Tudor honored as United Way’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’

Rice Board of Trustees Chair Bobby Tudor ’82 was named “Volunteer of the Year” by United Way of Greater Houston.

He received the Robert W. Kneebone Volunteer of the Year Award at the United Way’s annual meeting April 29. This award is the highest honor given to a United Way volunteer in recognition of extraordinary leadership and commitment to community service.

Bobby Tudor

Tudor began his volunteer involvement with the United Way of Greater Houston in 2006, when he was elected to the organization’s board. He has been instrumental in helping United Way enhance volunteer engagement and donor relations. He served as co-chair of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, a prestigious organization of major donors to United Way, during Hurricane Ike and the economic downturn. Under his leadership, contributions remained steady during those tough years. He has served in a number of other roles and currently is a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Strategic Resource Development Committee, which is developing a strategy to reach a $100 million campaign goal by 2020.

“Serving the United Way of Greater Houston is a great privilege,” Tudor said. “The commitment of the United Way team to make life better and more hopeful for the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens is truly inspirational, and is evidence of the fact that volunteers can indeed make a positive difference. My time spent as a United Way volunteer has been highly fulfilling for me, and being honored for that service is simply icing on the cake.”

United Way of Greater Houston estimates that it touches close to one of every two lives in the Bay Area, Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery and Waller counties. Its agencies focus on strengthening the community by developing children and youth to their full potential, creating strong families and safe neighborhoods, sustaining senior independence and rebuilding people’s lives in times of crisis.

Tudor also served as chair of Rice’s 2013 United Way Campaign, which exceeded its goal by almost $55,000. A $25,000 matching gift from Tudor and his wife, Phoebe, brought in another $45,000 toward the campaign’s record-setting total of $229,920.