Senior citizen services, literacy programs, and access to public libraries and parks contribute significantly to the vitality of communities throughout our region. Tucker Community Foundation manages ten endowments that provide perpetual support for a senior citizen program, five public libraries, literacy programs, and parks and recreation projects in the Thomas and Davis area.
The Pioneer Memorial Public Library Fund and the Belington Public Library Fund are both agency-endowed. Agency endowed funds protect the assets of an organization for future needs by providing annual income. Establishing an agency endowment emonstrates to donors a commitment to long-range financial planning and provides a way for donors to give complex gifts such as stocks, life insurance or property. Agency endowments are pooled with other funds and invested to provide maximum return with lower fees.
Pioneer Memorial Public Library, located in Harman, West Virginia, established their agency endowed fund with proceeds from registration, sponsorships, and award money generated by Team Pioneer and the Harman Community Educational Outreach Service’s (CEOS) participation in TCF’s 2007 Run for It event. The Pioneer Memorial Public Library Fund continues to grow with donations from the general public, strong support from the Bucher family and annual Run For It proceeds.
The Belington Public Library established an endowed fund in 2015. The library serves southern Barbour County with books, e-books, public internet services, an extensive genealogy department, and other public services. The library strives to secure funds to maintain its collections and facilities and to protect them against possible damage from flooding of the Tygart Valley River.
The Mountaintop Public Library New Building Fund was established in 2013 with a generous donation and match challenge by an anonymous donor. The fund continues to grow with Run For It proceeds, community fundraisers, and donations from the general public. The fund supports construction of a new library near its current location in Thomas, WV.
The McClain Fund was created in 1990 by George and Mariwyn Faith McClain Smith to honor the memory of Christine “Faith” Reynolds McClain and Russell “Ken” McClain by providing annual donations to Five Rivers Public Library, Parsons, WV. The McClains owned the Parsons Advocate from 1943 to 1971 and established McClain Printing Company in l958 at the request of West Virginia University professors of history who, in the mid-1950’s, requested reprints of West Virginia history books that were no longer available. McClain Printing continues to operate as a family business run by the founder’s grandson, Ken Smith.
The Crimson Shamrock Literacy Fund provides project funds for activities that will lead to the improvement of literacy in West Virginia. The fund was established by Dr. David Dunstan Moran and Ms. Lori Leigh Wall of Eglon, West Virginia who “believe that the future of all humanity, especially in our beautiful mountain region, depends upon full literacy by all of the residents of this great state and continued education and support of all human areas of endeavor”.
Funds supporting parks and recreation include the National Bank of Davis Fund established in 1997 to provide funding for recreational projects in the town of Davis. In 2005, the bank was sold to Grant County Bank.
The C. W. Pell Fund was also established in 1997 to provide funding for the construction and maintenance of parks in Davis. The fund was created with a donation from Carl K. Kline of Morgantown to honor Charles Weider “Web” Pell, a native of Davis who graduated Davis High School in 1936, completed college and a six year stint in the U.S. Navy, and then returned to his hometown to teach social studies and coach basketball. Support from family members and other classmates and team members has helped build the fund.
The Rubenstein/Schilansky Family Fund was established by the James, Robert, Thomas and “Moe” Rubenstein, sons of Kenneth “Honey” and Ellen Arnold Rubenstein and nephews of Haskel and Goldie Poling Nestor Schilansky, all formerly of Thomas. The fund is to be used for recreational opportunities, particularly in the Thomas-Davis area and “in a manner which benefits the children and adults of Tucker County.”
To date, the foundation manages one agency-endowed fund that benefits Senior Citizen programs, the Grant County Senior Citizen Fund. Established in 2006, the fund provides perpetual funding for the Grant County Senior Citizen Center located in Petersburg, WV
As part of Philanthropy West Virginia’s “Keep 5 Local” program, and in an effort to grow the resources available for local use, Tucker Community Foundation encourages donors to support existing endowments, create new ones, and consider philanthropic estate planning. For more information on estate planning and how to create an endowed fund contact the Foundation Development Office at 304-259-5008.
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