CAMPAIGN UPDATE: A Gift from the Heart and Soul
by Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB
The warmest human feeling comes from knowing that a gift received comes completely from the heart. The greatest spiritual feeling comes when you realize that the gift was an act of love for God and those who serve him.
A blessing in the truest sense of the word was received recently through a gift for Continuing the Tradition…A Campaign for Subiaco. Don and Karen Yandell of Cleburne, TX, began considering the gifts many weeks ago. After much prayer, thought and analysis of the effect the gift would have on the ministries at Subiaco, they decided to allow their overwhelming "love for the monks and all that they do" be their guide in making the decision. That decision amounted to a gift of $1 million.
The connection that the Yandells have with Subiaco spans many generations. Don was a student at Subiaco Academy from 1954-1957. He has many family roots in this area including his ties to the Minden family from the areas of Subiaco, Paris, Charleston, and Fort Smith. Don's grandfather had operated a lumber company in Subiaco in the early 1900s. Three of his uncles graduated from Subiaco Academy. Mrs. Yandell was raised in Colorado and moved to Texas where she met Don.
Don recalls that in the Minden family, it was tradition for one of the young men to join the priesthood. He noted that although he did not choose that particular vocation, he feels he and Karen have developed a relationship to the monks, their Benedictine values, and their mission.
Sometime in the early 2000s, Don visited Subiaco when Camp Subiaco was in session. He recalled that Academy alumnus Leslie Harter, from the class of 1955, was on campus and running the Trojan Shop. He and Les conversed about the ways that alumni could support Subiaco and Les expressed that he enjoyed giving back to Subiaco through his time, talent and treasure. Don was inspired by that meeting and soon became more involved himself.
"One very meaningful book, A Place Called Subiaco, gave us a great understanding of the works of the Benedictine monks at Subiaco. I found myself going back in time relating to my grandparents arriving from Illinois to Arkansas," Don said. "The monks and St. Benedict helped us develop a greater love for Subiaco. After rereading the life of St. Benedict, I realized many lay people helped St. Benedict further his communities. His works and the works of people around him made us decide that we could help the Subiaco community grow and prosper."
Don noted that their sacrifice is minimal to that of the monks. He and Karen find peace in the fact that they both love the monks and that their gift will help all prosper together. They hope that this gift of prayer and sacrifice will encourage others to join in furthering the mission of Subiaco.
Don's service as a board member of the Subiaco Foundation began in 2012 and continues today. "We are hooked!" they explain. "We know the good things that are happening at Subiaco and we are so blessed to be a part of it." How blessed Subiaco is to have such wonderful friends and co-workers in our mission!