BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Louise Epstein, an Austin native with a broad entrepreneurial background, has joined the Walton Family Foundation to serve as director of university partnerships. In this new position, Epstein will play a fundamental liaison role between the foundation and partners in higher education – with a strong emphasis on collaborations with the University of Arkansas. She brings a robust set of skills to help the University of Arkansas commercialize its research and become an institute of innovation. Before joining the foundation, Epstein was the managing director of the Innovation Center in the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.“We’re enthusiastic about the role Louise will play as a thought partner who will shape initiatives that meet shared goals with the University of Arkansas and other universities nationwide,” said Walton Family Foundation Executive Director Kyle Peterson.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Walmart Foundation and Walton Family Foundation today announced joint support of TRUE Northwest Arkansas (TRUE), a new three-year community-based initiative to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Benton and Washington counties. The program will foster an environment where all members of the Northwest Arkansas community can thrive and feel included, building on both foundations’ efforts to enhance quality of life in the region.

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Minnesota Top-Ranked Heartland State; Arkansas Most In Need of Investment

New research outlines key perspectives that could help shape the geographic makeup of the Heartland

More than $100 million in new grants will support diverse and innovative school models and leaders

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Increased Access to Facilities Funding for Public Charter Schools

The Walton Family Foundation is working to improve K-12 outcomes for all students by ensuring access to high-quality educational options that prepare them for a lifetime of opportunity. The foundation has invested more than $1 billion to date to improve all types of schools — traditional district, public charter and private — and to support innovative organizations that share a common goal: to give all families the ability to choose the best school for their child, regardless of their ZIP code.