Published: January 30, 2007 11:52 pm         

Single donation spurs nearly $2 million in gifts

A single donation of more than $1.6 million helped Enid Community Foundation distribute nearly $2 million last year.

The donation was announced at the foundation’s recent annual meeting. An anonymous contributor gave $1,625,376.50 as a gift fund donation to the foundation, said Executive Director Mary Stallings. The money went to a number of beneficiaries, per the contributor’s request, including the University of Oklahoma, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

A gift fund is a personal charitable fund that allows a donor to establish a personal giving program with maximum flexibility, simplicity and tax advantages, Stallings said. A gift fund offers a donor the benefit of Enid Community Foundation’s investment performance, Stallings said, as well as the help and advice of the foundation’s program and donor services staff. Gift funds are invested in the Enid Community Foundation investment pool.

Also for 2006, $49,300 was awarded in grants from Sisters of Mercy Fund to 15 recipients. Sisters of Mercy Fund is a matching grant fund that helped establish Enid Community Foundation.

In addition to the grants, the foundation also distributed $171,742.50 to endowments and established charities that receive funds each year, Stallings said.

Grants were given to:

• Leona Mitchell Southern Heights Heritage Center, $2,500 for costumes, musical instruments, instructional materials and snacks for the 2007 Leona Mitchell Music Camp.

Mitchell, an Enid native and opera singer, started the camp for Enid children and uses the funds for rental of musical instruments and costumes for a program put on by the youths.

“It’s such a wonderful thing, and they enjoyed it so much last year. It’s not just opera, it includes gospel. We did some dancing and a lot of different things,” Mitchell said.

• Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, $5,000 to help fund exhibits following expansion of Museum of the Cherokee Strip into the heritage center.

• Consumer Credit Counsel-ing Service, $2,500 to fund office equipment.

• Denny Price Family YMCA, $3,850 to fund the purchase of a speak-er/microphone system for the aquatic center.

• Leonardo’s Dis-covery Warehouse, $750 to help fund food for Family Nights.

• YWCA of Enid, $3,200 to provide funding for the 2007 racial justice program.

• PEGASYS public-access television, $1,000 to purchase new equipment that can be left at schools for student projects.

• Salvation Army, $3,500 to purchase new toys for children in the Angel Tree program.

• America’s Kids Against Crime, $4,000 to assist with purchase of electronic score keeper for tournaments.

• Christmas in Action, $3,000 to help fund materials for the 2007 build day.

• Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Aca-demic Foundation, $3,000 to help purchase a SMART Board system.

• Tri-State Music Festival, $6,000 to help update computer equipment for the database.

• Red Lands Coun-cil of Girl Scouts, $4,000 to provide funding for a program for teenage girls to build self-esteem.

• Enid Soccer Club, $4,000 to help fund the cost of a storage building to house equipment.

• Youth and Family Services, $3,000 to provide funds for purchasing an ice maker required by the school lunch program.

Enid Community Foundation President Todd Humphrey said the foundation’s success was due to the good stock market.

“This year there was a good market, and that’s exactly what it was. I wish we could do it every year, but we’re at the mercy of the investment committee and the trust department,” he said.

The goal of the foundation is to reach $10 million in endowments.

The foundation currently is accepting grant applications for the 2007 fiscal year.

All letters of intent are due by July 31. Information is available by calling the foundation at 234-3988.