A Legacy Rooted in Humility: Sarah and J.C. Howell

Sarah and J.C. Howell were both born in Houston one day apart, but their upbringings were starkly different.

Sarah’s family was known for its philanthropy, and her childhood was rooted in a deep commitment to giving back. As a child, she watched her mother, Vale Asche Russell, and her aunt, Bettyann Asche Murray, run two separate family foundations. Still, they often collab-orated to make grantmaking decisions. Additionally, Sarah attended several prestigious schools, including St. John’s School in Houston. Conversely, J.C. grew up knowing that education would propel him forward. Through hard work and determination, he gained admission to Stanford, unlocking many opportunities for him. J.C. noted, “I had a great education, which gave me an advantage.”

Ultimately, a large part of J.C.’s career was spent as an investment banker, and as a young professional, he was focused on his career with little time to enjoy the rewards of his work, let alone give back. It wasn’t until he married Sarah and witnessed the generosity woven into her family’s fabric that he truly embraced purposeful giving.

Sarah said that her mother was the greatest example of living a generous life, stating, “My mom had the opportunity to give back, which she passed on to me.” Vale loved working for the Vale-Asche Foundation, which was founded by Sarah’s grandfather and great-grandfather. Watching Vale and Bettyann thoughtfully go through grant requests and dedicate so much time to their family’s philanthropy was inspiring, but Sarah acknowledged how burdensome it could be at times.

Shaping a Legacy Through Partnership

After Sarah’s aunt passed away and as her mother aged, it became evident that the next generation would soon need to take over their family foundations. Sarah and J.C. worried about being buried in paperwork after witnessing how cumbersome it is to administer a private foundation.

Based on their professional advisor’s recommendation, Sarah and J.C. decided to partner with Greater Houston Community Foundation to sunset the Vale-Asche Foundation and open donor advised funds. “I realized the tools that the Community Foundation provided allowed me to seek out the types of charities I want to support with ease,” Sarah explained. By leveraging a donor advised fund with the Community Foundation, the Howells reduced administrative burdens, attained immediate tax benefits, gained flexibility on when they award grants, and unlocked potential investment growth—all while receiving expert guidance from the Community Foundation’s Philanthropic Advisors.

Additionally, Sarah and J.C. partnered with the Community Foundation to plan their own philanthropic legacy. J.C. went on to say, “The Community Foundation’s legacy program has given us peace of mind. Now we don’t worry about what is going to happen to these funds when we are gone, and the team did a great job educating us on all our estate planning options.” Through this planning, Sarah and J.C. formalized in detail how their philanthropic dollars will achieve their charitable goals.

The Howells acknowledged that legacy planning isn’t easy to talk about. However, when Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer, their estate planning and, in turn, their charitable legacy, became a priority. J.C. shared, “We don’t have children, and we were a bit stressed about what was going to happen. We approached legacy planning as another aspect of our will. However, the will has all the morbid details; this is the fun stuff.” Sarah expanded, “It was nice to get it all papered out. We felt a serenity knowing this was taken care of, and we can change things if our priorities shift.”

Focused Giving

Together, Sarah and J.C. prioritize a variety of causes. With Sarah almost reaching her fifth year being cancer-free, women’s health has emerged as a focus. Additionally, in 2012, Sarah and J.C. moved to Montana after both spending the prior 48 years in Houston. While they still feel that Houston is home, living in Montana has awakened their passion for preserving large areas of land, especially in regions experiencing rapid residential growth.

The Howells are also unified in believing that education shapes lives and communities. J.C. noted, “Without an education, there are so many fewer opportunities to succeed and so many more opportunities to do the wrong thing.” Sarah expanded, “If you teach people a trade, then they have the opportunity to have a sustainable livelihood.”

Visionary Support

Thanks to the visionary support of Sarah and J.C. Howell, the Community Foundation launched the Houston Opportunity Scholarship in 2025, a new avenue for collaborative giving. In 2026, the Howells’ funding of this scholarship program will give special consideration to students pursuing careers in education or medicine—including nursing, pre-med, and two-year programs—equipping the next generation of professionals to serve our communities. J.C. explained their preference for these particular fields, “Lack of education is a huge social barrier, and these professions are often overlooked—getting younger students interested in these fields is import-ant.” Sarah added, “Whether it is a four-year degree or an associate degree, education is a door opener. Hopefully, these students can all do well and prosper.”

Sarah shared their motivation for supporting the Houston Opportunity Scholarship, “We were thinking about setting up our own scholarship fund. The Community Foundation team recommended that we fund the Houston Opportunity Scholarship at a level that would give us a say in which fields of study we consider critical. In this way, we can refine what our personal scholarship funding goals are, gain an under-standing of the scholarship landscape, and put our big ideas out on the table before we pen them down and create a scholarship of our own.” J.C. continued, “The timing was right. Supporting the Houston Opportunity Scholarship helps us learn about what our long-term plans could be. Also, we aren’t experts; we have no previous experience with scholarships, so this process is incredibly educational.”

From Gratitude to Giving

In speaking with the Howells about their philanthropic journey, one thing becomes clear: their giving is rooted in humility, not a desire for recognition. Throughout the conversation, Sarah and J.C. expressed their deep gratitude for the opportunity to be in this position and for the profound joy they find in giving back. Sarah closed our conversation with, “You can’t take it with you, but think about what greatness you can leave behind.”

For more inspiring stories of impact and generosity, explore our 2025 Annual Report.

Houston Opportunity Scholarship

In 2025, the Community Foundation expanded its commitment to helping philanthropists create pathways to academic success with the Houston Opportunity Scholarship. Houston is home to a higher-education system full of brilliant individuals, and the Houston Opportunity Scholarship enables investment in homegrown talent. Funders, whether individuals, foundations, or businesses, will join a collaborative effort that assists high-potential students in building meaningful careers. At the same time, the Community Foundation handles all the details, ensuring your impact on Greater Houston is seamless.

2026 Opportunities

Giving Levels

No matter the level of giving, every gift makes a meaningful difference—helping students achieve their dreams and strengthening Greater Houston.

Gifts Under $99,999: General Support

• Be a part of a collaborative fund administered by the Community Foundation that pools resources from multiple donors to provide broad-based scholarship support.

$100,000-$499,999: Name Your Own Award

• Includes all opportunities open to general supporters.
• Establish a named scholarship award to create a personal legacy and connection with recipients. For example: The Martinez Family Legacy Award
• Receive thank-you notes from the student(s) your gift supports and see firsthand the difference you’re making.

$500,000+: Deepen Your Involvement

• Includes all opportunities available to donors who give $499,999 or less.
• Join an annual meeting with program leaders about the impact of your contributions.
• Customize your scholarship preferences by prioritizing students in a particular field of study that aligns with your values or interests.

2026 Eligibility Requirements

• Graduating senior from select public high schools located in Harris, Fort Bend, or Montgomery Counties.
• Minimum GPA of 2.5.
• First-generation college student with a demonstrated financial need and a history of community service.
• Plan to attend a two- or four-year public college, university, or vocational school within Greater Houston.
• In 2026, preference will be given to students pursuing careers in education or medicine.

After a pilot program in 2026, the program will expand to more schools.

2026 Award Amounts

The Scholarship’s awards will be renewable, meaning if students continue to meet eligibility requirements, the awards will be renewed each year.

• $60,000 per student attending a four-year institution ($15,000 per year)
• $10,000 per student attending a two-year institution ($5,000 per year)

Help open doors—invest in education today. Contact Courtney Grymonprez, Scholarships Manager, to learn more.

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:  

• 30 Ways We Amplify Giving
• How Do Community Foundations Work? Leveraging the Community for Smart Giving
• Purposeful Giving: Place-Based Philanthropy
• What is a Donor Advised Fund? The Complete Guide
• Investing in Futures: Launch of the Houston Opportunity Scholarship

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