Pub. 56 2015-2016 Issue 4

35 SUMMER 2016 McNatt, whose sister and brother-in- law also earned degrees from UNT, said the donations express his family’s gratitude to the university. ‘I’mproud of the current administration and athletic leadership,’ McNatt said. ‘They are dedicated to ensuring the university remains a quality institution, expands its outreach and grows its na- tionally ranked educational programs.’ ‘Jim’s support directly impacts UNT, our students, student athletes and researchers in a big and positiveway,’ UNTPresident Neal Smatresk said in his State of the University address. ‘He has seen thework UNT has put toward becoming a first- choice university, and this gift moves us even closer to that goal.’ The Jim McNatt Endowment for Lo- gistics Research will fund undergradu- ate studies in the Center for Logistics Education and Research in the College of Business. The JimMcNatt Autism Research En- dowment supports the Kristen Farmer Autism Center, an off-campus facility for research and teacher training that also provides services to children and adults with autism. Opened three years ago, the center is part of UNT’s Col- lege of Education. Dallas-Fort Worth has the highest concentration of autism diagnoses in Texas, according to UNT associate professor Dr. Smita Shulka Mehta. McNatt set up the gift so that $160,000 would be awarded as $10,000 grants to four National Merit Scholars over four years.” TheMcNatt’s contribution toUNTwill support the university, its students and the Denton area for years to come, as will another of their community proj- ects, The Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center, which opened in Denton in early 2015. A labor of love for Linda, the adoption center fulfilled a growing need in the community for a first class animal shel- ter and adoption center. Linda, whose portrait is prominently displayed at the center along with several of the cats that she has adopted, helped raise the $5 million cost of the facility. She and Jimdirectly contributed $500,000, with Toyota providing an additional $30,000 to help launch the project. Also displayed throughout the center are posters and portraits created by school children from throughout Den- ton ISD, encouraging visitors to adopt the beautiful pets housed in the modern facility. A loving family who have supported and served the citizens of North Texas and its institutions for decades, theMcNatts of Denton County represent all that is good about Texas franchised dealers who have a presence in every major city and town in our state, and who not only provide necessary transportation and safety on the highways but who give from the heart in 284 cities and towns, making a difference for Texas. 