Foundation set to honor philanthropy

Lunch highlights local volunteers, groups who give

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008

The foundation — a nonprofit organization established in 2005 to assist people in setting up endowments so that they can give funds to charities, the arts and other causes — is holding the luncheon at the Waldorf Jaycees center.

Retired Col. Kenneth McCreedy, director of Energetics Technology Center's Workforce and Economic Development division, will be the speaker during the luncheon, said Gretchen Heinze Hardman, the foundation's executive director.

The third annual luncheon will have a special twist this year, Hardman said. In addition to the presentation of the nonprofit, volunteer and philanthropist of the year awards, there will be an induction of nine people into the foundation's newly established hall of fame, she said.

The inductees will be people, businesses and organizations who have performed philanthropic acts throughout the county's 350 years, Hardman said. The idea to establish the hall of frame sprang from a desire to honor the county's 350th anniversary that is being celebrated this year.

"The luncheon is really a good opportunity for us as a community to thank our neighbors for giving so graciously in the community," she said. "We thought it would be nice to tie the luncheon into the 350th anniversary because part of this is looking back and recognizing individuals who have built a foundation for us today."

"We should have hundreds of names to recognize," said Mollie Gieseman, a member of the foundation's board of directors. "We know people out there who are doing great philanthropic acts all of the time. We're just not able to recognize all of them. We need to expand that recognition. That's why the luncheon is really important."

Another special facet of this year's philanthropic luncheon will be the presentation of a $20,000 check to the foundation's newly formed Southern Maryland Women's League fund, a donor-advised endowment to benefit organizations that empower and support women in need, Hardman said.

Tough economic times make the creation of the fund especially important, Hardman said.

"Because of the fallen stock market, bank bailouts and a new election, nonprofits are faced with limited resources and fewer people are making gifts so this is a time for nonprofits to think innovatively, share resources and collaborate," she said.

Francis H. Chaney II, chairman of the board of Chaney Enterprises and president of the Eugene Chaney Foundation, matched $10,000 of the money that will be presented to the SMWL's fund, Hardman said. Chaney also serves as the president of the foundation's board of directors.

"The Southern Maryland Women's League's passion, ideas and plan are what made me want to help," Chaney said in a prepared statement.

"I'm happy to contribute to their cause."

The community foundation is growing, Hardman said, adding that the organization's total endowed assets are more than $700,000 and the non-endowed assets total $71,529.98.

Maryland has 13 community foundations that have more than $399 million in assets and distributed more than $46 million in 2007, Hardman said.

Nationwide, 700 community foundations have more than $49 billion in assets and in 2007 they received an estimated $6 billion in donations from individuals, corporations, government agencies and other foundations, Hardman said.

Community foundations accept money from appreciated securities, assets of private foundations, cash, IRAs or other retirement funds, life insurance, planned gifts and real estate or personal property, Hardman said in an earlier interview. The foundation's board of directors makes the final decision on what charity or cause will be funded.

The luncheon is open to the public and everyone should consider setting aside some time to thank this year's award recipients and hall of fame inductees, Hardman said.

"Really, everyone is a philanthropist," she said. "We all give something. This is the community foundation's opportunity to say thank you."

nmcconaty@somdnews.com