05 annual report V4 - Chester County Community Foundation

11
NEW FUND HIGHLIGHTS
The Community Foundation welcomes 31 new funds this year. Although we are proud
of all of our funds, space permits only a few to be highlighted.
ANONYMOUS FUND, ESTABLISHED BY “MR. & MRS. SMITH”
“We’re getting up there in age. When it came time to sell our home and head to a retirement community, we realized that
we were going to have more money than we would need. Finally, it was our chance to do something charitable in a big way.
All our lives, we’ve wanted to do something like this.
“We knew the charity we wanted to donate to. It is not a well-known charity. But our family had benefited from its services,
and it continues to struggle financially to provide exceptional services to the community. We couldn’t part with all our
money at once. In talking with our financial planner and estate planner, we decided that a charitable gift annuity was the
way to go. We could donate the real estate proceeds in a lump sum, and get an immediate tax deduction. And we could
also get some money paid to us over our lifetime, so there is an ongoing source of income. We can have our cake and eat
it, too. We can provide for our favorite charity, but we can also have some life income.
“Then we found out that our favorite charity didn’t have the capability to offer us a charitable gift annuity. The administration
was beyond them. However, at the same time, we heard that the Community Foundation could handle charitable gift
annuities.
“It turned out that the Community Foundation was the right vehicle for us. The Community Foundation could accept a six
figure real estate proceeds gift, arrange to pay us lifetime income, and earmark the remaining funds for our favorite Chester
County charity. Plus the Community Foundation can preserve our anonymity, which is very important to us. And on top of
all that, the Community Foundation can still tell our story, and hopefully inspire other people to make this kind of gift to
benefit their favorite charities as well.
“We’re delighted that the Community Foundation understands that planning for the future takes on new dimensions as we
age. The Community Foundation understands that donors want financial security, and also to leave something meaningful
behind.”
TEMENOS RETREAT CENTER’S “IN COMPANY WITH ANGELS”
Today it seems that sacred spaces are dwindling while secularism thrives. Many of us crave a respite
from the spiritually-zapped day-to-day routine. The Temenos Retreat Center’s In Company with
Angels project is an answer to this need. The project exhibits seven freestanding, eight-foot stained
glass windows, each depicting an angel. Temenos is touring the angels as a virtual church without
walls to encourage recognition that spirituality is present in all aspects of life and that everyone who
lives a good life the best they know how is a part of a universal church.
Temenos calls the angels “messengers of peace, healing and connection among all people” and offers
the exhibit to encourage spiritual inquiry and interfaith acceptance. Manifestations of the sacred,
these windows are beacons of historic and artistic significance.
The windows were created by Tiffany Studios in New York City at the end of the 19 th century.
Remarkably, these 100 year old windows have spent the last 40 years in storage. Now, having been
rediscovered, these seven masterpieces are in significant need of restoration. Temenos created the In
Company with Angels fund to stimulate community participation and support for the restoration and
touring effort. The tour will commence with the completed restoration, which is projected for the
Spring of 2006.
WILLIAM TAYLOR MEMORIAL FUND
William M. Taylor, known as Bill, is the beloved late husband of State
Representative Elinor Z.Taylor. Bill demonstrated a lifetime interest in and dedication
to emergency and medical services. During World War II, Bill served as a
First Class Medic for the Navy. In the early 1960’s, Bill joined the Good
Fellowship Ambulance program.
Bill passed away on Fathers’ Day, June 20, 2004. His wife felt the most compelling
way to remember him while giving back to the community was to create a
scholarship fund.The scholarship would be awarded to someone who, like her husband,
is committed to service, but more specifically, service as a paramedic or
firefighter. The Honorable Dr. Elinor Z. Taylor said, “Establishing the Memorial
Fund draws focus to the causes which William held so dear. As an educator, he
helped students advance to reach their full potential.This was first and foremost
on his mind, every day of his career.”
In May, Michael Brewer, upon graduation from Henderson High School, was
named the first recipient of The William Taylor Memorial Scholarship. Michael is
the third generation in his family’s longstanding tradition of volunteer service to
Firehouse Station 51, following his mother, his father and his grandfather. With
the help of Taylor’s scholarship, Michael will attend Cabrini College. He plans to
study microbiology, play lacrosse, and volunteer at a nearby firehouse.
This scholarship award marks the intersection of Michael’s commitment to his
family’s legacy of service with Bill’s commitment to his community. Bill’s annual
scholarship fund will, year after year, enable and encourage young people, like
Michael, to pursue higher education and serve their communities.
CHAIN OF LOVE FOUNDATION FOR TURNER SYNDROME
The idea of parents watching their child suffer is heartbreaking. When Steve and
Kim Niggeman’s 3-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome,
instead of succumbing to the ordeal they now faced, they chose to proactively
confront their daughter’s condition.
In creating the Foundation, the Niggeman’s became not only passionate advocates
of their daughter, but advocates for girls and women who suffer from Turner
Syndrome.
The Foundation has allowed the Niggeman’s to create a network of support for
families and patients. Kim Niggeman explains, “It is a logical next step for us to
establish the Turner Syndrome Foundation with the hopes of finding the medical
means to mitigate the impact of this tragic disease.”
Turner Syndrome, a condition that occurs exclusively in women, results when one
of the two X chromosomes normally found in females is missing or incomplete.
Named after Dr. Henry Turner,Turner Syndrome presents itself most commonly as
short stature and lack of ovarian development. Other characteristics involve predisposition
to cardiovascular, kidney and thyroid conditions.
Today there is no cure for Turner Syndrome, but various treatments using growth
hormones or estrogen replacement can alleviate and manage the symptoms.The
Foundation’s mission to promote early detection, to recognize and foster healthy
management of symptoms, and to increase the quality of life for those afflicted
with Turner Syndrome.
The Niggeman’s wish for their daughter is their wish for all women afflicted with
this agonizing disorder: a full, vibrant life. The Chain of Love Foundation for
Turner Syndrome is a positive step in the right direction.
NEW FUNDS