As the parents of two wonderful children, Dennis & Kim Bonnen understand the importance of obtaining a college or university degree after graduating high school.
They founded the Dennis and Kim Bonnen Foundation in 2022 in an effort to assist one recipient every year with financial relief from the ever-rising cost of tuition.
To apply, an applicant simply needs to fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
Born in Angleton, Texas, Dennis Bonnen is a Texas businessman and politician. Bonnen served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021. He graduated from Angleton High School in 1990, and received a B.A. in Political Science in 1994 from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. Bonnen worked in the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman Greg Laughlin, worked for the Can Manufacturers Institute, became the general manager of a computer business called MDS, and traveled the nation in 1995 working on the Bob Dole presidential campaign.
In December 1995, Bonnen announced his candidacy for state representative. As a candidate, Bonnen sought to reduce government regulation of business and education. After winning second place in the four-way primary race by just ten votes, Bonnen won an April 1996 run-off election, becoming the youngest member in the legislature at that time.
Dennis Bonnen co-founded a public policy consulting firm called Second Floor Strategies in 2023. After extensive experience and success in the Texas House, Dennis is excited to offer creative solutions to the challenges his clients face.
Born Kim Martin, Kim grew up in Longview, Texas, and graduated high school from Trinity School of Texas in 1994. Kim earned a B.S. in Child Development and Family Relationships from The University of Texas at Austin in 1998. It was in Austin that she first became involved in politics as a legislative aide in 1999, and, where she first met her husband, Dennis Bonnen, then a 2nd term House member.
Following the l999 legislative session, Kim went on to law school, graduating from The University of Houston Law Center, cum laude, in 2002. She began her law practice with Locke Liddell & Sapp that same year, joining the Public Law section as an associate and later joined the Public Finance section of Vinson and Elkins in 2006 as Of Counsel. Kim returned to Locke Lord in the spring of 2012 and maintained her practice there until retiring in the spring of 2018. Kim currently serves on the Board of Directors of R&K Distributors where Kim and her siblings are the 4th generation of her family in the beer business.
During her husband’s tenure as Speaker of the Texas House, Kim sought to unite legislative families through philanthropy. Her efforts to engage the spouses and children of legislators through hands-on service projects also raised awareness of proper nutrition in childhood through a partnership with Brighter Bites, a non-profit organization distributing produce and disseminating nutrition education to families living in food deserts. Kim also worked with B.I.G. Love Cancer Care Services and Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin to provide support services for families undergoing treatment.
Casino advocates target Texas
Las Vegas Sands Corp., a casino and resort developer, has more lobbyists in Texas than any other company — and the Sands’ roster includes some of the biggest power players at the state Capitol.
Why it matters: Legal casinos could be a boon to the Texas economy, meaning tens of thousands of new jobs, along with all the potential ills that come with mainstream gambling.
$1,000
June 30th, 2023
You must be enrolled in a college or university by the deadline date.
