Brons Support U of A, Garvan Woodland Gardens With Scholarships

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Bob and Donna Bron

Bob and Donna Bron could never be called fair weather fans. If you call their home and no one answers, the outgoing message says “Hey y’all! We’re Razorbacks! Leave a message.” And if you pull up outside their Hot Springs Village home, you are greeted with a sign that says “Bron’s Hog Haven.”

Bob holds degrees from the University of New Hampshire, Penn State and Webster University. Donna is a University of Nebraska alumna. But their hearts beat only for the Hogs.

This explains, in part anyway, why the Brons have been such generous benefactors of the University of Arkansas and Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, a part of the university’s Fay Jones School of Architecture.

“We’re hog people for sure,” said Donna, who grew up in Arkansas, but moved away at age 17. “I have a big gold hog that I wear to church every Sunday, and it doesn’t matter if we won or lost the night before. We support those kids.”

Through their scholarship funds, the Brons will provide financial support to many U of A students majoring in math, English, science, agriculture, education and medical-related fields.

“Education is very important to us,” said Donna, who retired as part owner of a financial loan servicing company. “I grew up extremely poor and ended up in the top 2 percent of female wage-earners in the country. It was hard to get an education, but I got one, and we want to help students who have financial need but aren’t able to get a scholarship any other way.”

After the Brons returned to Arkansas from Arizona eight years ago, they became involved with Garvan Woodland Gardens. All of their financial contributions to the gardens are designated to educationally focused programs. Donna became a Master Gardener, and she serves on the gardens’ advisory council.

“I just think that in the whole state of Arkansas, Garvan Woodland Gardens is our most special treasure,” she said. “Kids are so tied to computers nowadays, but they need to get outside and learn to talk to the birds and the bees and the flowers. One time, I took 95 third graders to the gardens, and I only lost two! That’s not so bad.”

Don’t worry. The “lost” students were with one of the other teachers.

In total, the Brons have given more than $1 million through endowed scholarships and education support in Fayetteville and Hot Springs, mostly through planned gifts. Their most recent gift was made in the form of a charitable gift annuity. They give of their time and their resources to improve kids’ lives by encouraging a focus on education and nature.

Bob and Donna Bron are true Arkansas Razorbacks, even if Bob, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, is from the northeast.

“He’s a Yankee who can’t get the southern part right, but that’s OK,” said Donna. “I’ve worked with him a long time, and there’s still a chance.”