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May 10, 2007

Mike Fuljenz learned the value of the three Ts - time, talent and treasure - at an early age. He has lived by that Mantra and Lamar University, the Beaumont community and the Golden Triangle continue to reap the benefits of his generosity.

In addition to his monetary contributions, of which makes him the athletic department's largest corporate sponsor, Fuljenz is just as generous with his time. He has served on the Cardinal Club Board of Directors, lectured for the MBA program at Lamar, was a two-time president of Beaumont Little Dribblers, served on the Board of the Beaumont West End Little League and served on the Board of the West End YMCA of Beaumont.

An avid sports fan, Fuljenz has been a long-time season ticket holder for Lamar basketball and baseball. He has supported the Lamar golf teams by providing transportation to both the men's and women's programs for team travel. He has sponsored numerous teams for Lamar fund-raising golf tournaments and provides live auction items for the annual baseball banquet.

Fuljenz' gifts to the athletic department total over $100,000 over the last two years, including providing financial support for programs like - underwriting the 2006 men's basketball tip-off dinner featuring guest speaker John Calipari, corporate sponsorships, donations to the men's and women's golf teams, donations to the women's soccer program, baseball and Cardinal Club membership.

"Sports, among everything, builds teamwork that you use in life," said Fuljenz on why he gives to athletics and sports programs. "It gives kids an apple out in front of them. Sports helps them in developing their social skills and gives the academic risk kids a goal that they need to do better in school so they can participate in sports.

"I've seen so many kids get through that I've tutored and helped, and if there wasn't sports, that extra carrot wouldn't have been there and they may not have graduated from high school or college. I've seen sports used as a vehicle to motivate a lot of kids who were struggling in school and get them through."

In that same vain, Fuljenz points out that the Lamar University coaches over the years have also been more than willing to help in the community with youth programs.

"Lamar was very good in helping out in the community. So, when I had kids they went to (Jim) Gilligan's baseball camp and Lamar's (Grey Giovanine's) basketball camp. The coaches were also very good in giving time back to our youth leagues and when we've needed help. And we were glad to help them. You've had a group of baseball and basketball coaches at Lamar that are going to give back you. They help out with community leagues and a lot of us want to support them."

Fuljenz looks back to his own upbringing, his children and his personal interests as the main motivating factors for his interest in giving back to the community through a variety of avenues. "My mother and grandmother both taught for 30 years, so I grew up in a family that supported education and teaching. My father was really involved with different charitable programs and volunteer work for youth in need. You kind of model your father.

"And then you personalize it. You take it to typically an area you have an interest in. For me, it was youth sports programs. I've also helped with some youth music programs, drama programs and other things. Typically, you help with what your kids are involved in.

"I taught and I've always been involved in education programs. You need a hobby and my hobby is working with programs that help kids. I like teaching and I like working with kids.

"So, when I left teaching to get into coins, and that area blossomed, one of the ways to stay true to some of the roots I had was to be involved with kids, sports and other areas of education."

Fuljenz, who has two children who will both be on the Lamar University campus this fall - Jake, on a men's golf scholarship and Katie, who will be attending the Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities, received Chemistry and Biology degrees from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He started his professional career as a teacher and principal. After several years, he turned to his life-long love and interest in coins into a business. He is the president of Universal Coin and Bullion, which specifically deals with classic rare coins.

"I always collected coins as a hobby," said Fuljenz. " I would cut lawns for money during the summer. But what I quickly realized was that when they quit making dimes out of silver in the 1960s, I could acquire old dimes at the bank , sell them to the local dealer and make more money doing that than I could mowing grass."

Through reading books and other literature, attending conventions and seminars, and interacting with other people who shared the same interest in coins, Fuljenz has become one of the foremost experts in the area of rare coins.

Although he gave up his career in education and started a more lucrative career in the coin and precious metal industry, Fuljenz has retained his penchant for teaching. From 1982-98, he taught seminars on gold and silver coinage for the American Numismatic Association (ANA) in Colorado Springs, Colo.

As a highly regarded expert in the coin and precious metal industry, Fuljenz has made over 20 appearances on CNBC programs Smart Money, Steals and Deals, Money Wheel and Money Talk. He has won three book of the year awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild in a specialized category.

"Being brought up in a family that believed in giving your time, talent and treasure, you donate some of what you have in proportionality back to the church and community," said Fuljenz in explaining his motivation for philanthropy. "There was a time when I didn't have much money, so I gave more of my time to the church and other programs. Now I have a little less time and little more treasure and maybe can help out in different ways. Just volunteerism, which is very important in this country, helps."