OPI began as a simple but powerful idea from Milton “Buff” Morris. He saw that students needed help paying for college, and he also knew that alumni and friends were willing to step in. What they wanted, though, was a way for students to take ownership of their education. Instead of giving money away once, Mr. Morris believed that loaning it to students would allow that same support to continue for years to come. That idea became the heart of Opportunity Plan, Inc. in 1954.
Even though times have changed and the cost of education has grown, the mission has stayed the same: to open doors for students across the Panhandle and South Plains. What started with a $500 contribution has grown into a $35 million organization that has helped students for more than 70 years.
Today, OPI awards over $1.4 million in scholarships every year and provides nearly $6 million in educational loans. Students from more than 100 colleges and universities in over 40 states are currently being supported. Our closest student is just .3 miles from our building at WTAMU, and our furthest student is over 1,900 miles away at Harvard University.
Because of donors like you, students continue to receive the encouragement and financial help they need. And thanks to your generosity, OPI will keep meeting the educational needs of future generations.