Rick Gomez Memorial Fellowship

Following is a letter from Amy Hightower and Jen Poulakidas announcing the establishment of the Rick Gomez Memorial Fellowship at the LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas. This letter is being mailed to Rick's LBJ classmates and LBJ alumni in the DC area, but of course contributions are appreciated from all.

December 2005

Dear Friends:

We are writing to you—our classmates, other LBJ Alumni, and friends of Rick, with a special appeal.

You may have heard about the very untimely and sudden loss of Rick Gomez (MPAff, 1992). Rick was diagnosed with liver cancer this summer, knowing for only three weeks that he had the disease before he died.

In Rick’s memory, the LBJ School has worked with us to set up a student scholarship fund in Rick’s name. The Ricardo Gomez Memorial Fellowship would be awarded to LBJ School Master’s in Public Affairs students with a demonstrated interest in governmental and public accountability.

This policy focus is with Rick in mind. As you may know, Rick began his public affairs career working for the City of Austin Auditor’s Office while still a student at LBJ. Rick’s commitment to good, honest government and accountability permeated the rest of his too-short career. When he moved to Washington, DC after graduation, he found work with the U.S. Department of Labor, in the Office of the Inspector General. Rick continued working for the Inspector General’s offices of other federal agencies – including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Transportation – and traveled around the country investigating and rooting out fraud and waste.

Our short term goal is to raise $20,000 from you, other alumni, and friends of the School. However, if we can raise a minimum of $50,000, the Ricardo Gomez Memorial Fellowship can continue in perpetuity as an endowment.

We recognize that 2005 has been a difficult year on both personal and global levels, but we ask that you please add to your charitable donations this year a contribution to the Rick Gomez Fellowship. Donations are tax deductible and matching gifts from your employer often double or triple individual contributions. Please make your check payable to The LBJ Foundation - Ricardo Gomez Memorial Fellowship and send it to:

LBJ School of Public Affairs
P.O. Box Y
Austin, TX 78713-8925

Many thanks for your consideration of a donation to the Ricardo Gomez Memorial Fellowship at the LBJ School. We wish you and your families a safe and healthy holiday and happy new year.

Amy Hightower
MPAff, Class of 1992

Jennifer Poulakidas
MPAff, Class of 1991