Taylor Foundation Makes $25K Gift to JLC

The Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation, Inc., has made a $25,000 gift to support the Jones Learning Center at University of the Ozarks.

The one-time grant will be used for program services in the JLC.

Established on the U of O campus in 1971, the JLC offers a comprehensive program designed to offer academic support to students who are intellectually capable of obtaining a college degree, but who also need support to accommodate for learning challenges caused by specific learning disabilities, AD/HD, or ASD.

The Taylor Foundation was established by the late Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor of Little Rock, and has a long-standing tradition of supporting education, healthcare, humanitarian efforts, arts, and community resilience. The Taylors believed strongly in supporting students who possess a sincere determination to succeed in their chosen fields.

"We are sincerely grateful to the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation for this generous investment in the Jones Learning Center," said Dody Pelts, vice president for student success. "This gift directly supports students who benefit from the individualized services of the JLC and reflects the Taylors' enduring commitment to education and opportunity. We are thankful to the Taylor Foundation for its confidence in Ozarks and its commitment to student success."

Charles Minor Taylor II was a highly decorated B-17 pilot during World War II and later became a prominent businessman working in real estate and insurance in Little Rock. He met his wife, Joan Richards Taylor, while stationed in England. Joan was a native of Great Britain and was a top model and actress in several British films. Paramount Studios brought her to the United States, but before she could make it to Hollywood, Charles brought her to Arkansas for a visit. The couple married in 1946.

During their lives, the Taylors took active roles in business and civic affairs in Little Rock and elsewhere. They were loved and respected members of the Little Rock community for many years before their deaths in 1996.

Topics: Giving, JLC