Zion Lutheran Church and Preschool recently established a fund with the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri. The Zion Lutheran Early Childhood Endowment will provide long-term, permanent support for Zion’s preschool.

“Our Board of Education realized the need for a stable, predictable source of income for our organization,” said Regina Boyer, Chairman of the preschool’s board of education. “We began by asking our members to make a donation to honor Mrs. Luella Powell, who retired after 45 years of service to our preschool. Our members responded wonderfully. Their support will grow the endowment and ensure Christ-centered, early childhood education is available in our community.”

Former Zion Lutheran Preschool Director Luella Powell said, “I would like to thank all who have contributed. Thank you to Amy Lehenbauer for presenting the idea to begin this fund for the future of our children.”

“The goal of the Zion Lutheran Early Childhood Education Program is to meet the needs of the Whole Child in an environment that also nurtures the spiritual growth of the child. Jesus is the model we follow. Working with the Community Foundation to manage and administer the endowment allows us to focus on our mission,” Boyer added.

“This fund will serve as a resource for the work we do in Palmyra,” said Pastor Wes Gehrke. “Those who want to assure our organization’s mission continues can support the fund by making a gift of any amount at any time to help it grow.”

Donors can make their gift to the Community Foundation noting that the gift is for the Zion Lutheran Early Childhood Endowment. Gifts for the Zion Lutheran Endowment Fund are tax-deductible as allowed by law because the Community Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. It accepts a variety of gifts including cash, stocks, grain, real estate, life insurance, IRAs and more.