Abilene Christian University students, alumni, faculty and staff have an opportunity in the next few months to thank Dr. Royce Money and his wife, Pam, for their years of service to the university with a series of dinners and celebrations across the country.

A series of 12 celebrations, each entitled An Evening with Royce and Pam, begins March 23 in Grapevine at the Gaylord Texan and will conclude with a dinner at the Abilene Civic Center on May 20. Don Garrett, sponsor organizer for the event, said the celebrations present an occasion for those with connections to the university to show appreciation for the Moneys as Royce transitions to his new role as chancellor.

“For these events, we look for places where there are large concentrations of alumni and people who are active within the university,” Garrett said. “This gives them a chance to say, ‘Thank you.'”

Celebrations will be conducted in many major Texas cities, including Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, Austin, San Antonio, Midland/Odessa, Temple and, of course, Abilene. Events also are scheduled in Atlanta, Nashville and Southern California. Garrett said each location was chosen for a specific reason.

“Dr. Money is actually from Temple, so there is a familial connection for choosing that location,” Garrett said.

Garrett anticipates varying levels of attendance at the events. He expects 100-200 people to attend the reception at Pepperdine University but is prepared for several hundred attendees in Dallas/Fort Worth.

There are two celebrations scheduled in Abilene. Faculty and staff are invited to attend a dinner in the Teague Special Events Center on April 27, with a concert in Cullen Auditorium afterward; a second event will conclude the series at the Abilene Civic Center on May 20. John Tyson, vice president for development, is involved with the Abilene celebrations and said the event will allow alumni and friends to express gratitude, but, he added, anyone is welcome. Tickets are $35.

“It’s an evening to honor and express appreciation for the Moneys,” Tyson said. “We’ll have some tribute speakers, a brief film and time for the Moneys to make a comment. It’s basically a time to remember their time in office.”

Ticket prices and availability vary from location to location. Information for all 12 events can be found at www.acu.edu/alumni/president/index.html.