My mother, Grace Molonson Pickens, always told me to never forget where I came from. I was born in Holdenville, a small Oklahoma town, and moved to the Texas Panhandle when I was a teen. So both have always been part of who I am, and I’ve donated a good deal of money in both states.

But I’m a guy who believes in challenges over handouts. And I always love a little competition. I don’t want the other guy to do badly; I just want to challenge those I give to to have some skin in the game.

That’s true for me both in business and in other areas of my life. So when it comes to philanthropy, I believe a little competitive spirit can create better outcomes for everyone.