|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By David Vollrath, Executive Director Union County Foundation Recently I read an article in a popular financial magazine that discussed what we as consumers can buy that best provides happiness. You might guess that items such as sports cars, vacation homes, and fashionable clothing might head the list. In today’s culture the pattern seems to be buy as much as you can as quickly as you can while throwing all caution to the wind. Living in the moment seems to be far more important than considering the next day, the next year, or certainly not the next generation. The accumulation of “toys” seems to be the scorecard by which many judge success. Surprisingly this article pointed out that material things don’t generally provide lasting happiness. There is always going to be something newer, faster, or better, that renders our current possessions into tomorrow’s throw-aways. The author of the article, Jean Chatzky, truthfully observes and simply states, “goods tarnish over time.” What yesterday made us happy is inadequate today and tomorrow may even contribute to our unhappiness. So what then can we purchase that contributes to our happiness? One of the most meaningful purchases we can make is a selfless purchase, a purchase that isn’t about us but rather is about someone else. The most selfless purchase I can think of is a charitable purchase. As director of this Community Foundation nearly every day I see acts of selfless charity that bring great happiness to the benefactors. Over the last several years I’ve seen hundreds of people make charitable contributions to the two veterans memorial projects that are underway in this county. I can tell you that I have seen genuine happiness as a result of their selfless acts of charity. I have seen genuine happiness in the families who have selflessly initiated scholarship funds to honor a loved one. I have seen genuine happiness in the hearts of those who have made charitable provisions for the future in their estate plans. I’ve seen faces shine with happiness as they contribute to a fund supporting foster children or help initiate a fund to assist Union County families and seniors. The lesson I’ve learned is that happiness is a wonderful and often unexpected by-product of philanthropy. Thankfully many of the good people of Union County have not taken a lifetime to learn that lesson of life. The Union County Foundation is equipped to help you achieve your charitable goals by providing: planned giving and estate planning resource information, charitable gift annuities/life income plans, and a broad array of charitable choices including establishment of scholarship funds and donor advised funds. 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. Please call us at 937-642-9618, email info@unioncountyfoundation.org, reference our website at www.unioncountyfoundation.org, or stop by our Marysville office at 126 N. Main St. We are committed to helping you… “preserve your footprint in time.” |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
