Ronald Reagan Library Receives $21 Million Gift from T. Boone Pickens Foundation

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute has received a generous and exciting gift of $21 million from the T. Boone Pickens Foundation.

This donation cements a bond between the two organizations, based on friendship, patriotism, and faith in the American people.

David Trulio, the president and CEO of the Reagan Foundation, expressed his gratitude for the extraordinary generosity shown by Mr. Pickens.

Over the years, Mr. Pickens has supported not only the Reagan Foundation but also numerous other institutions.

Both organizations believe that this gift will help preserve the values and policies that made President Reagan one of the most popular politicians in American history.

Jay Rosser, the director of the T. Boone Pickens Foundation, highlighted President Reagan's ability to relate to everyone, which greatly admired Mr. Pickens.

While their politics may not have always aligned, Mr. Pickens appreciated President Reagan's passion and commitment to the United States.

According to Rosser, this donation marks the final charitable gift from the foundation.

The $21 million gift represents a nearly 10% boost to the Reagan Foundation's $246 million endowment.

Additionally, it builds upon a $10 million gift previously given by Pickens, which funded the Air Force One Pavilion.

The Air Force One Pavilion, located at the Reagan Presidential Library, will serve as the venue for the upcoming Fox Business Republican primary debate on September 27, 2023.

President Reagan's transformational presidency, from 1981 to 1989, saw many achievements, including the re-emergence of America's economy and defeating communism in the Cold War.

His exceptional communication skills, combined with his unwavering belief in American ideals, earned him the nickname 'the Great Communicator.'

T. Boone Pickens, the founder of Mesa Petroleum, was a prominent figure during the Reagan era, witnessing the economic boom of the 1980s.

He became known for his daring acquisitions and advocacy for alternative energy sources.

In addition to his business success, Pickens was also a generous philanthropist.

He established the T. Boone Pickens Foundation in 2006 and has donated over $1.1 billion to various causes and institutions.

The $21 million gift from the T. Boone Pickens Foundation will be utilized to promote President Reagan's enduring legacy and the values he championed throughout his life.

These values encompass individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride.

The Reagan Foundation actively promotes these values through initiatives such as the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship, which provides college assistance to high school seniors.

The foundation also runs the popular Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, which hosts educational programs and events, attracting nearly 400,000 visitors annually.

David Trulio affirmed the foundation's commitment to defending democracy and self-determination, as evidenced by their recent hosting of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

The $21 million gift represents both T. Boone Pickens and President Reagan's shared faith in the American people and the future of the nation.

Their belief in the goodness of humanity and the triumph of what is right continues to inspire the work of the Reagan Foundation.