The Jean Simmons After-Divorce Scholarship Fund

CCF Donor Jean Simmons, first row, center; and CCF Executive Director, Sue Wootton, second row center, congratulate Jean Simmons Scholarship winners: first row left: Christine Longwell, Jennifer Shifflett, and Cherie Brackett

The Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) was pleased to partner with Donor Jean Simmons to award a 5th annual round of After-Divorce Scholarships to three deserving young women to assist them in completing their education. Jean understands very well the difficulties faced by single mothers – or fathers - with young children to raise while trying to finish their own education and job training. Her Scholarship Fund is a direct result of her personal experience as a young, divorced mother with four young children. While she was building her outstanding career as a real-estate agent in Cobb County, Jean knew that she wanted to develop a scholarship program for other young, divorced persons, but rather than start a private foundation which is burdened with many IRS requirements and policies, she turned to CCF for assistance in establishing her Fund.
As a 501c-3 public charity, CCF handles all of the administration, investment management, and grantmaking functions, thereby enabling donors to concentrate on their main interests – their philanthropic goals and grants.

Donor Spotlight: Joni House — The Canopy Fund

Joni is a well-known Cobb County businesswoman who runs her own management consulting firm, The Grayfen Group, and also works tirelessly as a land conservation advocate. She is a co-founder of the Friends of Hyde Farm, a Cobb citizens organization which was a key player in completing the preservation of Hyde Farm in East Cobb, and she has served two terms as a member of the Cobb Parks Bond Citizens Committee helping the county select the best greenspace parcels to purchase with public bond funds. Her love of nature is evident in every part of her life from her community service to her recreational time. It was “natural” for her to create a Donor Advised Fund dedicated to helping learners of all ages develop a love for nature and the skills to conserve it by “funding projects that provide hands-on outdoor learning opportunities in environmental education, life sciences, earth sciences, river/water studies and conservation.” Joni researched several options for how to implement her plans for her philanthropic legacy before making the decision to establish her Fund at the Cobb Community Foundation. She appreciated the many services that CCF offers its donors, including insuring the permanence of her legacy, all of the administrative functions of grant-making, investment management, and quarterly donor reports. CCF is especially pleased to welcome Joni and The Canopy Fund to our family of philanthropists!

Donor Spotlight: Mary and Charlie Yates
The Mary and Charlie Yates Family Fund

Congratulations to CCF Donor, Charlie Yates, who was named 2008 VOLUNTEER FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR at the National Philanthropy Day Awards presented in November at the Georgia World Congress Center. Nominated by The Atlanta Opera, where he serves as President, his outstanding leadership, tenacious fundraising, and passion for the arts have been invaluable in solidifying financial support for the Opera. He has also worked to insure a smooth transition for the organization to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Since announcing the move to Cobb, The Atlanta Opera has raised over $12 million–receiving six-figure corporate sponsorships and raising $3 million from the Board. The company has increased subscriptions by 96% and attendance by 67%! He was recently named Chair-Elect of the Metro Atlanta YMCA, so he will be wearing two hats shortly. His wife, Mary, recently completed a two-year term as Chair of Families First in Atlanta and serves on the board of Road Safe America.

In 2005, Mary and Charlie Yates established a Donor Advised Family Fund (DAF) with CCF to serve as a vehicle for their charitable giving. The gifts and grants from their Fund go to their church, many non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and causes that are important to them and their family. Mary and Charlie appreciate the convenience, flexibility, and investment oversight that a Donor Advised Fund provides, and CCF salutes them both as shining examples of community philanthropists.

Congratulations to Jerry Nix
–2008 James L. Rhoden, Jr. Visionary Philanthropist

CCF is proud to present its 6th annual James L. Rhoden. Jr. Visionary Philanthropist award to Jerry Nix, Chairman and CFO of Genuine Parts Company where he has worked for 30 years. Jerry is well-known throughout Cobb County as a businessman with the highest personal standards and also for his dedicated “behind” the scenes” efforts for many Cobb non-profits. In addition to chairing the Capital Campaign for The Center for Family Resources and the Oscar Night Gala, he is currently serving as Board Chair at Young Harris College and is either a current or past Board member of the following: Arts for All, Inc., Boy Scouts of America, The Cobb Chamber of Commerce, The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, United Way, and the WellStar Foundation. Jerry and his wife, Cheryl have three children–Hope, Jay, and Scott–and four grandchildren. It is abundantly clear that Jerry epitomizes a Visionary Philanthropist and we are grateful that he and his family call Cobb County “Home!”

Kaye Long and Kelley Wilson
The Blackwell Family Fund

In addition to their busy roles as wives, mothers, and community volunteers, Kaye Long and Kelley Wilson have another important role as key advisors to The Blackwell Family Fund, a CCF Donor Advised Fund established by their parents, Billie and Micky Blackwell, in 2005. The purpose of the Fund is to carry out the philanthropic goals of the Blackwell Family, and Kaye and Kelley are charged with making those annual decisions about where their family’s grants will be directed. The family decides together on the total amount of the grants to be given, and then Kaye and Kelley choose the specific organizations and the amount of each individual grant. They appreciate the convenience and coordination of using a Donor Advised Fund to issue the grant checks, create all necessary correspondence, and maintain all financial records. The Cobb Community Foundation provides fully-qualified 501c-3, tax-deductible status for all of its Funds, as well as ongoing management of each Fund, regular financial reports to donors, and all required IRS tax returns. However, perhaps the most meaningful aspect of a family fund like The Blackwell Family Fund is that it will continue to be a legacy for future generations as the grandchildren rotate in as Donor Advisors to the Fund when the youngest grandchild reaches the age of 18. Those future generations will continue to build upon their cherished family tradition of giving back to make a significant difference in their communities.

Steve Imler
Humane Society of Cobb County Foundation Fund

Congratulations to Steve Imler, a dedicated volunteer for the Humane Society of Cobb County (HSCC), who not only has a “Heart” for animals and their welfare, but also a “Dream” of creating a permanent source of income for HSCC to insure that the organization would always have access to funding to support its mission, programs, and future needs.

Steve decided to explore options for creating an HSCC Foundation Fund by utilizing the services of the Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) instead of setting up and managing a separate foundation. By working with CCF Board members and staff, and attorney and former CCF Board chair, Tom Rogers, a Donor-Designated Fund agreement was established in January, 2009 for the new HSCC Foundation Fund.

This Fund works like an endowment fund and both income and principal are designated solely for the benefit of the HSCC. All gifts are fully tax-deductible to the donor as either a gift or bequest.

Steve announced the HSCC Foundation Fund and a pledge challenge during a festive Valentine’s celebration called “Hearts and Dreams” on February 14th at The Strand Theatre. To encourage others to donate, he will match the first $50,000 from the community dollar for dollar. The HSCC Foundation Fund will help the HSCC save helpless animals and serve the community for years to come.

Thanks for Giving 2009 Partners in Philanthropy

Presenting Sponsors:
Bank of North Georgia - Cobb EMC - The Facility Group
Fidelity Bank - Futren - Genuine Parts Company
G H & I - Moore Colson - Security Exchange Bank
MSI Benefits Group

Supporting Sponsors:
The Bottoms Group, LLC - Forrester Media - Infomart
Lockheed Martin - RaceTrac Petroleum
Sinclair Townes & Company - Six Flags Over Georgia

General Sponsors:
Carolyn & Doug Chaffins - Claire & Ron Francis
Moore & Cubbedge - Jean Simmons