HED: Connecting People With Causes That Matter
DEK: The Woodbury Community Foundation continues its commitment to strengthen Woodbury with a legacy fund campaign.
ONLINE HED: Woodbury Community Foundation Launches Legacy Fund Campaign
BYLINE: by Debbie Musser
PULLQUOTE: “The legacy fund campaign will establish long-term sustainability for the Woodbury Community Foundation, with a primary component of an endowment which commonly distinguishes the unique value of a community foundation.”—Jack Lanners, WCF board chair.”
STORY
Ten years ago, Dick Stafford—the same R.H. Stafford whose name graces the Washington County library in Woodbury—called together a group of seven citizens with an important task: raising funds to purchase a piano for the new Central Park. Calling themselves “Friends of Woodbury,” the group successfully completed that task. But that’s not the end of the story.
The Friends of Woodbury—Dick Stafford, Jean Brown, Dixie Ewing, George Gossman, Bill Hargis, Lynne Menozzi and Bruce Soma—began discussing other needs and issues within the local community, which soon led to the establishment of a community-focused nonprofit foundation, the Woodbury Community Foundation (WCF). The seven local residents became the founding board members.
“Those of us who live in Woodbury pride ourselves on the quality of life in this community,” Dixie Ewing says. “With the Woodbury Community Foundation, our job is to make sure that same quality of life is available to everyone in Woodbury.”
Today the WCF, which now has a 20-member board of directors, carries out its mission to strengthen Woodbury by connecting people and organizations with causes that matter in a number of ways:
WCF Programs
• The Citizens’ Academy, designed to educate local citizens and motivate them to become leaders in community volunteerism.
• The Leadership Forum, which engages business leaders in the efforts to improve the Woodbury community through education and collaboration.
• A volunteer clearinghouse matching citizens interested in serving with opportunities to get involved throughout Woodbury.
WCF Initiatives
In 2009, with the help of the Wilder Foundation and through community input, the WCF identified three key initiatves:
• Youth. The WCF helped establish the Woodbury Youth Resource Connection, with its mission to maximize youth access, without barriers, to community resources and opportunities.
• Food. The WCF helped develop a strategic plan for the Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf which resulted in increased visibility, expanded services and a new executive director.
• Jobs. The WCF has reached out to veteran job seekers through on-on-one coaching connections with business mentors and partnering with the Yellow Ribbon Network, as well as exploring a mentoring project to engage local businesses with high school students.
Creating a Legacy Fund
The WCF celebrated its 10th anniversary at a May gala which featured a heritage walk, costumed characters, an art exhibit and a moving speech by longtime Woodbury resident Inez Oehlke. A legacy fund campaign was announced, with the goal of raising over $3 million in the next three years.
“The legacy fund campaign through the WCF will establish the ability to sustain Woodbury for decades to come as a great place to work, live and play,” says Jack Lanners, WCF board chair. “A primary component is endowments, which commonly distinguishes the unique value of a community foundation as a tool for all to leave their legacy. To date, we have commitments for over $300,000.”
One major commitment was made by local residents Dick and Diane Hanson: the Horizon Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. With a $25,000 cash grant from Dick’s career employer, 3M, plus $25,000 in endowed funds from the Hansons, the $50,000 Horizon Fund provides the springboard for a successful campaign to sustain $10,000 per year, in perpetuity, to inspire, support implementation of, sustain and recognize innovation and entrepreneurship in the Woodbury community.
With local contributions such as the Hansons’ Horizon Fund, the WCF is well on its way to establishing long-term sustainability.
SIDEBAR 1
How Endowed Funding Works
The WCF’s legacy fund allows individuals, businesses, families and organizations to contribute to WCF-established funds or to set up a variety of different types of funds that can be used for a specific interest. With an endowment, the principal generally is maintained intact and invested to create a source of income for the mission of the WCF; only a percentage of the income is utilized for the intended goal, as the principal anchors the endowment. The money is invested in stocks, bond and other instruments. For more information on the WCF legacy or field of interest funds, contact the WCF office:
wcf@woodburyfoundation.org.
“The legacy fund campaign will establish long-term sustainability for the Woodbury Community Foundation, with a primary component of an endowment which commonly distinguishes the unique value of a community foundation.”—Jack Lanners, WCF board chair.”
Ten years ago, Dick Stafford—the same R.H. Stafford whose name graces the Washington County library in Woodbury—called together a group of seven citizens with an important task: raising funds to purchase a piano for the new Central Park. Calling themselves “Friends of Woodbury,” the group successfully completed that task. But that’s not the end of the story.
The Friends of Woodbury—Dick Stafford, Jean Brown, Dixie Ewing, George Gossman, Bill Hargis, Lynne Menozzi and Bruce Soma—began discussing other needs and issues within the local community, which soon led to the establishment of a community-focused nonprofit foundation, the Woodbury Community Foundation (WCF). The seven local residents became the founding board members.
“Those of us who live in Woodbury pride ourselves on the quality of life in this community,” Dixie Ewing says. “With the Woodbury Community Foundation, our job is to make sure that same quality of life is available to everyone in Woodbury.”
Today the WCF, which now has a 20-member board of directors, carries out its mission to strengthen Woodbury by connecting people and organizations with causes that matter in a number of ways:
WCF Programs
- The Citizens’ Academy, designed to educate local citizens and motivate them to become leaders in community volunteerism.
- The Leadership Forum, which engages business leaders in the efforts to improve the Woodbury community through education and collaboration.
- A volunteer clearinghouse matching citizens interested in serving with opportunities to get involved throughout Woodbury.
WCF Initiatives
In 2009, with the help of the Wilder Foundation and through community input, the WCF identified three key initiatives:
- Youth. The WCF helped establish the Woodbury Youth Resource Connection, with its mission to maximize youth access, without barriers, to community resources and opportunities.
- Food. The WCF helped develop a strategic plan for the Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf which resulted in increased visibility, expanded services and a new executive director.
- Jobs. The WCF has reached out to veteran job seekers through on-on-one coaching connections with business mentors and partnering with the Yellow Ribbon Network, as well as exploring a mentoring project to engage local businesses with high school students.
Creating a Legacy Fund
The WCF celebrated its 10th anniversary at a May gala which featured a heritage walk, costumed characters, an art exhibit and a moving speech by longtime Woodbury resident Inez Oehlke. A legacy fund campaign was announced, with the goal of raising over $3 million in the next three years.
“The legacy fund campaign through the WCF will establish the ability to sustain Woodbury for decades to come as a great place to work, live and play,” says Jack Lanners, WCF board chair. “A primary component is endowments, which commonly distinguishes the unique value of a community foundation as a tool for all to leave their legacy. To date, we have commitments for over $300,000.”
One major commitment was made by local residents Dick and Diane Hanson: the Horizon Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. With a $25,000 cash grant from Dick’s career employer, 3M, plus $25,000 in endowed funds from the Hansons, the $50,000 Horizon Fund provides the springboard for a successful campaign to sustain $10,000 per year, in perpetuity, to inspire, support implementation of, sustain and recognize innovation and entrepreneurship in the Woodbury community.
How Endowed Funding Works
The WCF’s legacy fund allows individuals, businesses, families and organizations to contribute to WCF-established funds or to set up a variety of different types of funds that can be used for a specific interest. With an endowment, the principal generally is maintained intact and invested to create a source of income for the mission of the WCF; only a percentage of the income is utilized for the intended goal, as the principal anchors the endowment. The money is invested in stocks, bond and other instruments. For more information on the WCF legacy or field of interest funds, contact the WCF office: wcf@woodburyfoundation.org.
