Podcast Points: 2024 Alumnus of the Year Shares Commitment to Generosity, Community

Baylor University’s 2024 Alumnus of the Year David Wills, B.B.A. ’85, J.D. ’88, has a passion for generosity and helping others live generously. The recent honor celebrated not only his professional success but also his enduring commitment to Baylor's values of generosity and community, as he shared as a guest on the Baylor Connections podcast.

Podcast Points with Alumnus of the Year David Wills

A Legacy of Generosity and Leadership

• As a co-founder of Generous Giving and TrustBridge Global Foundation and as President Emeritus of the National Christian Foundation (NCF), Wills has played a pivotal role in shaping the world's largest Christian grant-making foundation, his work in Christian philanthropy underscores his dedication to fostering a culture of giving.
• "Growing up in a generous home and seeing my parents' extravagant generosity profoundly influenced me. Today, I have the best job in the world, working with joyful, generous people and incredible ministries," Will said.

Personal Reflections, Family Ties

• Wills describes Baylor's influence on his life as “profound,” pointing to his professors’ care and the friendships he formed that were “transformational.” His family legacy continues at Baylor with his children - two are Baylor alumni and  two are current Baylor students.
• Living in Waco with his wife, Chris, he maintains an active involvement with the Baylor community, particularly the business school, contributing to courses like "God and Money," fostering transformational experiences for students.

Looking Ahead

• Wills remains actively engaged with Baylor, frequently speaking at events and participating in University activities. His story is a testament to the power of education, mentorship and the values of generosity and community that Baylor University upholds. 
• “Baylor just keeps getting better and better,” Wills noted, highlighting the University's growth and development since his student days.

LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION

Listen to the full conversation with David Wills on the Baylor Connections podcast.

ABOUT BAYLOR CONNECTIONS

Baylor Connections with host Derek Smith goes in depth each week with Baylor leaders, professors and more, discussing important topics in higher education, research and student life. Baylor Connections airs on Fridays at 11 a.m. CT on KWBU 103.3FM in Waco. The podcast also is available online or by subscribing to Baylor Connections on iTunes.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.