Ralph Engelstad left an indelible mark on Southern Nevada as the owner of the Imperial Palace and co-developer of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was one of the largest real estate owners in the United States, as well as one of its most generous philanthropists. Before his passing nearly 10 years ago, Engelstad and his wife, Betty, set the stage for the creation of a foundation that would enable their family to redirect their assets to meet the needs of others. Under the guidance of Betty Engelstad, their daughter Kris Engelstad McGarry, and trustee Jeff Cooper, the Engelstad Family Foundation has donated more than $217 million to support causes in Nevada, Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Dakota. Nevada organizations benefiting from foundation gifts include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, Opportunity Village, the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, and UNLV. The university received $12.625 million to establish the largest active scholarship program in UNLV history, which funds 100 endowed student scholarships.