The late Kay and E.G. VanTrain had a passion for their community and wanted their charitable giving to have a broad impact.

Sitting at a grant awards ceremony in Cleburne County in 2007, Kay VanTrain wondered why the grants seemed relatively small. The executive director explained that as part of Arkansas Community Foundation, the local office is a part of a statewide network creating endowments and making grants across the state, and that the local board was developing a pool of funds to grant out locally. Kay said, “Well, we want to join!”

The VanTrains recognized the Community Foundation’s potential to serve a wide variety of worthy causes and to protect and grow charitable funds. They had owned several telephone companies across Arkansas, so they used telecommunications stock to establish a fund that would give back to the state where they dedicated their life’s work. The VanTrains liked the idea that a single gift to the Community Foundation could affect the entire community, and they knew that greater impact could be made if the organization had a larger pool of funding for its annual grant cycles.

Their generosity sparked a community-wide challenge to increase grant funds in Cleburne County. In fact, grant awards doubled the following year, and the VanTrain’s legacy continues to impact their community.

Learn more about our affiliate office in Cleburne County.

Lindsey East would have celebrated his 50th birthday this summer. In contemplating her son’s untimely death and this missed milestone, Laetitia East muses that Lindsey is “ageless.” We agree. His giving spirit lives on through his dear friends and family and, in part, through the charitable funds he established while he was alive.

In addition to continuing to support programs like Our House that advocate for Arkansas’ homeless, the East endowments have most recently funded Arkansas Interfaith & Light’s Promise Garden, a collaborative community garden in the 12th Street corridor that encourages fresh local nutritious food, and the Southern Center for Agroecology, a nonprofit that promotes the development of sustainable local food systems through research and applied science.

To honor Lindsey’s legacy and the countless lives he continues to affect, we would like to revisit his Community Foundation story which can be found here:

Even After His Lifetime, Lindsey Robison East’s Giving Makes an Impact

“He was always unique in his sensitivity to people and the environment,” said Laetitia East of her son, Lindsey. “He loved the earth and really felt he could make change happen in the world.”

Arkansas Community Foundation came to know Lindsey East in 2003 when he contacted CEO Heather Larkin to inquire about “what we do here.” Born and reared in Little Rock, he had been living in California, exploring the possibilities of his own talents in theatre, writing and music.  He had a playful humor and spoke from his heart, taking genuine interest in personal stories. When he’d see someone he knew, he’d remember some small thing that showed he listened and took an interest in what they had to say.  Lindsey met all people with total acceptance and had friends from all over the world.

When he returned to Arkansas, Lindsey soon became a personal friend to the Community Foundation. In 2004, he started his first endowment at the Community Foundation focusing on food sustainability and bicycle advocacy.  Five years later he began a second endowment to support initiatives for the homeless in Arkansas. Our House, an organization that provides shelter and education for homeless adults and children, dedicated a playground in Lindsey’s name for his support.

On July 9, 2011, Lindsey suffered a heart attack and died while piloting his small plane. But the legacy he established with the Community Foundation lives on. His final gift to the Community Foundation by way of his trust created an endowment promoting greenhouse projects, community gardens, recycling programs and local food initiatives. About two years after Lindsey’s death, the Community Foundation learned that a new food enterprise, the Farm and Food Innovation Center, was being formed at the former St. Joseph’s Home in North Little Rock by one of Lindsey’s old friends, Jody Hardin. With East’s wishes to support local food sustainability projects in mind, the Community Foundation issued a start-up grant from Lindsey’s endowment to the Center.  

Because of Lindsey’s charitable vision and foresight, the dream of the Farm and Food Innovation Center is becoming a reality. Already the Farm and Food Innovation Center has impacted hundreds of Arkansans, who have visited the grounds as volunteers and participants of local, sustainable food education initiatives. In collaboration with Heifer USA, FFIC works to support Delta growers and empower them to become involved in the profitable local organic food market. In addition, twelve community gardening plots have been constructed with the help Eagle Scouts and 90 at-risk youths participating in the National Guard Youth Challenge program who provided community service hours while learning essential skills in organic gardening and farming.

In East’s memory and honor, a permaculture project on the grounds has been named the Lindsey East Food Forest to Feed the Hungry.

“Lindsey would be so proud of this,” said his mother, Laetitia.  “He will be remembered for giving to the things he loved and believed in. Nothing would make him any happier.”

Jane Hunt’s charitable path has been molded by her family’s practice of encouraging generosity. Her parents J.B. and Johnelle Hunt, well-known for successfully building their trucking company, understood the importance of giving back to the community and raising their children to do the same.

Through the years, Jane has had the opportunity to passionately support a variety of causes. Her generosity has stretched from nonprofits that support education enrichment programs to organizations that help women and children build a stable and successful life. When the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter was on the brink of closing their doors, Jane offered a matching incentive to help them continue their mission providing necessary services. Additionally, through funding prize dollars for ArkansasGives, she has been able to support the invaluable work that the entire nonprofit sector offers our state.

By making Arkansas Community Foundation her partner in giving, Jane believes her role as a contributor has been made easy and more purposeful. “The Community Foundation provides the information I need to make educated decisions about where my charitable dollars are well spent. I feel confident that I have the tools I need to make a difference for the long-term.”

Little Rock attorney John G. Shram of Winburn, Mano, Schrader & Shram, PLLC, advises many clients who have charitable objectives and want to make significant gifts, but need help structuring and achieving those objectives.

“They’ve heard of foundations, but are not sure whether their level of gifting would warrant the administrative and compliance expense of starting their own foundation,” Shram stated.

To help his clients structure these complex charitable decisions, he introduces them to the Arkansas Community Foundation staff members who meet with them to explain the Foundation’s tools. “I work to instill confidence in my clients about the Foundation’s ability to manage the administrative and tax compliance issues, accomplish the client’s lifetime and after-death charitable objectives and sometimes even involve family members in their charitable legacy,” he said. “The Foundation does all this within a very economical and competitive fee schedule.”

Most of Shram’s clients quickly realize that their charitable donations can go further and be more effective within the structure of the Arkansas Community Foundation.

“Heather Larkin and her team have repeatedly demonstrated that they can embrace the differing objectives of charitably-minded clients and provide a structure specifically tailored to that client’s charitable objectives while economically managing and protecting the client’s charitable legacy,” said Shram.

“My parents taught us to go for significance, not necessarily success.”

Charlotte Green of Conway has accomplished both. One of 16 children, she grew up with strong values of faith, family, service to the community and academics. As Conway School District Supervisor for Advanced Academics, she enhances the experience of schoolchildren every day.

Green joined the Faulkner County Community Foundation Board because she believes in giving and stewardship. “Giving is an essential part of life, but people need an opportunity and venue to do it,” she said. The mother of two sons wants to build philanthropy in her community in a way that addresses its most pressing needs.

Education is a great equalizer, and investment in education yields great returns, according to Green. In her job, she creates programs to support strong academic success for K-12 students and works with the Gifted and Talented and Advanced Placement programs.

“As a member of the Grants Committee I see the impact of the Foundation on many parts of our community,” Green explained. “We make Giving Tree grants to programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Putting books in homes is not just a way to help children read — it builds stronger parent-child relationships.”

Glenn Williams is no stranger to working hard — whether that means putting in the time it takes to support his 300-acre cattle ranch in Berryville or serving as a leader in his community. He realizes the importance of local relationships and connecting resources.

Hoping to find a way to commemorate an agricultural nonprofit he was involved with, Glenn first learned about the Community Foundation and the tools it provides. Through Carroll County Community Foundation, a local affiliate of Arkansas Community Foundation, the nonprofit was able to establish an endowment ensuring the mission would continue forever.

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Glenn served several years on the board of the local office in Carroll County and was able to connect with his community in new ways. During this time, he realized the positive impact the Community Foundation can provide in partnership with its volunteers, donors and grantees. “The Community Foundation works well alongside individuals and other nonprofit organizations to bring encouraging and constructive outcomes for the people, environment and education of the area it serves. It is a ready catalyst for donors searching to establish or contribute to beneficial funds and future grant recipients,” Glenn said.

While attending a reception held by the local Community Foundation, Glenn looked around the room and saw business men and women, housewives, school teachers, judges, farmers and ranchers, bankers, executives, retirees, volunteers, government officials, benefactors and others. “I thought to myself, this is truly community.”

Ray and Phyllis Simon were both born and raised in Conway, Arkansas and graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas. They began their educational careers as mathematics teachers at North Little Rock High School.

Because of their ongoing investment into improving the quality of education in Arkansas, the Simons were honored in 2006 by the Conway School District Board of Education with the naming of the Raymond and Phyllis Simon Intermediate School, now Raymond and Phyllis Simon Middle School.  In the years following the school’s dedication, the couple dreamed about what they might do to enhance opportunities for the students at Simon Middle School. Drawing on educational research as well as their own life experiences, they devised a plan to foster interest, aptitude and achievement in the field of mathematics for girls in grades five through seven at Simon. 

Their final step was to find a way to ensure that the funds they would commit to this project would be appropriately managed.  During a conversation with their accountant about how they wanted to give back to their Conway community, Bo Conner of Conner and Sartain recommended they create an endowment that would continue making a difference even after their lifetime.

As a result, the Simon Prize for Excellence in Mathematics for Girls Endowment was created through our local affiliate, Faulkner County Community Foundation. The first awards were presented last May and each recipient of a Simon Prize received a cash award.  In addition, the endowment paid the girls’ registration for an activity that provided an enriching experience in math or math application.  Prize winners will receive continued support with mentoring and networking through ninth grade.

Because the prizes produced from this endowment will be awarded annually, this initiative will have a lasting impact in the lives of girls attending Simon Middle School.

About Ray and Phyllis Simon’s Dedication to Education in Central Arkansas

Ray had the opportunity to join the Conway School District in 1984 as Assistant Superintendent for Finance.  Phyllis followed a year later as a teacher and technology coordinator.  She went on to officially become the district’s first Director of Technology.  In 1991, Ray was named Superintendent and served in this capacity for six years until his appointment as Arkansas’ Commissioner of Education.  Six years later, he accepted the position of Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the United States Department of Education and soon was promoted to Deputy Secretary.

To learn more about how we can work with you and your family to develop a plan that meets your charitable goals, contact us at 501-372-1116 or email Ashley Coldiron.

Over the past 40 years, Arkansas Community Foundation has partnered with Arkansans who are passionate about making a difference in their communities. As our mission says, we engage people, connect resources and inspire solutions to build community. Here’s a recent example of how White County Community Foundation, an affiliate of Arkansas Community Foundation, connected community resources.

Serving students of all ages with developmental disabilities, Sunshine School had a specific need for iPads to change the way their students learn. Hearing about this need, Community Foundation board members saw an opportunity to partner with other community organizations. The Rotary Club of Searcy, Edward Jones Financial Advisor Amy Daniels and Haymond Insurance joined forces to grow their impact and provided funds for the purchase of iPads.

Sunshine School began in 1964 under the sponsorship of the Searcy Junior Auxiliary. Starting with seven special education students attending on a half-day basis, classes were held in converted Army barracks on land leased from Searcy Public Schools. Two locations later, the school relocated in August 2011 to their new, updated and spacious facility with 12 classrooms, a large multipurpose room, several therapy rooms, as well as office and conference room space.

Sunshine School serves students from Searcy, Augusta, Pangburn, Kensett, Des Arc, Pleasant Plains, Beebe, Judsonia, Hazen, Bradford and McCrory. There is no age limit for students to be admitted to the preschool, nor is there a cut-off age for adults to attend. To learn more about Sunshine School, check out the information provided on their website.

To find out how we partner with Arkansans like you who love to give, check out previous blog posts, get updates from us or read about ArkansasGives, our one-day online giving event on April 6, 2017.

Along with more than 780 community foundations across the US, we are celebrating Community Foundation Week! Our work succeeds because people like you believe in building a strategic legacy that will impact future generations. We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to our success, and we look forward to growing our work together!

We often get the question – so what does a community foundation do? Well, we’re glad you asked. Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward charitable dollars from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits. Since 1976, Arkansas Community Foundation has provided more than $156 million in grants and partnered with thousands of Arkansans to help them improve our neighborhoods, our towns and our entire state.

You also may find it surprising that community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the United States is home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—working to advance solutions on a wide range of social issues.

Community foundations routinely work with families, individuals, attorneys and estate and financial planners to design gift plans that fit every economic situation, ensuring that donors receive the most benefit from their charitable contributions and that their philanthropic dollars are put to good use. Nearly every type of gift – real estate, closely held stock, artwork and insurance – can be contributed to a community foundation.

In 2012, according to the Foundation Center, community foundations received an estimated $7.5 billion in gifts, gave $5 billion in grants, and held total assets of $65 billion. The Foundation Center also reports that even though community foundations represent just 1% of the more than 82,000 foundations in the United States, their gifts represented 9% of total giving.

For the past 25 years, Community Foundation Week has raised awareness about the increasingly important role of community foundations in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address persistent civic and economic challenges.

Even before the age of an all-volunteer military service, James Pappas knew he wanted to serve in the United States Navy, enlisting during his freshman year of medical school in the early 1950s. Dr. Pappas was called to active duty in 1958, where he first served as the Medical Officer for a Mobile Construction Battalion (Sea-Bee) and later treated Navy and Marine personnel and families through the base’s outpatient and emergency clinics. After completing his tour of duty, serving eight years in the Naval Reserve and finishing a residency at Baylor Medical Center, Dr. Pappas came back to his home state of Arkansas, where he had a private Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose & Throat) group practice until retiring in 2001.

Being an avid community supporter and successful doctor—particularly one with a giving heart—put Dr. and Mrs. Pappas on every nonprofit’s mailing solicitation list. They carefully considered each request and wrote countless personal checks to support the worthy causes closest to their hearts, but found it was a headache to keep track of all the tax acknowledgement letters. Their trusted financial advisor recommended Arkansas Community Foundation as a way to streamline giving while maintaining the maximum tax benefit. Having a donor-advised fund with the Community Foundation not only allows Dr.  and Mrs. Pappas to make financially sound tax deductible gifts and continue their giving with ease, but they can also direct grants to multiple nonprofits knowing their programs are vetted by our informed staff. 

The Dr. James and Eva Pappas Charitable Fund supports a wide range of nonprofits, including education and medical causes. But, as you can imagine, his service on Guam continues to shape their giving philosophy. While they give to numerous veteran-related charities, Dr. Pappas specifically supports those who serve disabled and wounded veterans. When asked about why he champions these causes, Dr. Pappas offers a statement we can all agree on: “I have tremendous respect for the men and women who serve in our military and defend our liberties.”

For more information on how you can start a charitable giving plan, contact Ashley Coldiron at 501-372-1116 or acoldiron@arcf.org.