Learning Libraries

The late Molly and James “Jim” Crawley ’47 established the Crawley Family Foundation nearly 30 years ago to enhance their philanthropic endeavors in five core areas: the pursuit of education, environmental conservation, the promotion of arts, the provision of essential human needs and the empowerment of community-transforming organizations.

These values, especially education, are important to the Crawley family. Jim, founder of Crawley Petroleum in Oklahoma, instilled in his family an appreciation for education and a deep-seated commitment to ensuring that others can access the same high-quality education he received. “Our foundation continually explores innovative avenues to empower students in their educational pursuits while alleviating the weight of financial burdens,” said Sara Crawley, who now runs the foundation with her sisters.
 

A voracious reader who worked at the campus library during his undergraduate studies, Jim considered books his favorite avenue for learning. To honor his appreciation for education and the Texas A&M University Libraries, the Crawley Foundation created a gift to support open educational resources and free alternatives to expensive textbooks for students.

“Through this gift, we hope to carry on our parents’ legacies and help relieve any financial constraints that students might encounter in acquiring course materials,” said Sara. “We are intrigued by the library’s efforts to introduce open educational resources and to encourage faculty to use this new technology.”

Interested in giving back to Texas A&M but not sure where to start? Begin exploring your options today with our Giving Academy video series.

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