February 14th is Valentine’s Day. A day we remember that special ones we love. Spouses, children, friends can all be your Valentine. I recently met a man who loves his community and is expressing that with a legacy gift. He said to me, “The remainder of my estate will be divided with 1/3rd to my son, 1/3 to my daughter and 1/3 to a fund at the Homer Foundation to keep supporting those non profits we support now.” Love in action.
This past year has helped a lot of people prioritize the ones they love. In this season many people are reviewing their estate plans. Whenever you review your plan, please consider doing what many others like this gentleman is doing and join our Legacy Society by making a bequest gift to the Homer Foundation. Many of your friends and neighbors have done this and tell us it is a way of paying back for all they have received from this beautiful place we get to call home. It is about giving back to our local communities.
Your gift can be narrowly focused to support a specific nonprofit or broad to support a cause you care about like youth, fighting hunger or the arts. Your legacy gift through the Homer Foundation is as unique as your love relationship with the community and will last forever.
Leaving a bequest gift is easier than you may think. If you’re interested in learning more about the ways to start your legacy, contact the Homer Foundation and we can provide you with the appropriate language to add to your estate documents. You can call me direct at 907-235-0551, email mikemiller@homerfoundation.org, or learn more by clicking this link: https://www.homerfoundation.org/homer-foundation-legacy-society/
Tell someone you love them. Don’t assume they know it.
Mike
2021 Scholarships
Are you a graduating high school senior or do you know a graduating high school senior? Now is the time to be applying for scholarships and we are happy to announce our 13 scholarship programs are now accepting applications. We have $29,500 to award in scholarships this year and can’t wait to see all the applications from our next generation moving forward. A reminder that we have a variety of scholarships with availability to students on the southern Kenai Peninsula, from Ninilchik south, including the communities across Kachemak Bay.
Recent Grants
Homer Council on the Arts
Their latest project is a professional development project for their Executive Director, Scott Bartlett, pictured here. He will be participating in the Executive Leadership Intensive, which is a 5 month program with the Foraker Group. This is an excellent opportunity for Executive Leadership in Alaska and we are happy to be investing in leadership skills for our community.
Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park
This organization maintains the trails available in Kachemak Bay State Park, mostly with volunteers and their own personal equipment or equipment that has been donated to the organization. They will receive support to purchase new tools for trail maintenance in the area.
South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services
The grant, which was given on behalf of our Youth Advisory Committee, was used to purchase ice skate to be used for the ReAKtion Club. This group engages youth who experience emotional and behavioral difficulties in peer group activities, to build skills such as co-operation, teambuilding, peer relationship skills, coping skills, and healthy leisure skills, to name a few.
Philanthropy Fact of the Month
Data show that women are more likely to give than men. In addition, they are likely to make larger donations than men.
