Contrary to popular belief, the arts are alive and well in Collin County. As owner of the Hall Office Park (and the Hall Financial Group) in Frisco, Craig Hall has amassed the largest private collection of contemporary sculptural art by Texas artists, cultivated it as the Texas Sculpture Garden and presented it to the public, gratis, for the enjoyment of all.
Along with his wife, four children and four grandchildren, the Halls have pledged their generous support for the Arts of Collin County, and, through the Craig and Kathryn Hall Foundation, Hall donates his time and knowledge teaching disadvantaged kids the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.
Here, Craig Hall, entrepreneur, financier and patron of the arts, tells DallasChild what’s in store for Collin County and what inspires him to give back.
Q: One of your books is titled “The Responsible Entrepreneur.” How do you define this and why is it important?
I believe that in most situations, people know the difference between right and wrong. Too often, however, people do what is wrong because it is easy to do, expedient or makes them more money. Being responsible is all about doing what is right rather than what is easy. Being a responsible entrepreneur is about being a risk taker, innovator and creative businessperson who conducts himself with a sense of integrity and concern for others.
Q: What first motivated you to want to give back to your community?
For me, helping people is really a selfish act. I feel good about it and think that it is an important quality in the fabric of the way all of us should live our lives.
Q: What philanthropic/charitable causes are you involved in right now that you’re most excited about? Why?
Over the last few years, together with others, I have brought an organization called the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) to the North Texas area. It is a great organization that helps encourage children to understand entrepreneurship with an ethical approach similar to my concepts of responsible entrepreneurship. I am excited to be a part of that.
My wife and I also have been funding and sending an entrepreneurship professor from an American university over to Central and Eastern European countries on a rotating basis. We have done this for four years now and find it very satisfying as we believe entrepreneurship American style is something that is helpful to former communist countries in Eastern Europe.
We also support a number of very valuable local causes in and around the Dallas area on a wide-ranging basis.
Q: How have you instilled the importance of philanthropy in your kids?
First, we have had a program for several years where our kids are allowed to donate $5,000 per year, which we give them for that purpose. In doing so, they have to research where they are choosing to donate the money (and so far have done so). And, they stay active in finding out how the organization that they have made a contribution to is doing.
Our kids have also always been brought up to be very interested in helping others and it seems to be something that each one of them has a strong feeling about.
Q: Where did your passion for art come from? Why is it so important to promote and preserve the arts?
My passion in the visual arts came from my mother being an art teacher. When I was young, I spent a lot of time watching her do art projects and it was always a big part of our life. I also enjoyed writing poetry and reading poetry throughout my younger life.
To me, art is the heart and soul of any culture. If we don’t preserve and enhance art, we lose a lot of ourselves. Art makes us think, it makes us laugh, and it makes us cry. It is very important to who we are.
Q: What are your favorite things to do in Collin County?
Unfortunately, here I have to be boring and say I work a lot. I enjoy working here and enjoy looking at others and families from my office window walking around the sculpture garden that we have created. That is perhaps my favorite thing, particularly on weekends, to see how many people are out taking pictures in front of sculptures and enjoying them.
Q: What is your vision for Collin County in 5-10 years?
I think the development side of it will be amazing over the next 5 to 10 years. We’ll see more and more attention to quality and hopefully more environmentally forward green buildings. I know that is in our plans for the future. In any event, I think Collin County will continue to be a great area dedicated to families and a good quality of life.
