Ms. Walton spearheads the Walton Family Foundation's involvement in developing Crystal Bridges - Museum of American Art. Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier venue for a national art institution dedicated to American art and artists, and a place of learning and community.
Located in Bentonville, Arkansas and designed by Boston-based architectural firm Moshe Safdie and Associates Inc., the museum will house art galleries, lecture and concert venues, meeting places, educational spaces and library resources.
The heart of the permanent collection will include works donated by Ms. Walton and the Walton Family Foundation, and may be augmented by gifts and loans from
other private collectors.
Biography
Alice Walton is the daughter of the late Helen Walton and the late Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Born in 1949, the youngest of four children, she spent her childhood in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Ms. Walton graduated from Trinity College, in San Antonio, Texas, with a B.A. in Economics and Finance. She began her career in finance as an equity analyst and money manager for First Commerce Corporation; and later served as Vice Chairman and head of all investment-related activities at the Arvest Bank Group.
In 1988, Ms. Walton founded Llama Company, an investment bank engaged in corporate finance, public and structured finance, real estate finance and sales and trading. She served as President, Chairman and CEO.
She was the first chairperson and driving force behind the Northwest Arkansas Council. This community development organization played a major role in securing the development of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.
Ms. Walton arranged for, and provided, the initial seed capital to finance the construction of the airport. Her involvement was instrumental in the creation of the airport, and in recognition of her contribution to the airport project and her support of transportation improvements throughout the region, the Airport Authority Board of Directors named the airport terminal the Alice L. Walton Terminal Building. In 2001, Ms. Walton was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame.
In addition to her philanthropic activities as a board member of the Walton Family Foundation, Ms. Walton has been active on the Board of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock and the Board of Advisors for the University of Arkansas Graduate Business School at Fayetteville.
In 1996, the University of Arkansas established the Alice L. Walton Chair in Finance, allowing the University, through its College of Business Administration, to pursue educational excellence on a national and international level.
Ms. Walton's vision led to the creation of Camp War Eagle, a unique summer camp in Northwest Arkansas that brings together children of differing socio-economic backgrounds and provides a remarkable experience for children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a camp of this stature
Ms Walton serves on the board of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas and is a member of the Trustees' Council of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
An avid horse-lover, Ms Walton currently lives in central Texas, where she raises cutting horses and operates the Rocking W Ranch.
