TAUW LEGENDS: bill major
The TAUW Legends video series preserves the voices and stories of those who shaped our first century of service. As part of our Centennial celebration, Jesse Boudiette, president of Propeller Consulting and Centennial Committee member, sat down with Bill Major, president of the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, and the Zarrow Families Foundation. He’s also the past executive director of LIFE Senior Services.
Join us in continuing Bill’s legacy of compassion and community impact. Your gift today in honor of Bill helps write the next chapter of our story, ensuring that future generations will have access to the same life-changing services that have touched so many lives over the past century.
interview highlights
Jesse Boudiette: Bill, how did your involvement with the Tulsa Area United Way first begin?
Bill Major: So it actually started 33 years ago. I was a new executive director of what was then called Tulsa Senior Services, now LIFE Senior Services. And as an executive director for a United Way agency, I just became very entrenched in the life of United Way pretty quickly.
Jesse: Since then, what are some highlights of people, experiences, and moments that float to the top of your mind?
Bill: During the 18 years I was with LIFE, the executive directors met once a month, and there was a lot of camaraderie, a lot of serious talk, but a lot of good relationships and friendships that developed with peers during that time. That was probably what I remember most about United Way and the experience there.
Jesse: What’s your perspective on the direct services agency perspective of why the United Way is so important for Tulsa?
Bill: We were a United Way agency, and I’ve been a donor to the United Way starting then and led many campaigns for United Way at my own place of employment. But really, for an agency, United Way funding was one of the bedrocks of our funding. It was consistent support, and we also had a level of accountability. It was always good to meet with members of the community, participate in that process, and it was good for the organization.
Jesse: Now speaking from your current role as part of one of Tulsa’s beloved funding organizations, where do you see United Way’s work fitting within Tulsa’s fabric? Why is it so important?
Bill: So, you know, we’re obviously supporting many—if not most, if not all—of the organizations that are part of United Way, and it all fits together. The United Way portion is important for each of those organizations, and then we can add to that contribution with our own grants, most of which are for general operating, not really program-oriented. It’s very similar to United Way, and I think it’s something we can do in addition to what United Way does in our community. Organizations are stronger because of it.
Bill: Absolutely. I mean, all of us enjoy a particular way of life in Tulsa when there aren’t people in significant need. We can deal with a particular person’s problem—maybe it’s a mental health issue, child abuse, or substance abuse. We’re all better off when the people in our community are taken care of when they need that. We never know for sure when that issue may come for ourselves, but we’re all better off when others in our community have their basic needs met.
Jesse: Those needs are fairly constant, but we’ve had times when unexpected, significant needs hit the whole community or even the nation. What can you say about United Way’s ability to look at those needs and pivot to help address what’s going on?
Bill: Well, somebody has to. If United Way can be a leader in stepping up immediately, that’s crucial. We have more weather disasters than we used to, and sometimes that creates real issues for folks. United Way is in a unique but well-established position to be our first line of response in those situations.
Jesse: My last question—what did I not ask? Anything else you’d like to add?
Bill: You know, one of the things I enjoy most in philanthropy is not just helping a person with a specific need, but really trying to fix systems. There are many vested interests in various areas, and I find a lot of joy in fixing systems and removing barriers for people to get help. United Way agencies do that work well, alongside the foundation work we do every day, so that brings a lot of joy to me in giving.