KU Endowment honors Christina Hixson as Life Trustee

Hixson, of Las Vegas, Nev., is sole trustee of the Ernst F. Lied Foundation Trust. In total, she has made possible more than $24 million in philanthropic support for KU: $22.7 million from the Lied Foundation and $1.6 million in personal support. In 1988, the Lied Foundation made possible the construction of the Lied Center at the University of Kansas through a $10 million gift to KU Endowment.

Ernst F. Lied attended KU from 1923-25. During his career, he owned a car dealership in Omaha and invested in Las Vegas real estate.

Hixson was guest of honor at a luncheon held April 8 at the Lied Center.

Dale Seuferling, KU Endowment president, said that as part of the honor of being named a Life Trustee, KU Endowment would make a gift to the scholarship program Hixson established.

“Currently, the Hixson Scholars program provides 10 new freshman students each year with $5,000 renewable scholarships,” Seuferling said. “In Chris Hixson’s honor, KU Endowment is contributing support to add one additional student so there will be a total of 11 for the incoming class this fall.”

Hixson’s generosity extended to other areas related to the Lied Center, including Friends of the Lied, the Lied Performance Fund, and most recently, a $2.5 million gift for the expansion of Lied Center. Hixson participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the Lied Center on April 8.

Her other support of KU has included establishment of the Lied Biomedical Research Fund and the Christina Hixson Opportunity Award (Hixson Scholars) program for student scholarships.

KU Endowment’s Life Trustee program marks the first time in the foundation’s 118-year history in which there is the opportunity to officially recognize individuals who have been exceptionally supportive of the University of Kansas through their tireless efforts and philanthropic support. The decision to create the program stemmed from a recent vote of the KU Endowment Board of Trustees.

Kurt Watson, chair of KU Endowment’s Board of Trustees, thanked Hixson for her generous support of the university and the Lied Center. “Because of Chris Hixson, the arts at KU have been made available to so many of our fellow citizens,” Watson said. “For 17 years now, University of Kansas students, the Lawrence community and Kansans statewide have had the opportunity to enjoy world-class performances, made possible because of Chris Hixson.”