The Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley announces the establishment of nine new funds benefiting eight local nonprofits and St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Bryan. The philanthropists behind the giving are long-time residents Caroline and Tom McDonald. Each fund is dedicated in honor or memory of a special person in the McDonalds’ life. The occasion for focusing on giving is Tom’s 80th birthday year.
“Our hope is these endowments are like our love of planting trees. We plant them for the present and for the future generations,” says the Honorable Tom McDonald.
The first fund benefits the Brazos Valley Food Bank in memory of Peyton F. Sweeney, Caroline’s father. The second fund benefits Voices for Children—CASA of the Brazos Valley, in memory of Mrs. W.T. (Nonie) McDonald, Sr., Tom’s mother. This fund celebrates the eternal love and care that Nonie had for children. Another fund benefits Hospice Brazos Valley, in honor of Janet Timmins Koran. Janet Koran, along with the late Sam Sharp, were co-founders of Hospice Brazos Valley. This fund supports the charitable, scientific, and educational purposes of Hospice Brazos Valley.
An additional fund benefits the Aggieland Humane Society, in memory of Lucy and Donald S. King. The Kings were Tom McDonald’s aunt and uncle from Virginia. In memory of Judge W.T. McDonald, Sr.—the father of Tom McDonald—is the Habitat for Humanity fund and the Boonville Heritage Park Fund. Judge McDonald, Sr. was one of the original organizers and supporters of the park.
Also, the Brazos Valley African American Museum Fund is established in memory of Mabel B. Thomas, L.C. Johnson, Mattie Lee Laws, and Lula Mickens Martin. Mabel B. Thomas, sister-in-law of Sadie Thomas, was a schoolteacher and close friend of the McDonald family for more than 40 years and tutored Tom. L.C. Johnson was the right-hand man of Tom’s dad, and Mattie Laws and Lula Martin were cooks for the McDonald family. The two women were a cherished part of the McDonald family. Yet another fund was established – the Twin City Mission Fund in memory of Leefe B. Sweeney. Mrs. Sweeney was the mother of Caroline McDonald.
Lastly, the Caroline and Tom McDonald—St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Fund is an established endowment to support landscaping and other capital improvements to support the church and faith community that is so dear to the McDonalds.
Family and community are important to Caroline and Tom, and they chose to share their many blessings by establishing a charitable endowment. Each of these “forever” gifts will provide an annual grant to these nonprofits from now and into the future, thus providing income to benefit the good works of these organizations.
In addition to these new endowments, the McDonalds have also made provisions to include a planned “legacy gift” to the Community Foundation. By including the Foundation in their will, Caroline and Tom are providing a forever source of funding to support the Foundation and important community causes.
The philanthropic couple understands the impact that endowments make for the future sustainability of our nonprofit community. These gifts will forever impact their nonprofit beneficiaries and create a lasting future for important quality-of-life needs that are met through these organizations.
About the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley Established in 2003, the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley serves as a trusted partner for everything charitable through its work with donors, businesses, and nonprofit charities to build and sustain vibrant communities. At its core, the Foundation is a nonprofit organization created with gifts from generous people who are committed to local causes. For donors, the Foundation serves as a philanthropic advisor. For the communities it serves, the Foundation serves as a grant-making and civic leader. With more than $9 million in assets under management, the Foundation has invested more than $1.7 million in grants and scholarships to support local causes that change lives and impact the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.cfbv.org or call (979) 589-4305.
