1951
- The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation was established under the leadership of LE Moyer.
1957
- The Foundation was formed and granted Charter of Incorporation by the State of Texas.
1959
- Northwest Texas Hospital improvements funded by Amarillo Area Foundation.
1960
- 300 acres of land acquired through cooperative efforts of Potter County, the Amarillo Hospital District, landowners and private parties to build the Medical Center.
1962
- Agreement with Baptist General Convention for construction/operation of High Plains Baptist Hospital.
- Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation and construction of Palo Duro Canyon Amphitheatre.
1965
- First dirt moved on 350 acre Medical Center site.
1971
- First Scholarship Fund established by Mrs. A.A Bush.
- Scholarships at the 50 year:
Originally = 17 funds with $42350 given.
1990 = 57 funds with over $500k given.
2007 = 92 funds with $306364.
1977
- Jim Matthews hired as first salaried executive director for Amarillo Area Foundation.
1976
- $2M bequest from the Don Harrington estate to operate the Foundation with professional staff.
1979
- The Foundation became a membership organization.
- Groundbreaking of Harrington Cancer Center.
1978
- Grants of land and funds to Amarillo Speech and Hearing Center and Children’s Rehabilitation Center for facilities at the Medical Center. Land given for Harrington Cancer Center. Also Carol Emeny donated 5 acres and sold 10 acres that is now TT Medical and Pharm School.
1982
- Nonprofit Service Center opens with grant from the Meadows Foundation.
- New Northwest Texas Hospital opens in Medical Center.
1988
- The Don & Sybil Harrington Foundation and it’s $68 million in assets changed from a private foundation to public supporting organization of the Amarillo Area Foundation, of which 15% was unrestricted, enabling AAF to start many new initiatives.
- Jim Allison hired as president and CEO.
1984
- Gift of $1,000,000 from Lawrence Hagy.
- Creation of Amarillo Medical Center, Inc. by Amarillo Area Foundation.
1989
- The Foundation deeded land for continued development of the medical center and a new entity was established and renamed Harrington Regional Medical Center, Inc.
1990
- Became major grantmaker Facilitated development of Texas Tech School of Pharmacy and expansion of Texas Tech School of Medicine.
1993
- Initiated the Children’s Fund to help meet the special needs of many children in the area.
1994
- Initiated an innovative program called ACE, Achievement Through Commitment to Education at Palo Duro High School.
- Provided $12,405,925 gift for development of Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy.
1996
- 79107 Program for at risk children and youth begins.
- Development of Tyler Street Resource Center.
- Major Fund gifts: Amarillo EDC – $5.8 million, City of Amarillo – $5.8 million, Amarillo Hospital District – $4.2 million.
1998
- Gift of $4.4 million from Pete and Wanda Gilvin.
- First ACE class graduated with 129 receiving an ACE scholarship.
- Partnership with Metropolitan Opera.
2002
- Gift of $4.1 million from Katherine “Kitty” Brady.
- Promotes partnership with University of Texas Harrington Fellows.
2000
- Expanded ACE Scholarship Program to Caprock High School.
- Began $1 million education campaign for teen pregnancy.
2005
Began partnership with High Plains Food Bank for Kids Cafe.
2006
- Gift of $3.6 million from R. C. and Betty Fay Neely.
- Raised and distributed over $680,000 for Panhandle Wildfire Relief.
2007
- 50 year celebration.
- Neely Conference Center opens.
- Area Community Funds established.
- Legacy Funds established.
- Gave $2 million in Community Fund Matching Grants.
2009
- Ace expansion to Tascosa High School.
2011
- The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation provided $277,000 to start the Benefit Bank as part of the Partners for Postsecondary Success Initiative.
- Clay Stribling hired as CEO/President.
2010
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. NLNE $100k in grants funds received to create community partnership and plan.
- Louise Bowers Slentz Foundation Fund established.
2012
- AAF partners with Texas Parks & Wildlife and Mac Dick to build the “Mack Dick Group Pavilion” in Palo Duro Canyon.
2013
- Community Development Philanthropy (CDP) project established to help promote endowment building to communities that already held funds at the Foundation. The following funds “graduated” to CDP Affiliate Funds: Donley County Community Fund, Future of Nazareth Affiliate Fund, Oldham County Affiliate Fund, Spearman Community Fund, Swisher County Affiliate Fund, Wellington Community Fund.
2014
- 20 years of ACE and “ACE” Giving Day.
- The Citadelle became a Supporting Organization.
2016
- AAF launches new grant-making program for organizations requesting between $2,500 and $20,000 with an abbreviated application to help meet some of the capacity building and general operating needs of the local nonprofit community.
- CNS Pantex launches an employee-directed, competitive grant program through a component fund at the Amarillo Area Foundation.
2015
- Amarillo Area Foundation receives assets from HRMC and forms a new entity (AAF Community Health Foundation) that functions as a supporting organization of the Foundation.
- Pattern Panhandle Wind establishes the Panhandle Wind Civic Fund and Education Fund to benefit residents in Carson county by competitive grants.
2017
- In an unprecedented move, the Amarillo Area Foundation partnered with the City of Amarillo in a strategic effort to bring about the Charles E. Warford Activity Center by endowing a grant of $250,000.
