit work, he is excited to be back in that community.
MATT MORGAN
Grants Program Officer

Suzy is native to the Texas Panhandle, being reared in Dalhart. She attended Texas Christian University and Texas Tech University, graduating cum laude from Texas Tech in 1982. She taught accounting for several years at Dalhart High School, and after moving to west Texas, she found her niche in tax preparation and fund accounting. Suzy and her husband returned to the Panhandle in 2013 and have made Amarillo their permanent home.
SUZY MURRAY
Director of Accounting

Charlotte Rhodes hired Karen as her assistant in 2013 as Donors Services Administrative Assistant. Karen’s responsibilities include processing and acknowledging all contributions and providing administrative support for the development department. She especially enjoys the creative writing opportunities that her position often requires.
KAREN PHILLIPS
Director of Donor Services
Board of Directors
The Amarillo Area Foundation is the only community foundation serving Texas’ northernmost 26 counties. Since its inception in 1957 and into the future, the Foundation provides grants and services to strengthen nonprofit organizations and the services they deliver. The Foundation is enriching the Panhandle communities we call home as a result of partnerships between area philanthropists and social entrepreneurs. The Foundation is governed by a Board of private citizens dedicated to their leadership role on philanthropic, nonprofit, and community issues.
AAf Board of Directors
Amarillo Area Foundation Board of Directors
- Clay Stribling | President and CEO
- David Hurtt | Assistant Secretary
- Paul Clark | Chair
- Vanessa Buzzard | 1st Vice Chair
- David Prescott | 2nd Vice Chair
- Sharon White | Secretary
- Cheri De Jong | Treasurer
- Lewis Britt | Member at Large
- Nicki Crump | Member at Large
- Trent Sisemore | Member at Large
- William Ware | Member at Large
- Lori Henke | Immediate Past President
Board Directory
Roy Bara | Amarillo
Christy Bertolino | Canyon
Bill Britain | Amarillo
Lewis Britt | Amarillo
Helen Burton | Amarillo
Vanessa Buzzard | Pampa
Trevor Caviness | Amarillo
Paul Clark | Amarillo
Kathy Cornett | Amarillo
Nicki Crump | Amarillo
Michael Cruz | Amarillo
Cheri De Jong | Hartley
Lori Henke | Amarillo
Mike Hughes | Amarillo
Bowden Jones | Amarillo
Mark Keys | Childress
Pedro Limas | Amarillo
Charles Mestas | Amarillo
Jackie Pearson | Spearman
David Prescott | Amarillo
Stella Sauls | Borger
Trent Sisemore | Amarillo
William Ware | Amarillo
Sharon White | Amarillo
Suzanne Willis | Perryton
Harrington Foundation Board of directors
The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation Board of Directors
- Clay Stribling | President and CEO
- Lori Henke | Chair
- Paul Clark | Vice Chair
- Vanessa Buzzard | Secretary/Treasurer
- Roy Bara
- Mark Bivins
- Dyke Rogers
- Richard Ware II
HRMC Board of directors
The Harrington Regional Medical Campus Board of Directors
- Clay Stribling | President and CEO
- Bill Harris | Chair
- Steve Urban | Vice Chair
- J.B. Lane | Secretary/Treasurer
- Mary Bearden
- Judy Day
- Julie Mitchell
- Rod Schroder
- Carolyn Witherspoon
- Alfonso Zambrano