OSU alum supports United Way with game tickets

Friday, October 3, 2014

Oklahoma State University students and alumni have reputations for outstanding community service and Bill Stanley is determined to keep it that way. The 1976 graduate has been giving back to the community and donating to United Way since he was a college student.

“One way or another, I’ve always donated to United Way wherever I was,” Stanley said.

It all started during his freshman year of college at Western Illinois, before he transferred to OSU, when Stanley served as a big brother at Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

That desire to serve the community only grew stronger when he made the move to OSU. “Transferring to OSU was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Stanley said. “I really got involved with Payne County Youth Services first. I happened to be out riding my bicycle and road past it, so I got home and made a call to find out what they did. I first helped them when they were trying to raise money to buy a van, and I have been involved ever since.”

Now, Stanley serves the Stillwater Area United Way by donating tickets to athletic events. “I figured if I gave the tickets to United Way, they could better identify local individuals who really needed the boost that tickets can sometimes offer,” Stanley said.

When Stanley’s job brought him back to the area, he wanted to attend games, but obligations at his church and at work made it almost impossible. That’s when he got the idea to give the tickets away.

“I look forward to going through my tickets and seeing which ones I can share with United Way because I know it will put a big smile on someone’s face,” Stanley said.

Stillwater Group Homes, Mpower Inc., Payne County Youth Services and Big Brothers and Big sisters have all used the tickets Stanley donated. 

Sheri Carter, the Stillwater Area United Way executive director, said Stanley has been donating football and basketball tickets for years.

“He is the perfect example of ‘being the change’ in the Stillwater community,” said Carter. “I can’t tell you how excited they are to get to go to the games. For many of them, it’s their first time to get to go to an OSU game.”

Stanley, originally from Arkansas City, Kansas, has lived in Australia and London and traveled around the world for his job. He also taught accounting at OSU from 2003 to 2006. Currently, Stanley is a general tax counsel for Chevron Phillips Chemical in Houston, Texas

With the help of OSU, the Stillwater Area United Way supports 24 helping agencies in all of Payne County. Last year, 77,000 people were served by donations to United Way. The goal this year is to raise $900,000. For information on how to donate or how to get involved, please visit unitedway.okstate.edu or www.stillwaterunitedway.org.

Story by Susan Occhipinti