Kyle Makes Planned Gift to Benefit Music, Theatre Arts Programs at UA Little Rock
A dedicated double alumna of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has made a generous planned gift to benefit the academic programs that made such a difference in her life.
Kim Edwards Kyle, of Little Rock, has made a planned gift to create two funds for the university. The gift will create the Martha Ann Eaton Edwards Endowed Music Fund for the benefit of music students at UA Little Rock. The fund is named in honor of Kyle’s mother, Martha Edwards, who taught music at UA Little Rock until 2000.
The gift will also create the Kim Edwards Kyle Endowed Theatre Arts Fund to benefit the theatre arts program at UA Little Rock. Both funds will be used to provide for the greatest needs in the music and theatre arts programs, which are both housed in the School of Literary and Performing Arts at UA Little Rock. Such benefits might include the purchase of equipment, student and faculty travel grants, and student scholarships.
“I loved my years at UA Little Rock,” Kyle said. “It was a great experience, and I got so much out of my time there that I wanted to give back. I loved both departments. My mom retired from the music department. She had so many wonderful years there, so I wanted my mother to have a fund in her name.”
Kyle graduated from UA Little Rock in 1982 with degrees in music and theatre arts. She credits her time at the university as opening a world of new possibilities for her and hopes that future students will have the same opportunities and experiences she had.
“College showed me a brand-new world and introduced me to so many wonderful new people and friends,” Kyle said. “It showed me a new side of myself and made me a stronger person. I think education is crucial. College is our chance to expand our minds and truly understand what we want to do for the rest of our lives.
After UA Little Rock, Kyle split her career between teaching, working for the family business, and becoming an entrepreneur. She spent a decade as a K-12 music teacher and then spent 25 years designing playgrounds. She first worked for her father’s company before opening her own successful company, Kyle Recreation, which she sold in 2019 when she retired. She is currently volunteering at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Angel Tree program.
Co-directors Professor Stacy Pendergraft and Dr. Kris McAbee remarked that Kyle is a remarkable alumna who has also spent time volunteering and getting to know the faculty and students in the School of Literary and Performing Arts.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know and spend time with Kim over the past year,” Pendergraft said. “What has been so wonderful about our interactions is that Kim’s contributions to these programs are measured not only through these incredible planned gifts but also through the kind of ‘roll up your sleeves’ level involvement that arts supporters do so well. To have the opportunity to deepen our relationships with alumni in this way energizes us and enriches a deeper vision of alumni involvement that the School of Literary and Performing Arts deeply values.”
This gift is a part of the Centennial Campaign, UA Little Rock’s fundraising campaign to raise $250 million in celebration of the university’s 100-year anniversary in 2027. Visit ualr.edu/centennial to learn more about the Centennial Campaign.
