 Helpful Articles
from David Vollrath,
Union County Foundation Executive Director
The Foundation encourages you to work closely with your professional advisor(s)
as you develop your estate plan and consider your present and future charitable goals. |
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“Helps” Fund
By David Vollrath, Executive Director Union County Foundation
Last weekend while I was viewing Olympic coverage NBC, without any prior notice, ran a 45minute Tom Brokaw piece
on the people of Gander, Newfoundland and their response to the 9/11 terrorist attack. As it turned out the small
town of Gander (population 5000) became the emergency landing site for all U.S. bound aircraft that were more than
halfway across the Atlantic Ocean at the time of the attacks. All U.S. air space immediately had to be cleared
and Gander became the unexpected hub for hundreds of jumbo jets loaded with thousands of passengers. The people
of Gander, Newfoundland suddenly found themselves with 10,000+ totally unexpected guests that needed food, lodging,
and all forms of daily living items. The F.A.A. would not release the stranded flights for 72+ hours until the
initial terrorist alert was lifted. The good people of Gander rallied in support of their new guests (dubbed the
“plane people”) in a way that can’t help but renew your faith in humanity. All the “plane people’s” needs were
met unconditionally and without any expectation of compensation. Tom Brokaw pointed out that the Ganderites were
puzzled by the fact that NBC would want to do a documentary piece revolving around their hospitality. The people
of Gander reasoned that this wasn’t news worthy but “simply was the way they lived their lives…always had lived
that way…what was the big deal?” Well the big deal was that not all people or towns would have responded with such
compassion, empathy, and unselfishness.
What does this have to do with Union County? I believe one of the outstanding characteristics of our local citizens
that makes this a desirable place to live work and raise our families is the inherent caring nature of the people
who live here. I believe the people of Union County possess the same characteristics that were displayed by the
people of Gander, Newfoundland on that fateful day of 9/11/01. I see these characteristics lived out in our citizens
nearly every day. People genuinely care for the well being of each other regardless of whether they really “know”
each other or not. It is common place for the people of our Union County Communities to rally to meet the emergency
needs of an individual or family that needs assistance. We don’t ask questions, we don’t qualify the situation
we just respond, one human being to another. I am thankful that I live in such a place and am grateful to live
amongst people who truly do care.
The Union County Foundation wants to do our part to enable the caring nature of our citizens to thrive. To that
end, several years ago our leadership established a “Helps Fund” that can serve as a home for the proceeds raised
to meet special emergency situations relating to a family’s health, shelter, or other specific needs. Using this
fund allows for quick community response to emergency or otherwise unexpected situations. Using the Helps Fund
also assures tax deductibility of contributions and professional distribution of the donations. If you have additional
questions regarding this special Fund please feel free to contact our office.
The Union County Foundation encourages you to work with your professional advisors as you consider your present
and future charitable goals. The Foundation is equipped to help you achieve these goals by providing: planned giving
and estate planning resource information, charitable gift annuities/life income plans, and a broad array of charitable
choices. Please call us at 937-642-9618, email info@unioncountyfoundation.org,
or stop by our Marysville office at 126 N. Main St. We are committed to helping you…. “preserve your footprint
in time.” |
