Community Foundation of South Lake Announces Philanthropist Of The Year and Grant Awards

The Community Foundation of South Lake recently held its 2019 Donor Appreciation Breakfast at Trilogy, Groveland.

Grants totally $82,000 were awarded to six local organizations:

United Way of Lake & Sumter, $10,000
FAITH Neighborhood Center, $16,280
Educational Foundation of Lake, $20,850
New Beginnings of Central Fl,  $15,110
Living Message Church, $15,110
Family Matters of Central Fl, $5,000

Larry Rescoe was recognized as the Foundation’s Philanthropist of the Year  

Larry moved to Clermont from Michigan over 15 years ago and has since made admirable contributions to the south Lake Community by serving on numerous nonprofit boards and making consistent monetary donations to local non-profits.

Larry praised the Foundation, “Each January, we give out donations to the organizations we choose to help and the Community Foundation takes care of the rest.  What a wonderful way to help South Lake and our friends who need our help and resources”, said Larry.

Kathy Smith, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of South Lake, recognized Rescoe and thanked him for his support, saying, “We are grateful to have Larry as a friend of the Foundation but most importantly, his understanding of the impact of time, talent and treasures on his community.”

Leave A Legacy/Grants from donors are made through their individual funds. The Foundation’s donors have a passion to help and they have causes that matter to each of them. “By building relationships with our donors and knowing what they are passionate about, allows us to connect them to local needs when our granting ability can’t cover all of those needs”, says Smith.  “Our donors are not just making a difference through the dollars they grant now but some have made plans to leave a legacy through their thoughtful estate planning”.

Smith described the value of partnering with contributing donors to address the needs in the community. She explained that working with the Community Foundation is quite different than most nonprofit organizations because the Foundation exists to serve and support all of the nonprofit organizations. The community foundation allows the whole community to benefit.

The Women’s Giving Alliance works with people who have the heart to give.  In just five years the WGA has granted an additional $154,000 into the south Lake community for the benefit of women and children. “These women wanted to make a difference by granting 70% of what each member donates right back to the community every year and also by establishing their own endowment that will allow them to make a difference in this community forever!

The Dream Academy is in its third year of providing educational opportunities to these students. The impact of this opportunity on these families is priceless and the investment was not a tremendous amount. We look for innovative ways to leverage the funds we do have to make the largest and most significant impact.

The Community Foundation of South Lake County was founded in 1995 through the forward-thinking founders, George Hovis, Mike Conley and Oakley Seaver and from the substantial gift by the South Lake Hospital. Through the establishment of this community foundation, the Foundation received the gift of an endowment.  Over these last years, the Community Foundation has invested over $4.3 million dollars into this community through the granting process. Additionally, donors have invested close to $5,800,000 to the causes that matter to the community. “We work closely with the nonprofit organizations so that we have a pulse on our community and the issues that must be addressed”, says Smith.

Growing the Foundation: “As we move into our twenty-fifth year of work in this community, the Foundation of South Lake is committed to growing our funds for the benefit of the entire community and committed to developing deeper relationships with not only our donors but the wealth advisors who can help us achieve our goal of growth”, said Smith.

The keynote speaker at the event was Dr. Nancy H. Cummings. speaking on Intersections of Trust. The entertainment was provided by the East Ridge Choir.