2023
ANNUAL REPORT
Nonprofit Distributions Scholarship Awards Grants Awarded
$288,606 $35,750
Trustees Joe Carter Jennifer Dennis
President (through June 30, 2023)
Phil Ferrell
Linda Neal
Natalie Fitch
Ervin Randle
David Madigan
$219,448
Fiscal Year 2023 Contributions Contributions Since Inception
Hossein Moini
Michael C. Mayhall
Term began July 1, 2023
David Towe Gene Love
Trustee Emeritus
$343,969
$12,219,300
" At the end, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” Denzel Washington
2023 Annual Report
A Letter from the Foundation
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The economic uncertainty that rippled across the country this past year was certainly felt throughout our own community as well. It’s not the first time we’ve experienced trying times, and once again, we all witnessed people coming together to help lift each other up. I can honestly say that the Oklahoma Standard was on full display throughout the year, and it’s so humbling to see neighbors reaching out to help those who were perhaps struggling a little bit more than themselves. When people invest in their communities and the people who live there, great things tend to happen. Focusing on sustainability and the investment policy of the Lawton Community Foundation, we were
able to help more people in need and help improve lives, especially during these uncertain economic times. It is such an honor to be part of this community, a community that we are all able to call home, a community that comes together in good times and in bad, a community called Lawton. This annual report reminds us all how much we inspire each other and how we continue to create positive change in our community.
Hossein Moini Lawton Community Foundation President
Ways to Support the Lawton Community Establishing an Donor-Advised Fund is one of the best ways to impact your community. Supporting your favorite nonprofit and accomplishing your charitable goals are important, and a Donor-Advised Fund is a simple, flexible and tax-efficient way to meet your needs. Gifts earn an immediate tax deduction, even if you haven't decided which organization you wish to support. The Lawton Community Foundation has three types of Donor-Advised Funds to choose from, with minimum investments ranging from $5,000 $20,000. Our goal is to make charitable giving as straightforward as possible, and we offer low fees and full administration so you can focus on your giving.
The time to plan for your future is now You will maintain you current resources and preserve your assets for retirement by designating a gift through you will or trust. Contact us to learn more about the following giving options: • Appreciated assets such as stocks, bonds & business interests • Real estate, including homes, accreages or business properties • Oil and gas royalty interests • Life insurance policies • Retirement plans • Cryptocurrency Did you know that at age 70 1/2, you can begin to take Qualified Charitable Distributions from your traditional IRA to support a nonprofit or scholarship fund?
The gift that keeps on giving A gift to your favorite nonprofit provides a one-time benefit, while a gift to that same organization's permanent endowment ensures your donation will live on forever.
Call us today at 580-353-4747 or visit LawtonCF.org to learn how you can impact the community.
Fiscal Year 2023 Investment Performance Report Pooled Investments as of June 30, 2023 » Indicates Benchmarks
Equities Oklahoma City Community Foundation » S&P 500 » MSCI ACWI GD
Fiscal Year (Jan-June)
Calendar YTD (Jan-June)
3 years (Fiscal)
5 years (Fiscal)
10 years (Fiscal)
17.42% 19.59% 17.13%
14.05% 16.89% 14.26%
12.48% 14.60% 11.51%
10.04% 12.31% 8.64%
11.00% 12.31% 9.31%
0.28% -0.94%
2.21% 2.09%
-2.83% -3.96%
1.26% 0.77%
1.38% 1.52%
12.18%
6.56%
16.55%
4.83%
10.94% 11.03%
9.33% 10.14%
7.55% 6.64%
6.61% 6.78%
Fixed Income
Alternatives Oklahoma City Community Foundation
Total Return Oklahoma City Community Foundation » 50% Russell 3000/15% ACWI Ex US/35% Bloomberg Barclays Capital G/C Int*
*The Oklahoma City Community Foundation manages all assets.
7.15% 7.58%
Lawton Community Foundation
Oklahoma City Community Foundation » Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate
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Lawton Community Foundation Donors The donors listed below have made gifts of $500 or more to permanent endowments at the Lawton Community Foundation in FY 2023. All America Bank
Eddie and Susan Dabney
Stephen J. Arntz Bar-S-Foods
First United Methodist Church Foundation Inc. of Lawton
Best Mold Technologies
Natalie Fitch
Billingsley Family of Dealerships
Friends of Fort Sill Inc.
Dr. George I. Bridges Kyle and Taren Cabelka Cache School Education Foundation Capitol Cannoneers Chapter of the US Field Artillery Association Center for Creative Living Corp. Chisholm Trail Heritage Center Association Christian Family Counseling Center Dennis D. and Anita R. Clippinger Comanche County Memorial Hospital Foundation
Hillary Communications Michael and Carolyn Keith Lawton Business Women Lawton Chapter of National AMBUCS Inc. Lawton Family YMCA Lawton Public School Foundation Lawton Rotary Leadership Institute Gene Love Mike and Sandy Mayhall Hugh C. Montgomery Museum of the Great Plains OPAA Food Management of Oklahoma LLC
Karla J. Oty and John M. McArthur Phil and Nancy Ferrell Roger Richter Roadback Inc. Mr. H. John Rogers Mary Richman Sankaran Mike E. and Melody E. Scott St. John’s Lutheran Church St. Paul’s United Methodist Church David and Mary Towe United States Field Artillery Association United Way of Southwest Oklahoma Glenn Warren Sandy Warren Western Trail Historical Society
Donor-Advised Funds
Funds are established with a gift of cash or other assets that allow donors to recommend grants to a nonprofit or cause of choice.
2023 Annual Report
Terry K. Bell Charitable Trust Fund
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Arnold and Corrine Boyd Family Endowment Fund
First United Methodist Church Foundation Gift Fund Katherine D. Lacy Fund
Virginia Brewczynski Legacy Fund
Gene and Carolyn Anne Love Gift Fund
Cowboy Fund
Oklahoma Arts Institute Scholarship Fund
Cleo Craig Memorial Cancer & Research Foundation Fund
Saving Today, Impacting Tomorrow Stephen Arntz retired after serving his country in the U.S. Army for 26 years. After spending his military career traveling and living throughout the country, the Arntz family returned to Lawton and have made it their home. Mr. Arntz currently serves on the board of directors for the National Chapter of the U.S. Field Artillery Association. He has become an advocate for their endowment at the Lawton Community Foundation.
We recently sat down with Stephen to learn more about how he uses his IRA to make an impact.
Stephen Arntz
Q. Why did you decide to make an IRA Rollover gift?
Q. Why did you choose to support their endowment fund rather than the nonprofit directly?
A: I’m at a point in my life now where I enjoy giving back and making gifts to my favorite charities, and I felt like taking money from my IRA was a good way to do that. Plus, there are benefits to using my IRA for this purpose. I recently gave a gift to the United States Field ArtilleryFort Sill Artillery Half Section Fund.
In the case of the Field Artillery Association, I support their endowment and want to see it grow. At one time, organizations like this would rely on the usual fundraising activities like golf tournaments, but those days are gone and supporting the endowment will allow the Field Artillery Association to grow its assets, and it’s for a good cause.
A Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA means you can support your favorite causes and take advantage of tax savings, too. Learn more at LawtonCF.org.
Lawton Community Foundation
Contributions Since Inception
to the Lawton Community Foundation
$343,969 $12,219,300
Lawton Community Foundation
Fiscal Year 2023 Contributions
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2023 Annual Report
Nonpro�it Endowment
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The Lawton Community Foundation administers permanent funds for 39 nonprofit organizations, with 49 total funds serving Lawton and the surrounding area. The endowments provide a reliable source of income for program participants and offer a convenient way for donors to contribute. As of June 30, 2023, the market value for these endowment funds was nearly $6 million, and the annual distribution to the nonprofits exceeded $288,000.00 (Subfunds are listed in Italics) Fund Value Distribution Artillery OCS Alumni Chapter $ 183,769 $ 9,706 Arts for All 62,754 3,013 Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Fires Chapter-Lawton-Ft. Sill 31,058 804 Bernice Ford Price Library Endowment 91,041 4,236 Cache School Scholarship 234,649 11,548 Center for Creative Living Endowment 29,590 713 Christian Family Counseling Center 45,093 720 Comanche County Memorial Hospital Foundation 134,633,73 6,289 Crime Stoppers/Drug Busters of Southwest Oklahoma Endowment 118,159 6,242 First United Methodist Church Foundation of Lawton 170,680 7,899 Frederick School Enrichment Foundation 25,033 650 Friends of Fort Sill Endowment 108,337 4,821 Giddy Up ’N Go 70,322 3,706 Greater Lawton Rotary Club* 314,608 Great Plains - AMBUCS Kid's Zone 21,307 555 Great Plains Technology Center Foundation 30,308 1,200 Great Plains - Jim Nesbitt Scholarship 61,974 3,274 Hackberry Flat Foundation 60,413 3,192 Hearts That Care – Wendy Bartanen 354,603 18,693 Holiday in the Park 27,814 721 Humane Society of Lawton - Comanche County** 22,030 Kathy Bea Holsinger Reese Memorial for the benefit of St. 112,074 5,837 Paul's United Methodist Church Lawton - Family YMCA 41,985 1,329 Lawton AMBUCS Lou Brox Endowment 154,465 7,767 Lawton Athletic Foundation Endowment 65,683 2,710 Lawton Community Theatre 33,807 874 Lawton Food Bank 202,475 10,589 Lawton Friends of the Library 36,707 1,918 Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra 69,972 3,631 Lawton Public School Foundation 877,282 44,182 Larry K. Freeman Endowment 244,881 13,148 Lawton-Fort Sill Armed Services YMCA Gene Love Endowment 424,079 21,878 Museum of the Great Plains 43,877 2,136 On the Chisholm Trail Association Heritage Center 83,129 4,082 Roadback Inc. 27,291 Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society 21,311 556 St. John Lutheran Church Foundation 140,928 6,494 Tipton Children's Home 61,928 3,062 United States Field Artillery Association Foundation 388,034 20,432
General Donald Keith R. Keith Memorial Scholarship General Jack N. Merritt Scholarship General J. H. Binford Peay III Scholarship Dennis J. Reimer Scholarship General Carl E. Vuono Scholarship United States Field Artillery - Fort Sill Artillery Half Section U.S. Field Artillery Association All-Star Scholarship U.S. Field Artillery Association Eagle Scholarship United Way of Southwest Oklahoma Western Trail Historical Society World Christian Broadcasting Total *Donor Advised Fund **Fund established in FY 2023
$
61,037 $ 25,456 25,321 31,814 25,321 23,535 24,785 23,462 599,824 158,772 75,309 $ 5,988,135 $
2,670 1,344 1,337 1,680 1,337 915 1,308 1,190 29,164 5,778 3,276 288,606
Supporting Endowments Can Have a Long-Lasting Impact Neighbors helping neighbors – it was at Lawton’s core when it was founded, and it still is today. As Lawton’s second oldest civic organization, the Lawton Chapter of AMBUCS is a prime example of business and community leaders helping those in need. For more than 70 years, the group has devoted itself to inspiring mobility and independence by building wheelchair ramps, providing therapeutic tricycles for people with disabilities and supporting scholarships for therapy students. Long-time resident, Dennis Clippinger has been
Lawton Community Foundation
Lawton resident enjoying new wheelchair ramp thanks to AMBUCS.
a member of the Lawton Chapter of AMBUCS for more than 30 years and currently serves as the organization’s treasurer. As a member, he has seen the difference he can make for his fellow community members many times over, so when they established the Lawton AMBUCS Lou Brox Endowment Fund in 2009, he quickly recognized its community value. “Knowing those funds will be working in perpetuity to help provide programs and offer scholarships is the reason I am a faithful supporter,” Dennis said.
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Scholarship Awards In 2023, the Lawton Community Foundation awarded scholarships to 14 Lawton-area high school seniors. The recipients represent school districts in Lawton and the surrounding area.
Lawton Community Scholars The Lawton Community Foundation awards a one-year, $2,000 scholarship to graduating seniors in Comanche County. In addition, those recipients attending Cameron University receive a matching scholarship from the school. • Kathryn Aviani – Elgin High School • Madison Crocker – Eisenhower High School • • • • • •
Elijah Farquharson – Cache High School Drew Holland – MacArthur High School Kourtney Knutson – Eisenhower High School Raygan Krey – Sterling High School Tatiana Robinson – Lawton High School Kyara Roig – MacArthur High School
Frank Curran Memorial/Lawton Noon Lions Club Scholarship
2023 Annual Report
A four-year $2,000 award established by the Lawton Noon Lions Club in memory of Col. Frank Curran, awarded to Lawton-area graduating seniors who plan to attend Cameron University. • Drew Holland – MacArthur High School
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Lawton Business Women Nell Franklin Scholarship This $2,000 award established by longtime Lawton resident and Lawton Business Women’s Club member Nell Franklin is awarded to Lawton Public Schools graduating females who plan to attend Cameron University or Great Plains Technology Center (Lawton Campus). • Kathryn Aviani – Elgin High School • Katy Dao - Eisenhower High School
McMahon Legacy Scholarship The McMahon Legacy Scholarship was established in 2018 by the Comanche County Saddle & Sirloin Club. This scholarship aims to assist graduating seniors of the Comanche County Livestock Show in pursuit of secondary education. • Bella Cole – Cache High School • Kylee Dodd – Cache High School • Tommy Glover – Elgin High School
Lamont N. Wilson ROTC Scholarship A $2,000 award was established in 2010 by the friends and family of Marine Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson is awarded to a graduating senior participating in ROTC from Lawton, Eisenhower or MacArthur high schools. • Veronica Threats – Eisenhower High School
2023 Lawton Scholarship Recipients attending the Lawton Community Foundation Scholarship Breakfast
Hero's Legacy Impacts a Student's Life “Sleep well, America.” Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson of Lawton signed off every letter back home from the frontlines of Operation Iraqi Freedom with these three words, truly summing up his feelings about his country. After graduating from Eisenhower Senior High School in 2003, Lamont enlisted in the U.S. Marines in June of that same year living out his childhood dream of a military career. Based out of Camp Pendleton, California, Lamont was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. In September 2004, 20-year-old Lamont was killed in combat in Fallujah, Iraq. In 2010, the Lamont N. Wilson ROTC Scholarship was established at the Lawton Community Foundation to ensure his legacy lives on.
Veronica Threats, Scholarship Recipient
Each year, ROTC students from Lawton, Eisenhower and MacArthur high schools are invited to apply for the Lamont N. Wilson ROTC Scholarship. This year Eisenhower High School senior, Veronica Threats was the recipient of the Lamont N. Wilson ROTC Scholarship. “This scholarship will help take the pressure off of my parents when it comes to paying for my tuition; it's going to help them a lot. It felt so good to receive the news that I was awarded this scholarship, and I am excited about my future as I study Psychology at UCO.” said Veronica. Scholarship and award funds provide donors with a way to honor their loved ones while helping students further their education. The Lawton Community Foundation works with donors to help them accomplish their charitable goals. In addition to administrating the fund, they will provide perpetual support for the scholarship program.
Scholarship Endowments
Frank Curran Memorial/Lawton Noon Lions Club Scholarship Fund
Fund Value $ 177,288
Lawton Business Women Nell Franklin Scholarship Fund
$93,608
Lawton Business Women Scholarship Fund
$46,702
McMahon Legacy Scholarship Fund
$95,915
Lamont N. Wilson ROTC Scholarship Fund
$41,766
Total
$459,309
Lawton Community Foundation
In addition to the Lawton Community Scholars program, the Lawton Community Foundation administers endowment funds that individuals or organizations have established. Below is a list of the scholarship funds and the fund values as of June 30, 2023.
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Community Grants The Community Grants program awards grants of up to $5,000 to support projects geared toward improving the quality of life and providing opportunities for Lawton-area citizens. In FY 2023, $47,500 in grants were awarded to 12 charitable organizations.
Center for Creative Living Corp.
Lawton Mobile Meals
$2,500 to help purchase a new dishwasher for the CCL Senior Nutrition Program.
$5,000 to provide essentials to the elderly in the Lawton community to help improve mental and physical wellness.
Citizens Caring for Children $5,000 to help fund their Mobile Foster Futures program, which brings critical resources to Oklahoma children in foster care in rural Oklahoma.
Lawton Rotary Leadership Institute
Giddy Up ‘N Go Inc.
$2,500 for their Live2Lead conference, which encourages leaders to stay in the Lawton community and strive for excellence.
This $5,000 grant allowed them to fix the pipes and hot water heater in their office last winter.
Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma $2,500 to support their annual Lawton Girl Scouts Spring Campout.
Hearts That Care Volunteer Health Clinic $5,000 to support their Prescription Assistance Program that helps individuals at or below the federal poverty level with medication costs.
Infant Crisis Services
2023 Annual Report
$5,000 to support their Baby Mobile Program, which provides formula, food and diapers to infants and toddlers in the Lawton area.
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Lawton Farmers Market Institute $5,000 to support the farmers market, special events and educational programming at the Lawton Farmers Market new permanent location.
Red Rock Military Services $5,000 to support mental health care for uninsured clients at the Cohen Clinic at Red Rock.
United Way of Southwest Oklahoma $2,500 to support their Success By 6 program, which educates families with children ages 0-5 on the importance of early childhood development and how to prepare their child for school and life readiness.
USO Oklahoma $2,500 to purchase supplies for the USO Fort Sill Center.
For more information on our Community Grants program, visit: LawtonCF.org
Matching Grants Additionally, the Lawton Community Foundation matched $2,500 for $5,000 in gifts made to existing endowments through the matching grants program. In 2023, 15 charitable organization endowments received $2,500 each for a total of $37,500 in matching grants. Bernice Ford Price Library Endowment
Great Plains Technology Center Foundation
Cache School Education Foundation
General Donald R. Keith Memorial Scholarship
Christian Family Counseling Center
Lawton AMBUCS Lou Brox Endowment
Comanche County Memorial Hospital Foundation
Lawton Family YMCA
First United Methodist Church of Lawton Foundation
Lawton Public School Foundation St. John Lutheran Church
Friends of Ft. Sill
Western Trail Historical Society
Greater Lawton Rotary Club
World Christian Broadcasting
Lifting Up Our Fellow Citizens
Mobile Meals recipients show some of the essentials they received.
Lawton Community Foundation
In rural Oklahoma, unsteady economic times often force people to make tough decisions, especially for our older adults who live on fixed incomes, and Lawton is no different. The choices come down to paying for food or going hungry, paying for utilities or bundling up during the winter. At Lawton Mobile Meals, they look out for their fellow community members, helping their neighbors in need, particularly older adults. They want to ensure this vulnerable population is provided with the essentials most of us take for granted. In 2022, the Lawton Community Foundation awarded them a Community Grant that was immeasurable, helping so many across the area with essentials they would normally have to go without.
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If you care about Lawton and would like to create an impact in this community, you can do this by starting a new fund or supporting our existing funds. please visit:
» LawtonCF.org NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OKLAHOMA CITY, OK PERMIT NO. 255 The Lawton Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation P.O. Box 6033 • Lawton, OK 73506
2023
ANNUAL REPORT