Little Rock, Ark. (Nov. 11, 2020) – Jessica Szenher of Little Rock, Ark., is the latest recipient of the Lugean L. Chilcote Award, given by Arkansas Community Foundation Board of Directors to honor exceptional service to the organization. Szenher is the 23rd recipient of the award, which was established in 1985 with Lugean L. Chilcote as the first recipient.

“This prestigious award honors those who have given exemplary service to the Foundation,” said Heather Larkin, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “Jessica has been a dear friend, advocate and an enthusiastic champion of our Foundation’s mission for over 20 years.”

A native of Little Rock, Szenher is retiring in November after more than 40 years as a public relations and communications professional. She is past president and a long-time member of the Arkansas Chapter of Public Relations Society of America. The society awarded her the Crystal Award in 2000 for her significant and continuous contributions to the field of public relations.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism and home economics from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, Szenher began her career as a reporter for the Texarkana Gazette. She moved back to Little Rock to work in corporate communications for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Szenher also worked in healthcare communications and for Little Rock marketing firm Stone Ward before founding her consulting business, Jessica Szenher Consulting.

An active member of First United Methodist Church, Szenher served on the Altar Guild, led the Confirmation and Member Care teams, was active in adult education and the food ministry, and served on various other church committees.

She and her husband Doug have two grown children, James and John Michael.

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Arkansas Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization with over a half billion dollars in assets, fosters smart giving to improve communities. The Community Foundation offers tools to help Arkansans protect, grow and direct their charitable dollars as they learn more about community needs. By making grants and sharing knowledge, the Foundation supports existing charitable programs that work for Arkansas and partners to create initiatives that address unmet needs. Since 1976, the Community Foundation has provided more than $314 million in grants and partnered with thousands of Arkansans to help them improve our neighborhoods, our towns and our entire state. Contributions to Arkansas Community Foundation, its funds and any of its 29 affiliates are fully tax deductible.

Fayetteville, Ark. (Oct. 14, 2021) – Annetta Tirey of Bella Vista recently joined Arkansas Community Foundation as its Northwest Arkansas Program Officer. She leads grants and community leadership efforts and programs for the Foundation in the northwest region.

“Annetta’s long tenure with Tyson Foods in their corporate giving program and her successful leadership at the Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation will be an asset to the Northwest Arkansas office as we expand our footprint there,” said Heather Larkin, President and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation. “Her deep knowledge of the area’s unique opportunities and her extensive experience in the philanthropic sector make her a perfect fit.”

While leading the Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation from 2016 to 2020, Tirey helped to expand NWACC’s presence in northwest Arkansas through the capital campaign to build a new center in Springdale.  She provided strategic leadership and creative direction for all development activities at NWACC. 

Tirey joins Jody Dilday, vice president of northwest operations in the Foundation’s Fayetteville office. Tirey and Dilday work to serve Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Sebastian and Washington counties. They provide donor services to existing fundholders, support for local nonprofits and the development of community leadership initiatives in the region. The Community Foundation also has a local affiliate office in NWA that makes local grants to the Fayetteville area, led by Stacy Keenan, executive director of Fayetteville Area Community Foundation.

A team member of Tyson Foods from 1994 to 2016, Tirey held several positions including director of Corporate Philanthropy and administrator of Charitable Giving Programs. She managed philanthropic and social responsibility strategies related to grants and charitable initiatives, team member giving and disaster relief programs for Tyson.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Communications degree from the University of Central Arkansas.

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Arkansas Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization with over a half billion dollars in assets, fosters smart giving to improve communities. The Community Foundation offers tools to help Arkansans protect, grow and direct their charitable dollars as they learn more about community needs. By making grants and sharing knowledge, the Foundation supports existing charitable programs that work for Arkansas and partners to create initiatives that address unmet needs. Since 1976, the Community Foundation has provided more than $314 million in grants and partnered with thousands of Arkansans to help them improve our neighborhoods, our towns and our entire state. Contributions to Arkansas Community Foundation, its funds and any of its 29 affiliates are fully tax deductible.

Fall is in the air. Weekends are filled up with craft fairs, corn mazes, and calling the HOGS! In addition to these traditions, autumn is also a season for philanthropy.

Did you know that most nonprofits raise 50% or more of their annual revenue between Thanksgiving and December 31st? This support is critical, as many agencies offer additional programs and supportive services for families throughout the holidays.

As a donor, the end of the year can be an important time for you as well. Here are few things to keep in mind as you prepare for the end of the year:

EXTENSION ON INCENTIVES IN THE CARES ACT

  • An increased adjusted gross income (AGI) deduction limit—For those who itemize, the AGI limit is increased from 60% to 100% for cash contributions to charities (excluding donor-advised funds and supporting organizations) made in 2021, with a 5-year carryforward for contributions that exceed 100% of AGI. For corporations, the limit on deductions for contributions, ordinarily 10 percent of AGI, is elevated to 25 percent for 2021. 
  • A universal deduction of up to $300— Taxpayers who do not itemize can receive an “above-the-line” deduction for cash contributions made to charities (excluding donor-advised funds and supporting organizations) in the 2021 tax year. This is limited to each “tax-filing unit” so married couples who file jointly can only deduct $300. All taxpayers are eligible, even people who use the standard deduction. Make a gift directly to charities of choice, or help support an array of nonprofits through our Giving Tree Funds.

OTHER TAX-SMART STRATEGIES

  • Establish or ADD TO a Fund. Community Foundation funds provide a simple, efficient giving solution, allowing you the opportunity to take immediate action or create a long-term difference. The charitable gift deductions in the CARES Act exclude donor-advised funds, but donors can direct gifts through other types of Community Foundation funds (like a designated fund) for the maximum tax benefit. Learn more about Community Foundation fund options.
  •  Utilize an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to make charitable donations. If you are age 70 ½ or older, you can use a QCD to direct up to $100,000 each year to qualified charities without treating the distribution as taxable income. Making a QCD allows itemizers and non-itemizers alike to donate in a tax efficient manner. This is particularly smart if you claim the standard deduction and would miss out on writing off charitable contributions. Learn more about IRA QCDs.
  • Stack multiple years of charitable contributions in one calendar year. In order to exceed the standard deduction in a given year, you can “bunch” donations to receive maximum tax benefits. And by using a Community Foundation charitable fund, your gifts are tax-deductible, the assets can be invested, and charitable dollars can grow tax-free. You can use those assets to provide ongoing support for your favorite nonprofits, even in the years you claim the standard deduction.

MAKE IT A TRADITION

Many families have made it a tradition to give thanks by giving back. We’d love to help you be thoughtful and intentional in teaching generosity to your children and grandchildren. Contact Ashley or Jody to learn more about our customized, generational giving services. We’re proud to be your partner in philanthropy!

Jim and Elgenia Ross of Monticello take their family’s charitable giving seriously, like, Robert’s Rules of Order seriously. Every year, the Ross family comes together to determine where their charitable gifts will go. Daughters Kim and Molly, both of whom live out of state now, along with their children Kyler (12) and Sadie (17), join Jim and Elgenia to have an official meeting, this last year by Zoom. The family takes turns taking minutes and votes on their favorite charities. “We start with Arkansas-based charities,” said Jim, “And then the next level of focus is in Drew County. We like to give local.” 

The Ross Family

Jim is a longtime supporter of Arkansas Community Foundation. As a retired attorney, he has referred many of his clients to the Foundation and is the former Chair of the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. “When I was the chairman of the Foundation’s Board, I heard a story about one family that had three generations of giving. This inspired me. I wanted our impact to be perpetual, so we opened a fund and our family began an annual tradition of coming together to choose our favorite Arkansas nonprofits to support. This is something we all look forward to,” said Jim. 

Elgenia is originally from North Carolina but calls Arkansas home. “Arkansas is the perfect size for what we want to do. The state is small enough to know more about what is going on. When we make donations to local organizations, we can see the impact more directly. The Community Foundation makes giving more personal,” said Elgenia. 

Elgenia and Jim Ross with their granddaughter

“We all like to do a little research before the family gets together. We share that responsibility,” said Kim Ross, one of Jim and Elgenia’s daughters. “But I think an unexpected benefit of doing this together every year is that it keeps our family connected. I live out of state and so does my sister. Choosing Arkansas nonprofits to support has kept us familiar with what is going on ‘back home’ and keeps us connected to each other in a unique way. For my parents to start this fund and ensure such a meaningful legacy means a lot to me, and hopefully to my son, Kyler.” 

Kyler likes to hand-deliver the check to the nonprofits he supports. In June of 2021, he took a check to the Nature Conservancy, one of his nonprofit choices for the year. “It was pretty cool,” said Kyler.  

According to the Foundation’s Chief Development Officer, Ashley Coldiron, Jim should probably be on the Community Foundation’s payroll. “Jim has referred so many clients to us that I’ve lost count. And the ripple effect of his referrals continues making an impact for so many Arkansas nonprofits,” said Coldiron. 

“What the Foundation does is great for sustaining legacies. One of my favorite stories is about P. Luevonda Ross and how we’ve ensured her hard work and impact are remembered. A friend of our family and local schoolteacher, Sarah Blackmon, came to me years ago and told me about one of her former students, Luevonda. Luevonda worked hard, became a well-respected attorney and was elected circuit judge for the 10th judicial district,” said Jim. “But she died from cancer just weeks before she took office. We established a scholarship in her name and years later, her nephew, Quincey Ross, took her place on the bench. We are so proud of her legacy.” 

Jim continues to refer former clients, friends and whoever may need guidance about giving to the Community Foundation. According to Jim, “The Community Foundation is an easy sell.” 

Arkansas Community Foundation is honored to work with you and your clients to structure charitable giving plans and establish funds that achieve both your clients’ charitable objectives as well as address our region’s greatest needs.

Our team at the Community Foundation intimately understands the issues facing our community and how grants from funds can be impactful. We do this through deep knowledge of Arkansas’ nonprofits, due diligence to ensure that each charitable dollar helps as many people as possible, and an unwavering commitment to investing in our community for the long term.  

As we enter into an era of potential tax reform, we pledge to keep you informed of legislative developments that will require you and other advisors to navigate the important distinctions between Community Foundation donor-advised funds and commercial donor-advised funds, as well as the differences between donor-advised funds and private foundations. 

No matter what legislation is passed and when, the Community Foundation team is here to educate you and your clients. We’ll also keep you posted on charitable giving options that are tax reform-neutral and suggest ways to leverage pre-legislation windows of opportunity. Please reach out with any questions you’d like to be sure we address in our advisor communications.

With charitable bequests on the rise, and the possibility that more clients will be subject to Federal estate taxes in the future, many attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors are refreshing their recollections on the requirements of advising and administering taxable estates where one or more charitable organizations is a beneficiary.

Advisors’ fiduciary responsibilities to charitable beneficiaries are similar to fiduciary responsibilities to a decedent’s family members and other individual beneficiaries. Where a charity is a residuary beneficiary, for example, a fiduciary must pay careful attention to expenses and liabilities that impact the amount the charity ultimately receives. These liabilities and expenses include taxes, debts, fees, and costs incurred by the executor or trustee. A fiduciary should expect charity remainder beneficiaries to pay as much attention to the bottom line as family members. 

Not only must a fiduciary watch expenses to maximize the remainder beneficiaries’ interests, but a fiduciary must also be careful to avoid making distributions too early and therefore potentially becoming personally liable if estate obligations surface later. This was the unfortunate situation in Estate of Lee, T.C. Memo. 2021-92, where the fiduciary ultimately was found by the Tax Court to be personally liable for amounts due under a Federal tax lien.

As you assist your clients with estate planning that involves charitable giving, consider encouraging your client to talk with the charitable organization about the intended bequest so that expectations are well-documented, even if the bequest likely will not materialize until well into the future. Remember, too, that some charitable clients can benefit from establishing a fund at the Community Foundation to receive and administer their bequests to charitable causes. In that case our team at the Community Foundation can assist as you structure a bequest in the client’s estate plan.

Finally, and critically, ensure that the legal documents or beneficiary designation forms reflect the correct name of the charity. There are more than 1.5 million charitable organizations in the United States, and many have similar names. Arkansas Community Foundation maintains a directory of Arkansas Nonprofits on our website here. If you have any questions about which charity your client intends to benefit, ask both the client and the charity to confirm the exact name and location of the organization. 

A force in Arkansas farming and communication industries for decades, Ritter Arnold’s family has always chosen to be charitable in the communities where they do business. Arnold is a longtime fundholder with Arkansas Community Foundation, sits on multiple boards in Arkansas and comes from a long line of intentional philanthropists.

“My grandparents sponsored three Polish families who were displaced during World War II. They brought them to Marked Tree and helped them rebuild their lives. I think charity is just in our family’s DNA,” Arnold said.

The Community Foundation has helped Arnold’s family build their legacy through an endowment and bring focus to their charitable giving through a Donor Advised Fund. “Years ago, my family and I decided that we wanted to be more intentional about our giving. We were always getting lots of asks for money, from beauty pageants to baseball teams, and those were all fine to help, but with the Foundation, we were able to narrow it down to the areas where we could have deeper community impact,” Arnold said. “We opened a Donor Advised Fund, and our family’s giving preferences focus on food security, healthcare, quality housing and access to broadband.”

Anticipating the recent demand for food through the pandemic, the Arnold family helped the Foodbank of Northeast Arkansas expand capacity and operations. “We like to help organizations that are efficient and well run. The foodbank was one of those, led by Christie Jordan. She and her team have the infrastructure to help more people. The foodbank was able to use our gift to expand their services. They get food at wholesale, then distribute it to the pantries that need it most,” Arnold said.

“I know that the need is just as great in July of 2021 as it was in July of 2020. It will take some people years to recover. Having access to food is an easy way to help them with one less thing to worry about,” said Arnold. “That’s why we work with the Foundation — they make our charitable giving easy, but more importantly, they’ve helped us find the most reliable organizations to support.”

St. Francis Food Pantry founder, the late Catherine Freeman, would rather give food to someone who didn’t need it than miss anyone who did. Along with running the busy food pantry in Forrest City, current director LaTwon Whitby inherited Freeman’s desire to feed every person in St. Francis County who needs food.

Though Whitby has been battling cancer since 2012, he and his wife Evetta, and often their children, are keeping up the work Freeman began in 1982. Whitby regularly gathers influencers and other volunteers in Forrest City to donate resources, serve and deliver food.

At a ceremony naming Whitby Citizen of the Year several years ago, Judge Gary Hughes said, “He gives of his time on a daily basis. What makes LaTwon special is that his dreams are coming true before his very eyes. Because of his leadership and because of the things he is doing, those who are hungry are being fed.”

One day in the summer of 2021, Whitby was managing the food line, making sure the first responders were ready to deliver food to the homebound and helping a couple of Extension Service agents set up a vegetable planting demonstration.

“It’s not me,” he kept saying. “It’s everyone here who makes this place run.”

And everyone was there. Retiree George L. Cochran, Sr., has been working at the pantry 20 years. Freeman recruited him to help with deliveries and he worked with Whitby to set up the vegetable gardens. Circuit Judge Kathie Hess and her sister County Treasurer Tammy Talley worked the serving line, giving generous portions of tasty meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans to citizens in need.

“It’s showing love,” said DarAnn Banks, a 10-year food pantry volunteer. “It is very important to feed the hungry and show concern for others in the county.”

Everette Woods of the Unified Riders Motorcycle Club has been volunteering for seven years. “I try to always give back,” he said. “I’ve been blessed, and my family has been blessed. I try to help someone else.”

Run almost exclusively by volunteers, St. Francis County Food Pantry is headquartered in Forest City and works to serve the whole county.

Forrest City Mayor Cedric Williams was greeting people as they walked in to get their food. Also a local insurance agent, Mayor Williams has made a practice of volunteering at the food pantry and marshalling the City’s resources to help the cause. “Working here and making deliveries helps our relationship with the community,” said Police Chief Deon Lee.

UA Pine Bluff student and track star Stephen Lane runs from his home in Sunrise to the food pantry in Forrest City every day to water the garden. “It helps me stay in shape. I feel a responsibility to help people, and I enjoy putting a smile on people’s faces,” he said.

After witnessing the joy and community spirit that filled the St. Francis Food Pantry on a very hot July noonday, it seems likely that one of those smiling faces is Catherine Freeman, enjoying her vision of feeding the hungry from a place high above Forrest City.

Little Rock, Ark. (Aug. 10, 2021) – New Arkansas Community Foundation State Board members include Lisa John-Adams of Blytheville, Dr. Eduardo R. Ochoa of Little Rock and Dr. Jack Porter of Hot Springs. The Community Foundation engages people, connects resources and inspires solutions to build communities throughout Arkansas.

“Lisa, Eddie and Jack are excellent additions to our board. We are so glad to welcome them to the Foundation family,” said Heather Larkin, President and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation. “Each brings critical knowledge, broad experience and a unique perspective about Arkansas and its needs.” 

Dr. Porter is a retired dentist who has served on the local Hot Springs Area Community Foundation affiliate for nearly 20 years. He is chairman of the Oaklawn Center on Aging board of directors, a member of the National Park Rotary Club and is currently working to save the Army Navy Building in Hot Springs. He and his wife, Janet, are active members of First Baptist Church in Hot Springs and continue to serve in international mission work.

Dr. Ochoa, a pediatrician in Little Rock affiliated with multiple hospitals, launched the Latino Clinic for special needs children at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in May 2009 and the West Little Rock Primary Clinic in 2010. He led the building project and was named medical director of the Children’s Hospital Southwest Little Rock Community Clinic opened in June 2017. His research interests include Latino health, health disparities, children with special health care needs and community engagement. 

John-Adams has been Quality Systems director at Nucor Steel Arkansas since 2000, has been with Nucor for 27 years and is a certified Quality and Environmental Systems lead auditor. She is a past president of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce and serves as board president of The Haven of Northeast Arkansas Domestic Violence Shelter.  John-Adams is a member of the Great River Economic Development Foundation Board, chairs the Board of the KIPP Delta School and is a board member of The National Cold War Center.

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Arkansas Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization with over a half billion dollars in assets, fosters smart giving to improve communities. The Community Foundation offers tools to help Arkansans protect, grow and direct their charitable dollars as they learn more about community needs. By making grants and sharing knowledge, the Foundation supports existing charitable programs that work for Arkansas and partners to create initiatives that address unmet needs. Since 1976, the Community Foundation has provided more than $314 million in grants and partnered with thousands of Arkansans to help them improve our neighborhoods, our towns and our entire state. Contributions to Arkansas Community Foundation, its funds and any of its 29 affiliates are fully tax deductible.

Camden, Ark. (July 20, 2021) – Allison Lawson of Camden has been named executive director of Ouachita Valley Community Foundation, an affiliate of Arkansas Community Foundation that supports nonprofits serving Ouachita and Calhoun Counties through funding, networking and capacity building opportunities.  

“During Allison’s 14 years as a legal assistant and office manager, she gained valuable skills like workflow prioritization, project management and the ability to work with a broad range of people. These skills will serve her well as the new executive director for our Ouachita Valley affiliate,” said Heather Larkin, President and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation.  

Lawson grew up in Camden and returned to the community with her own family in 2013. She has been office manager for Allen P. Roberts, P.A., where she previously served as a legal and administrative assistant.  

She is a member of the Ouachita Valley Community Foundation Affiliate Board and is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Camden, where she served on the Board of Trustees and previously served on the Finance Committee. Lawson volunteers for Camden Fairview School District Parent Teacher Organizations and is the co-founder of Cards K=5 which works to increase communication and support for elementary parents, students and teachers in the district. 

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Arkansas Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization with over a half billion dollars in assets, fosters smart giving to improve communities. The Community Foundation offers tools to help Arkansans protect, grow and direct their charitable dollars as they learn more about community needs. By making grants and sharing knowledge, the Foundation supports existing charitable programs that work for Arkansas and partners to create initiatives that address unmet needs. Since 1976, the Community Foundation has provided more than $314 million in grants and partnered with thousands of Arkansans to help them improve our neighborhoods, our towns and our entire state. Contributions to Arkansas Community Foundation, its funds and any of its 29 affiliates are fully tax deductible.