Philanthropy

Dale Wamstad and his wife, Colleen Keating-Wamstad, have taught their children valuable life lessons. One of the most important lessons that they, as parents, have instilled in their daughters, Dale and Shelby Rose, and son, Dane, is that true happiness and fulfillment in their lives comes from three places: the satisfaction of working hard and reaping the fruits of labor, the love and joy of time spent with family, and selflessly helping others by giving in whatever way you can (whether financially or through devotion of time) to those who are less fortunate. Dale and Colleen understand the importance of leading by example, and have made a conscious effort to lead their lives in a way that models the virtues that they hope their children will emulate and carry on in theirs.

The couple knew that they had to find a way to do more good for those in need. Dale and Colleen felt their family had a calling, and that calling was clear.

In 1999 Dale and Colleen established the Wamstad-Keating Charitable Foundation to be more actively involved with and supportive of the many charities and organizations for which the Wamstads feel most passionate. St. Michael’s Special School in New Orleans, Louisiana has a special place in their hearts. From the time it was founded in 1965, St. Michael’s has been dedicated to educating and enriching the souls of students with major developmental disabilities, catering to their needs in ways conventional schools never could. St. Michael’s provides elementary education to children ages six through sixteen and vocational training for ages 16 to 21. In addition to academics, St. Michael’s gives the children the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities like sports, holiday pageants, field trips, and summer camp. Servicing St. Michael’s graduates over 21, the “J.O.Y.” (Jobs of Youth) program provides a sheltered work environment, where former students can create and sell goods such as seasonal decorations, jewelry, and balloon bouquets. J.O.Y. reinforces the life-lessons learned at St. Michael’s so they may thrive both as young adults and throughout their lives.

In 2001 the Wamstad-Keating Charitable Foundation gave a grant to St. Michael’s Special School in honor of the late Warren LeRuth, a renowned chef and dear friend. By chance, in 2010 while on a visit to St. Michael’s, Dale and Colleen were surprised and honored to see The Wamstad-Keating Charitable Foundation named on a beautiful plaque, proudly mounted on the wall of the school; it had, unbeknownst to them, hung on that wall for years.

The Wamstad-Keating Charitable Foundation also proudly supports The Culinary Arts Institute in Hyde Park, New York and recently gave a scholarship in honor of the late renowned restauranteur, Norman Brinker.

Dale and Colleen were the 2001 Gala Chairs for The Yellow Rose Gala, a fundraiser for the MS Foundation. The Yellow Rose Gala raises over a million dollars at each annual event for multiple sclerosis research at IT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, in hopes that someday a cure will be found  for the debilitating neurological disease. The year the Wamstads were chairs, the net proceeds of the evening were generously matched 100%, dollar-for-dollar, by an anonymous donor.  In a world that seems to have become more selfish and apathetic towards others, the enduring generous spirit of many Texans at this yearly event may help researchers take a pivotal step closer to finding a cure. The Yellow Rose Gala will continue until they do.

The Independent Retail Cattleman’s Association, founded by Dale in 1994, believes in the importance of giving back to the community; it does so through educational grants contributed by each of their members. An advisory board made up of distinguished Americans including Larry King from CNN Live, the former Attorney General of the United States, the Honorable Edwin Meese III, and MESA Petroleum’s Chairman of the Board, T. Boone Pickens, selected a college or university and established a scholarship in the MBA program, agriculture program, or  animal husbandry program. Through this annual effort, The Independent Retail Cattleman’s Association helps ensure that the next generation will carry on the principles that help this country maintain excellence in our small-business industry, and provides a deserving student with the priceless opportunity to continue their education. Some of the universities that were awarded the scholarship were Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University, and George Washington University.

In 1994 Dale, with the urging of Dick Lanahan, founded the Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Golf Classic.  The two-day event, comprised of a live auction and dinner at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, is held annually to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  The foundation is a donor-supported nonprofit with a mission to increase support for researchers in the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis, and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.  In a great show of class, the new owners of  Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse have carried on the tradition and The Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Golf Classic has raised over $3.5 million in donations to date, and has become the number-one golf tournament fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.