Two Marysville banks and Marysville Lions Club announced major gifts at the kickoff mixer of Marysville Community Foundation March 4 at Landoll Lanes.
Citizens State Bank and United Bank & Trust each pledged $10,000 for each of the next five years to the community’s new foundation during the event.
“That deserves a yippee skippy,” said foundation board president Jeff Crist as he spoke to more than 100 people at the mixer.
Marysville Lions Club made a $10,000 donation, and Lions president Bill Phillipi challenged other local service clubs to also help the foundation get up and running as a philanthropic organization.
“This is going to be an exciting opportunity to give back to the community,” said Lynn Mayer, Citizens State Bank president.
Leonard Wolfe, United Bank & Trust president, said the bank donates to foundations in its other communities and is pleased to now do so in Marysville.
“It’s a good way to be a good corporate community citizen,” Wolfe said.
The foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and will accept donations that will be invested to generate funds for a variety of projects, activities and scholarships. Gifts can also be designated for a sole purpose in the community.
“It’s a tool for you to reach your charitable goals,” said Lori Huber, executive director of the Washington County Community Foundation.
Huber was at the mixer to lend support to Marysville’s new foundation. Washington County’s foundation has raised $536,000 in its first five years, she said.
The gifts have been invested through the Greater Salina Community Foundation, and Huber said the earnings have resulted in grants for local playground equipment, fire safety equipment, backstops, summer reading materials, songbooks and CDs for nursing homes and many other local needs.
Marysville’s new organization was established as an affiliate of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation.
Vern Henricks, executive director of the Manhattan foundation, told the crowd that he and his staff want to help Marysville’s foundation get on its feet.
Once established, he said, the local organization can decide whether to administer the program locally.
“What this is all about is your community,” Henricks said. “We’re here to help you grow and become prosperous.”
Crist said Marysville’s foundation will pay 1 percent of its annual funds to the Manhattan foundation to administer assets and help with marketing. Crist noted that other small community foundations had advised Marysville’s board the rate was well worth it.
As Marysville Community Foundation launches, the board has established a Founders Fund. Those who give $1,000 for five consecutive years will be named in foundation brochures as founding members.
Efforts to publicize the foundation have begun, and board members are available to speak with local service clubs and anyone with questions.
Crist noted that all board members have made personal donations to the foundation to help it start. Board members are Crist, president; Ryan Smith, vice president; Dennis Kramer, treasurer; Sarah Kessinger, secretary; Bette Lammerding, contact person; Cindy Mason, Lynn Mayer, Bill Phillipi and Candace Wright. The board meets monthly at Marysville Public Library.
Trustees helping to publicize and advise the foundation are Randy Brown, Gary Howland and Don Landoll. - See more at: http://www.marysvilleonline.net/articles/2015/03/11/news/doc55009f4d450ad737770137.txt#sthash.hFTeg4Wz.dpuf