The
Rotary Foundation Officers and Grants Review Committee Members for 2014/2015
are:
President
Nancy
Johnshoy
VP/Secretary
Donna
Kidder
Treasurer
Kevin
Loomans
Grants Review
Chair Curt
Detjen
Investment
Liaison
Jeff
Esker
Board Member At Large Matt
Rehbein
Club President Deborah
Wetter
Club President Elect B
Sridhar
Grants Review Committee Members Ron
Altenburg
Dennis Hietpas
Caroline
Lasecki
Kevin Loomans
The Foundations total assets as of our fiscal
year end on June 30, 2014 were $1,245,943.17.
We have 6 foundation funds totaling
$1,231,910 that are invested by the Community Foundation with a long-term
investment focus. Last year was very favorable
in terms of investment performance with an overall return of 15.7%, which means
that our investments increased almost $160,000 net of fees in the last fiscal
year. Included in this group are the Scholarship, Heeter, Groth, Art
Scholarship, Community Service and Helen Thom Roemer Funds. These funds are subject to an annual
distribution policy of 5% of the rolling 12 quarter average value. This approach helps to minimize annual
fluctuations due to market performance. Total distributions in the 2013/2014
fiscal year were $51,473.41. Since 2003
our Foundation Fund distributions have totaled $534,151.
The Scholarship Fund has a fund balance of $355,615. We currently award
two scholarships of $5,000 paid over a three-year period to seniors from the
five Appleton high schools. The fund also contributes to the U.W. Fox Valley
and Fox Valley Technical College Foundations for non-traditional student
scholarships. This year the two school
foundations received $2,481 each.
The
Charles Heeter Fund
has assets of $109,566. Last year $4,623
was transferred to Rotary International from for Paul Harris Fellowships on
behalf of the individuals who received the Charles and Adele Heeter Outstanding
Community Leadership Awards.
The Arts
Scholarship Fund
balance is $70,111. The fund supports individuals who seek educational
experiences in his/her art field. The
Art Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships last year in the amount of
$2,552.
The Paul
and Elaine Groth World Community Service Fund provides financial support for
international projects endorsed by the World Service Committee who approved
grants this year totaling $3,075. This funds yearend balance was $76,772.
The
Helen Thom Roemer Fund
provides support to projects that serve the needs of children with limited
physical abilities and cognitive deficits in the Appleton area. Last year, the Children with Disabilities
Committee approved requests totaling $23,053.
This is our largest single fund with a balance of $540,956.
The
Community Service Fund
was established to direct charitable donations to address local community
needs. The Community Service Committee
approved grants of $3,206 in the last year.
The Foundation also maintains pass-through
checking accounts for the Appleton Rotary Foundation and SAMP. These accounts
insure that your donation is tax deductible and that the beneficiaries have
ready access to that cash. At this time
we have approximately $14,033 in checking accounts.
Rotary Club members contribute to our
Foundation through annual gifts, memorials or bequests. The attached chart shows our annual gifting
totals to Foundation Funds for the last eleven fiscal years. In the last fiscal year our members donated
$6,657 to the six Foundation Funds listed here and an additional $1,710 to the
SAMP pass-thru fund. It is somewhat
concerning that our member contributions last year were significantly below the
average of the previous several years. I
think we do a good job of reminding Rotarians to donate to Rotary International
each year but Nancy would like to make a plug for our own Foundation and ask
you to keep us in your thoughts as you do your annual gifting and estate
planning.
A final thank you to the committees who
steward our funds and who continue the important work of Rotary in our
community and around the world.
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