Lewis County Endowment Exceeds its $10,000 Match Goal

Last Fall, the Lewis County Fund Council accepted an invitation from an anonymous couple to grow the Lewis County Endowment by $10,000. The Council had until May 15 to secure donations from multiple donors totaling $10,000 to match the anonymous couple’s gift of $10,000.

Today, the Fund Council gathered at the Martin Park in Canton, MO to announce that it met the match, securing more than $11,000 in donations. Including the anonymous couple’s gift, the fund received a boost of more than $21,000.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to match the anonymous couple’s generous gift,” said Virgil Welker, Lewis County Fund Council Chair. “What each donor contributed will permanently benefit needs and opportunities in our community. By investing to the Lewis County Endowment, we’re able to grow our grantmaking capacity now and for generations. Thank you to all who contributed to this effort.”

A total of 19 donors contributed to the effort and 10 of them are first-time donors to the fund. These gifts from individuals, businesses, and civic organizations have been pooled and invested to build the fund’s grantmaking capacity.

“We are excited and happy beyond words!” said the anonymous couple who issued the invitation to others to match their gift. “We are so appreciative of the people, including businesses, who stepped up to the plate to match our gift and grow the Lewis County Endowment.”

The Lewis County Endowment was created in April 2013 in response to the Community Foundation’s invitation to the 12 counties it serves to establish charitable endowments. When county citizens, known as the Lewis County Fund Council, raised $15,000, the Community Foundation matched it with $15,000. Lewis is one of five counties that have established such endowments.

In all, approximately 32 individuals, businesses, and civic organizations have contributed to the endowment since it was created.

The Lewis County Endowment made its first grants in 2016 and will continue to grant to local nonprofit organizations through the Community Foundation’s Competitive Grant Program.

Gifts of any amount can be made at any time to continue growing the Lewis County Endowment Fund. Gifts should be made to the Community Foundation, noting that they are for the Lewis County Endowment. The Community Foundation accepts a variety of gifts including cash, stocks, grain, livestock, IRA distributions, and other assets.

For more information, contact Virgil Welker at ( 217) 242-6369 or virgilw@fretwellland.com or the Community Foundation at (217) 222-1237 or outreach@mycommunityfoundation.org.

The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri builds permanent charitable funds to assist area nonprofits and communities. Its mission, “connecting people who care with causes that matter,” is achieved by gathering funds, growing them through investments, then granting to nonprofit organizations, causes or communities that mean the most to its donors.

Since 1997, the Community Foundation has made more than $6 million in grants. It serves 12- counties: Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike in Illinois and Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Knox, Shelby and Monroe in Missouri.

The Community Foundation has IRS 501(c)(3) status, and contributions made to the Community Foundation generally qualify for the maximum allowable deductions for income and estate tax purposes.

For more information, call 217-222-1237, email info@mycommunityfoundation.org , or go to www.mycommunityfoundation.org.