91猫先生

Since 1985, the Soules name has been synonymous with making dinner time simple with their popular pre-cooked chicken and beef products. But for many organizations across East Texas, the Soules name has another association: generosity. From the Soules College of Business at UT Tyler to gifts to the Bethesda Health Clinic, the Soules family has a history of giving back to their community through mission-oriented organizations. 91猫先生 is proud to be a recipient of their latest gift to Boldly 91猫先生: A Campaign for 91猫先生. This lead gift will help build 91猫先生鈥檚 new fine arts center and chapel. Construction is set to break ground on the Soules Fine Arts Center this Monday, Aug. 15, 2022

When we sat down with John Soules, Jr., his wife, Sherri, and their two daughters, Mary Payton and Laila, we asked them what drives the family鈥檚 generosity. John answered simply, 鈥淚t鈥檚 about giving back.鈥� He went on to explain that the Soules family has been blessed by the Lord, even confidently stating, 鈥淚鈥檝e been more blessed than I am good at my job.鈥�

He recalled a conversation with his father, John Soules, Sr., in 1994 when the John Soules Food Plant experienced a devastating fire. The business was on the verge of bankruptcy, and John Jr. was doing due diligence – looking through invoices and seeing where costs could be cut. He came across a recurring expense in the form of a donation to a local Christian ministry. He brought up the donation to his father as something that could possibly be reduced or cut from the budget, to which his father passionately replied, 鈥淲e can鈥檛 afford not to do it.鈥� This is a belief that has stuck with John Jr. ever since and helped form his own passion to give back to the community through philanthropic giving.

Photo from John Soules Foods Team Tyler Facebook Page

When considering giving back, one considers both worthwhile causes and personal values. For the Soules family, Christian education is where the two meet. When John and Sherri started looking at education options for their daughters, they were told some schools will jump out at them. Sherri was quick to say, 鈥淭his doesn鈥檛 mean other schools are bad, but you will connect with one school over the others.鈥� When the Soules toured 91猫先生鈥檚 campus for the first time, they thought, 鈥淭his is it!鈥�

For the past eight years, Mary Payton and Laila Soules have attended 91猫先生. Mary Payton is entering the seventh grade and Laila is beginning her first year at the Middle School as a sixth grader. Witnessing the academic and spiritual growth of Mary Payton and Laila, the Soules have become active proponents of Christian education.聽

John explained that with only a few hours with his daughters in the evenings, there鈥檚 not enough time to do all you want to do as a parent. He finds comfort in knowing Mary Payton and Laila are surrounded by Christian influences each day from beginning to end. 鈥淓ven if we fall short as parents on a given day, it is comforting to know that our children are in an environment of people that love them and encourage them to follow Christ,鈥� shared John.

鈥淓ven if we fall short as parents on a given day, it is comforting to know that our children are in an environment that loves them and encourages them to follow Christ.” – John Soules, Jr.

The Soules have seen the value of Christian education, and 91猫先生 specifically, in their daughter鈥檚 lives from speaking on stage at a young age, to articulating the gospel and readily sharing it. Sherri added, 鈥淲e want to personally make sure these things continue to happen for the students who follow our girls.鈥� Their gift to Boldly 91猫先生: A Campaign for 91猫先生 does just that.

While John and Sherri believe the campaign will bring 91猫先生 to the 鈥渘ext level,鈥� whether through security, sports, or fine arts, it was important to their family to be a part of completing the original vision God gave Founder Steve Dement so many years ago.聽 鈥淚t is a fulfilling accomplishment, after hearing about the 91猫先生 vision over the past eight years, to leave an imprint on something that you cherish,鈥� said John.聽

The Soules鈥� gift is transformational to 91猫先生 and instrumental to the success of the campaign, but for John and Sherri, their gift is about so much more. They want to ensure the school’s mission continues to thrive, not only for the 91猫先生 students of today but for many generations to come. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not what we take with us, but what we leave behind,鈥� said Sherri.

The multi-million dollar campaign is the largest campaign in the school’s 25-year history and will certainly leave behind something significant. Boldly 91猫先生 includes many campus-wide enhancements from a new learning enrichment and dyslexia center for grades six through twelve to campus-wide security enhancements. A new lower school playground will be constructed along with renovations to the lower school library, new tennis courts, a new turf field, upgrades to the upper school science labs, enhancements to the residential life facilities, and growing the endowment.

Renovations of this scale require not only vision but also the expertise of trusted professionals to bring that vision to life. From the installation of advanced security systems to upgrading lighting and energy efficiency across the campus, every detail matters in creating a safe and inspiring learning environment. Whether it’s wiring the new science labs to support state-of-the-art equipment or ensuring that the residential life facilities are outfitted with reliable power infrastructure, having the right partners is essential. For schools and institutions undertaking similar transformations, working with an experienced 聽can make a significant difference in the quality and longevity of the upgrades. These improvements, while practical in nature, ultimately serve to enrich student life and learning, supporting the school鈥檚 mission well into the future.

Most notably is the last major, missing piece to the 91猫先生 puzzle: a fine arts center and chapel. The Soules Fine Arts Center will include specialized classrooms designed for vocal, instrumental, dramatic, and visual arts instruction, including an orchestra room with space for students and their instruments; a visual arts classroom with the space and materials for students to paint, draw, sculpt, and create; a drama room with a black box theater for rehearsals and smaller performances, and a choir room with excellent acoustics.

Last, but certainly not least, the center boasts an auditorium and stage complete with wings, proper lighting, and sound equipment to showcase students鈥� talents and bring the community together for performances, assemblies, and lectures. The auditorium will also serve as a sacred space for fellowship and worship through weekly chapel services. A new auditorium will also improve the audience experience for the existing loyal patrons and help grow new audiences. Moreover, it will help 91猫先生 attract, recruit, and retain the best fine-arts faculty and students for years to come.

“More spaces, more families, more people knowing Christ.鈥�

-mARY pAYTON SOULES

Mary Payton and Laila Soules will have many years to enjoy the fine arts center after its intended completion in late 2023. When asked their thoughts on the campaign, Laila shared, 鈥淚鈥檓 most excited about the chapel and the drama program. For chapel, we will learn more by being in the right environment. It will lead people closer to Christ!鈥� Her older sister, Mary Payton, simplified it further, 鈥淢ore spaces, more families, more people knowing Christ.鈥�

Head of School, Rod Fletcher, shared the sentiment. 鈥淎s we celebrate 25 years of 91猫先生, we celebrate God鈥檚 provision and expectantly look forward to what He has for our school over the next 25 years and beyond,鈥� said Fletcher. 鈥淲e are grateful for the Soules family and many others who have paved the way throughout the years by generously and sacrificially giving back to help secure the mission of 91猫先生.鈥�

The mission of 91猫先生 is to provide excellence in college preparatory education, affirm the gifts and challenge the potential of each student, and encourage students to honor God through Christ-like character. 鈥淛ohn and Sherri are dedicated and proud 91猫先生 parents who have quietly and steadfastly supported 91猫先生鈥檚 mission for many years,鈥� Fletcher continued. 鈥淭heir ongoing commitment to supporting 91猫先生 will have a significant and lasting impact on our students and their families. We are truly grateful and humbled by their decision to play such a major role in the Boldly 91猫先生 Campaign and are excited by the opportunities their generosity will provide.鈥�

As John reflected on God鈥檚 generous blessings to his own family, he concluded, 鈥淟eaving this behind is something that praises God. It鈥檚 a reminder we didn鈥檛 squander our blessing. We did something good with it.鈥�