Last Will Gives Children a Chance to Grow Strong

When given a half full bucket some people find disappointment while others rejoice. 

Harold “Hal” Almen brought this metaphor to life by turning empty buckets into good fortune for others. A long-time volunteer at The Children’s Center, Hal built a successful business from recycling cast off industrial buckets and supplying refurbished and new containers to an expansive list of industrial clients.

While building a successful business, he found time to organize the West Oklahoma City Rotary Club, serve as club president and provide countless volunteer hours to the community. Hal could often be found at the Center painting, doing yard work or participating in fund raising events.

“He was a both a true personal friend and a good friend of our hospital,” Albert Gray, CEO of the Center, said. “He shared his blessings with our children, his family and the community.”   

When he died October 28, 2002, he made a number of charitable bequests through his Last Will and Testament including a $1.5 million gift to The Children’s Center which were used to provide both immediate needs and long-term endowment funds for the Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit.

Thanks to Hal’s legacy and countless other generous donors, the Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit was dedicated on May 8, 2008 and has served more than 150 patients, Gray said.