Bill Hall, longtime president of the Hall Family Foundation and assistant to the chairman of Hallmark Cards, has announced his decision to retire in 2020.
“As president of the Hall Family Foundation, Bill has done an extraordinary job of bringing to life the vision of my mother and father, Hallmark’s founder J.C. Hall,” said Don Hall. “Bill will leave a significant mark on the Kansas City community through his leadership and, more notably through his dedicated service to our city and its people.”
Bill has served as president of the Foundation for 37 years and is a 51-year Hallmark employee. He has worked closely with Don Hall, the Hall family and the board of the Foundation on numerous projects that impact Kansas City. Under Bill’s leadership, the Foundation was instrumental in expanding benefits to Greater Kansas City through support of numerous projects – large and small – in the arts, education, neighborhood development, health and social services.
A leader in community stewardship: Notable highlights
During Bill’s tenure, The Foundation:
- Cultivated a special interest in Children’s Mercy Hospital, supporting the construction of clinics and hospital facilities, the recruitment of physicians, and most recently the construction of the new Children’s Research Institute that will benefit children locally and around the world.
- Drove support for Truman Medical Center capital improvements to their cancer center, maternity area, and area health clinics.
- Led efforts to renovate Kansas City’s Music Hall and The Spencer Theatre at University of Missouri-Kansas City, and played a lead role in planning and acquiring world renown sculptures for display in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park.
- Partnered with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation to improve educational outcomes in both charter and traditional public schools and engaged in civic efforts to improve pre-K access in the Kansas City, Missouri School District.
- Provided a grant to launch the new Health Education Building and Hemenway Research Building at the KU Med Center and provided key backing for KU’s National Cancer Institute designation.
- Helped establish the Oxbridge Program at William Jewell College.
- Supported the construction of a new dormitory at the Kansas City Art Institute.
- Engaged in the revitalization of downtown’s Quality Hill neighborhood and the resurrection of Union Station well ahead of Kansas City’s urban revival.
- Led countless efforts to support local social services that serve the needs of the community’s most vulnerable—from homeless shelters, youth support services, violence prevention programs, food pantries and more; this includes focused support to establish the local Black and Hispanic Development Funds.
True to his servant leadership nature, Bill has engaged on numerous boards including chairing MRIGlobal, the Heart of America United Way, the Pembroke Hill School and the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission. He was among those who led the effort to keep the Royals in Kansas City following Ewing Kauffman’s death and led funding efforts for the College Basketball Experience.
For his work over many years, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce named Bill Kansas Citian of the Year in 2007.
Bill intends to remain involved with the Hall Family Foundation and Hall family members in an advisory role and will continue to be involved in community activities while spending more time with his family.