Clemmons Community Foundation: Giving Back to Western Forsyth County

from FC 2018

Giving Back Through Talents

BY MEGAN TAYLOR

Giving Back to Western Forsyth County

Since its founding in 2004, the Clemmons Community Foundation has stayed true to its mission of working for the better good of Clemmons and its residents in everything it does. Originally started as the Clemmons Rotary Foundation, Inc. by the Clemmons Rotary Club, it is now designated as a public charity with its own 501c3 IRS status. According to the organization’s website, the name change occurred in 2011 “…to re ect its wider base of contributions and its larger scope of people being served.” Another change was the extension of membership in the Board of Directors. Since the organization was founded by the Rotary Club, the Board of Directors was composed of only Rotary members. Now, the all-volunteer Board of Directors is lled with leaders from 13 local businesses and the community.

The Clemmons Community Foundation is known for its work in charitable community projects and grants given to other Clemmons nonpro ts. The organization has granted contributions to projects, such as the YMCA Youth & Government program and sent students to Raleigh to experience working in the state’s legislature, the annual Village of Clemmons Stormwater Cleanup Project and the purchase of 30 laptops and mobile support carts for the West Forsyth High School Parent Teacher Student Association. The organization is a proud supporter of Cancer Services, The Clemmons Food Pantry, The Shepherd Center and Senior Services. This is just a fraction of the grants and support the Clemmons Community Foundation has provided to the community. In the past six months, the Clemmons Community Foundation has engaged the community in a “listening tour.” Outcomes of that experience are Clemmons residents wanting to feel more connected to each other and having a better sense of togetherness in the community. The organization will foster that mission through its new People, Places and Partnerships strategy. “Our intention is that we give grants to projects and nonpro ts that will have a high impact in the greater Clemmons area,” said John Bost, president of the Clemmons Community Foundation. “In fact, most of the nonpro ts we support are outside of Clemmons but still serve Clemmons residents. We will also be allocating grants and scholarships to those in Yadkin County.”

Recently, it received one of its largest contributions ever from Yadkin County and the donor-advised funds will be utilized to bene t communities in that area as well as Clemmons. “We are struggling with our geography and how far we’ll go to support nonpro ts and projects, location-wise,” said Bost. “When awarding grants, the Board of Directors looks at an organization’s services offered and the population they serve. Also, we make sure there isn’t any duplication of services by various nonpro ts.” Within the Clemmons Community Foundation is the Women Who Care program. This program was created in December 2013 by past Foundation presidents, Joanna Lyall and Frank Samuelson. Together, Lyall and Samuelson sought to form a group to help women in need and further the mission of the Clemmons Community Foundation. In January 2014, the advisory board of 15 women began monthly meetings and, just a year later, more than 50 women were serving the board. Women Who Care focuses mainly on supporting single mothers; however, the all-women-led program includes opportunities for teenage single mothers and provides them with guidance to receive nonpro t assistance. “Women Who Care is modeled off the ‘Pearls of Empowerment’ program by the Davie Foundation,” said Bost. “This was a women’s initiative started by Jane Simpson. When Joanna and Frank saw the need for Clemmons, they got in front of the group and rallied support. We like to give credit where credit is due, and the Foundation can thank Joanna, Frank and our early founders for getting the Clemmons Community Foundation to where it is today.” Looking into the future, the Clemmons Community Foundation is already planning for big things. In spring 2018, the organization will begin its search for a full-time executive director and an administrative assistant so as to set up its rst of ce space within the community. This new adventure was made possible thanks to donations made by the Wayne Shore Family as well as operational dollars afforded by the Thad and Mary Bingham Family funds.

“The Shore and Bingham families each gave substantial contributions to the Foundation, with part of the Shore funds earmarked for personnel and administrative purposes for three years, which should add to the probability of growth in our endowment, as more community awareness occurs and donor relationships are personally cultivated,” said Bost. “This is the perfect time and a rightful next step for the organization to grow its endowment. Sometimes it can be hard when your Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers with other jobs. Having the of ce will allow us to be more accessible to potential donors, our website and social media accounts to continue being updated, etc. We offer IRS bene ts and can receive bequests in the form of stocks and real estate; therefore, we are excited to work with the community at this new level.” John Bost and Mayor Sly James of Kansas City, representing CCF by invitation of Kau man Foundation, as one of 400 people from 10 countries during recent ESHIP:

Entrepreneur, Ecosystems and Economies Conference this past June.

For more information about The Clemmons Community Foundation, visit clemmonscommunityfoundation.org or call 336.407.2994. Be sure to follow them on Facebook.