National Community Foundation Week November 10 - 14

Next week is Community Foundation Week. I invite you to join with our Foundation and the 700+ community foundations around the country to learn about the increasingly important role we play in encouraging philanthropy to address local issues. Community Foundation week was created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush recognizing the work we do throughout America through our collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community needs. Back in 1989 we did not have a community foundation serving northern Nevada. It would be a full decade later before we came to fruition, thanks to the vision, effort, and generosity of our founders Jim Webster, Bob Armstrong, Mark Knobel, David Turner, Hazel Van Allen, Nancy Fennell, Ron Zurek, and Bruce James. Their vision was helped by an extraordinary gift from Marguerite Wattis Petersen. Since 1997 we have made more than 5,000 grants totaling almost $80 million. With our growth has come an understanding of community needs and connections to the public sector, private sector, and nonprofits. With the launch of our community and resident engagement work through initiatives and new projects to increase the impact of our philanthropy in the region, the Community Foundation  is poised to become a household word. Community Foundation week, culminating in National Philanthropy Day on Friday November 14 is a perfect time to consider adding a charitable giving plan to your life.  Please join with me, our staff, and board in celebrating 100 years of community foundations in America--and 16 years of service by our Foundation in northern Nevada.  Learn more at  www.nevadafund.org. We connect people who care with causes that matter. Chris Askin, President and CEO