A memorial service was recently held for Ann Pomykal, whose vision led to the founding of TIAA in 1999. Andy Smith, director of Giving and Volunteering for Texas Instruments and executive director of the TI Foundation, delivered a eulogy for Ann, which is shared below. At the end of his remarks, you’ll find a link to Ann’s obituary. We owe Ann deep gratitude for all she contributed to TIAA over the years, and she will be greatly missed.
Good morning. I’m honored to share some thoughts on Ann’s contributions to TI, the TI
Foundation and our community. Ann Pomykal started at Texas Instruments on April 8,
1987 to manage community relations for TI’s Lewisville site. A few years later, she joined the Public Affairs team.
Ann built much of the philanthropic foundation on which TI stands today. Her contributions included establishing the Tech Smart Big Heart volunteer and arts benefits program, founding the TI Alumni Association, and negotiating TI’s sponsorship of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s classical series — a partnership that is still going strong 26 years later. She also brought fresh energy to TI’s United Way campaign, including a memorable kickoff event held at the Texins Activity Center in the summer heat. I believe it was called the Slam Dunk — an event that had our executives out in the field, sweating alongside everyone else to raise money, build awareness, and bring TIers together for a good cause. During Ann’s leadership of the United Way campaign, an astonishing $54 million was raised.
In 2003, Ann became executive director of the TI Foundation. This is where Ann made
some of her most significant contributions to TI and the community, and where she and
I developed a deep bond. During her 11 years as executive director, the TI Foundation achieved many notable milestones, including: focusing education grants on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and teacher effectiveness; increasing support for the arts with a $5 million challenge grant to the AT&T Performing Arts Center; awarding a $5 million grant to create the TI Engineering and Innovation Hall at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science; providing a $3 million challenge grant to the Dallas Symphony; and launching the foundation’s volunteer matching program.
Perhaps her most significant and lasting legacy is launching our districtwide STEM program in partnership with Educate Texas and Lancaster ISD. She took a chance on a first-time superintendent and a challenging school district — and it paid off, transforming Lancaster ISD and the surrounding community. That work has since expanded to four additional districts across North Texas.
Ann said that she started as an “arts” person but quickly came to love education and its
power to transform lives. She certainly helped change the lives of thousands of students through the grants she managed.
Inclusion is one of TI’s values, and Ann certainly embodied that through grants she
funded that supported women and girls in STEM, those living with HIV and AIDS, and
others. During Ann’s time as executive director, the TI Foundation distributed an
amazing $88.6M!
Ann had a deep commitment to our community and the nonprofits that support it. One of
the earliest lessons she imparted was never to lose sight of the staff. They were the ones to know, appreciate, and stand beside. She was always quick to give credit not to her or the foundation, but to the organizations and staff she worked with, making sure they shined. Former TI Foundation Board Chairman Sam Self had this reminiscence: “I worked on the TI Foundation with Ann for five years. We often would attend civic
meetings, dinners, and receptions downtown. That was where Ann was at her best…she
could ‘work a room’ better than anyone I ever saw.
She knew everybody! I would follow in her wake as she turned on that fabulous smile
and circled the room speaking to everyone there, remembering personal details about
each of them, discussing community issues, and asking for their help on her favorite
causes. When she was done, everyone went home with a smile, remembering their
encounter with Ann Pomykal.
She was a wonderful ‘ambassador’ for TI and represented our company very well!” Ann was also my mentor and teacher. I often tell people that I went to the Ann Pomykal
school of grant-making. She taught me so much, and I loved watching her work. She
would come into a room, sit down, put both hands on the table, say, “Okay,” and then get
down to business.
She was never too busy or too important to meet with an employee or a nonprofit. She
asked thoughtful questions and had a remarkable ability to bring the right people and
organizations together.
After Ann retired, we’d meet for lunch. She loved getting an update on the foundation,
and I always appreciated her sage advice. She continued giving that advice during our
last phone call just a couple of weeks ago. At the end of it, she said she was looking
forward to our next talk and to remember that she could still talk grants with the best of
them.
To close, there’s a verse in 1 Peter that says something along the lines of using your gifts to serve others. Ann certainly did that very well.
Ann, thank you for all you did for TI and our community. I know you were fiercely proud to be a TIer, and we are proud to call you one.
May God bless and keep Ann Pomykal.
View obituary:
https://www.mulkeymasonlewisville.com/obituary/elizabeth-ann-pomykal