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2005 Annual Report
THE UNION COUNTY FOUNDATION
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A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
 Recently
I was asked if 2005 was a good year for the Foundation. I paused, reflected and answered, "yes 2005 was a
very good year for the Foundation." From a purely financial standpoint the Foundation’s assets increased 18%
in ’05 to $3,269,533. The Foundation’s Investment Committee can claim much of the credit for the increase in assets.
This committee manages and monitors all Foundation investments, establishes Fund administrative fees and has successfully
diversified assets in accordance with a broadly accepted allocation model. The increase in assets also resulted
from the addition of several new Funds in '05: The Jason Mathewson Scholarship Fund, The Andrew Daum Memorial
Soccer Scholarship Fund, The Sarah Kathryn Demchak Memorial Scholarship Fund, The Union Rural Electric Scholarship
Fund, The J. Carl & Jeanie Thiergartner Family Fund, Union County Helps Fund, and a new charitable remainder
unitrust Fund.
Other highlights of the past year included "traveling" board meetings
held in both Plain City and Richwood. These special presentations allowed business and community leaders in each
of these Union County communities to become fully informed regarding the charitable services offered by the Foundation.
2005 also saw the first Planning Council gathering of county professional advisors. This event was co-sponsored
by the Memorial Hospital Development Council. The Hospital Development Council also teamed with the Foundation
to host the third annual Estate Planning Seminar. This annual event features presentations by several estate planning
experts and provides continuing education hours for the attorneys, CPA’s, and insurance professionals who attend.
In the interest of transparency and accountability the Foundation board committed to a policy of annual audits
starting in ’05.
A large part of Foundation activity revolves around grant distributions. In 2005
the Foundation disbursed $402,861 through over 36 named Funds (a complete listing can be found on our website).
Three local fraternal organizations housing their charity Funds within the Foundation: Elks, Eagles, and Moose,
together advised distributions of over $250,000 to county causes. The Foundation continues to accept grant applications
on a quarterly basis. Grant application and guidelines can be picked up at the Foundation office or at our web
site www.emarysville.com/unioncountyfoundation.
As good a year as 2005 has been 2006 portends to be even better. The citizenry
of Union County continue to act on their charitable inclinations by allowing the Union County Foundation to help
turn charitable dreams into real world action. Our board of trustees operates quietly and effectively in the background.
In 2006 they are: David Allen (legal Counsel), Bob Buckley (CPA), Phillip Connolly, Robin Craft, Dan Fitzgerald,
Barbara Holcomb, JR Kruse, Robert Lewis, Dr. John Linscott, Tom McCarthy, Frank Miller, Dorothy Mudgett, Pat Nuckles,
Dr. Frank Raymond, and Barbara Timmons. These men and women, and those that came before them, are the reason that
Union County can be proud to have a local community foundation.
Communities that look and plan beyond the present are likely to be successful in the future. By that measure 2006
should be another very good year!
David A. Vollrath
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