Donor Spotlight: Ron and Claire Francis

As well-known Cobb Countians with deep family ties to Marietta, Ron and Claire Francis had often talked about doing something to give back to Cobb County for the many blessings they had received as part of this community. Ron, a well-known Cobb banker and community volunteer, and Claire, whose Clotfelter/Northcutt family roots in Marietta go back some five generations, met in college and then moved “home” to Marietta after Ron completed a 3 year tour of duty with the service. Ron started his working life with Trust Company and has been in banking ever since, currently as founder, president, and CEO of First Landmark Bank which opened in March, 2008 just off the Square on Atlanta Street. Claire was a busy homemaker and also worked for the Department of Family and Children’s Services for many years.

Ron and Claire had considered establishing a private family foundation but when Ron was recruited for the Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) Board by colleague, Gary Bottoms, he learned more about the flexibility and convenience of a Donor Advised Family Fund which could remain in perpetuity as a Family Legacy. Although his initial interest was in the grantmaking scope of CCF’s work, he and Claire realized that setting up a Family Fund with CCF offered a unique convenience as well as a way to participate in building the Community Foundation for Cobb County.

Through their Family Fund, Ron and Claire can channel their charitable giving to the many different organizations they want to support such as their church, arts organizations, schools, and other non-profit organizations in Cobb County as well as in other areas. For minimum fees, CCF handles all of the administrative functions, including investment management, grant processing, and regular reports to all donors, as well as to the IRS. Donors like Ron and Claire are important reasons that CCF continues to grow as “ A Strong Foundation for A Strong Community.”

Donor Spotlight: Larry and Marcia Freeman

CCF Board member Larry Freeman and his wife Marcia hosted a June Garden Party and “Friend-Raiser” for CCF attended by 54 people. Guests were awed by the beauty and scope of what Larry has achieved in his 2½ acres of meandering woodland trails with perennials, annuals, water features and landscape plantings of every description. This green and colorful oasis also features Southern-Living style seating areas and whimsical groupings of garden sculptures along the paths.

No wonder the Atlanta Botanical Garden listed it first on the program for their Garden Tour in May! Bouquets of thanks to Larry and Marcia for An Enchanted Evening!

Cobb Community Foundation
Welcomes Five New Donors

What do the Sweetwater Community Action Mission Program (C.A.M.P.), the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association, and three other individuals and families like well-known Cobb Countians, Carla and Brent Brown and their Blessings of Grace Foundation, all have in common?

They comprise the newest group of donors to The Community Foundation for Cobb County (CCF) who have each established a CCF Fund as a vehicle for their charitable giving. These Funds cover a broad range of purposes from a straight Endowment Fund to a Scholarship Fund to a Donor Advised Fund for grant-making to address specific medical needs. Donors like the convenience, tax advantages, and flexibility of their Funds which can be named according to their wishes, or remain “anonymous,” and with grant-making schedules and succession plans for each Fund determined by the donors themselves.

The Community Foundation’s assets are pooled and carefully managed by a board and staff of local Cobb business and community leaders. A team of professional investment advisors monitors investment performance and reports regularly to the Board. All administrative and grant-making functions are handled by CCF with quarterly reports issued to donors and to the IRS, thus helping donors to realize great economies of scale at the same time they’re helping to build a strong Community Foundation for Cobb County.

Special thanks to all of our VIP donors, both new and “old!”

Thanks for Giving 2008 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 - Sinclair Townes & Company
Six Flags Over Georgia

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

Congratulations to our 2008 Grant Recipients

Center for Family Resources
Cobb Habitat for Humanity
Communities in Schools
Georgia Ballet
SafePath Children’s Advocacy Services
Telltale Theatre
YWCA

Jean Simmons After-Divorce Scholarships

Other grant opportunities will be posted on the website as they become available.