Foundation members distribute $50,000 worth of checks to non-profits
(Seguin) — The Seguin Area Community Foundation is again helping to support the non-profit groups that take care of the people in Seguin and Guadalupe County. The foundation last week distributed tens of thousands of dollars to several deserving community organizations.
Kathy Nossaman, secretary of the foundation’s board of directors, says they are excited to again be able to make these donations.
“Right now, we have $50,000 to distribute today, and it will go to eight different organizations,” said Nossaman.
The foundation gave thousands of dollars away the previous year as well. Nossman says much of that money went to help feed people as the community struggled with the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In 2020, most of our donations went to organizations, which were having a hard time raising funds, which is what happened with everyone. But we did give a lot of the money that year to all of the volunteer fire departments got a little bit of money from us. Anyone who was giving out giving out food, (like) the food banks (and) drive-thru food (distribution) type organizations. We didn’t have as much money to use that year, but we’ve got more now. So that’s why we are able to give more sizeable checks than we have in the past,” said Nossaman.
But their latest gifts are not only larger, but they are going to a more diverse group of non-profit organizations. Nossaman says this is all part of the ultimate goal for the community foundation.
“We are distributing the monies that we set aside for community organizations and community non-profits. These are our 2021 distrubitions. Every year, our intent is to be able to distrubute monies to the community to what we consider (to be) worthy non-profits,” said Nossman.
The organizations benefitting from the foundation this year include the Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage Center (Big Red Barn), Seguin Youth Services, Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center, South Texas Pregnancy Care Center, the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Class (benefitting the Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter), CASA of Central Texas, and the Guadalupe Valley Christian Counseling Center. Representatives from each organization were on hand for the check presentation held on Thursday at El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant. Another check is also slated to be presented to the eighth organization on a later date.
Nossaman says the foundation exists to be able to support these kind of organizations, and provide a lasting positive impact on the community.
“Community foundations, in general, are designed to give local folks a place to put their monies, (and) that can be distributed in perpetuity. And so the money that we are handing out today came from a gift that we received after someone in Seguin passed away. We manage the money and we invest it. We’ve got a spending policy that tells us how much money that we can distrubute every year, and keep that money to last — again, in perpetuity,” said Nossaman.
The Seguin Area Community Foundation is a non-profit organization that started in 2012. In the past three years, the foundation says it has received donations that have surpassed the $2 million mark. Most recently a long-time community leader left the bulk of his estate to a named endowment. Foundation officials say his wishes will be carried out annually by the group’s board in perpetuity. In addition to its named endowments, the foundation’s General Endowment Fund also distributes money annually to non-protit organizations in Guadalupe County.
Others can join the effort to create a sustainable community fund. Foundation officials say as you review or revise your estate plan, or as you make your yearly charitable contributions; they hope that you will consider the Seguin Area Community Foundation as a way to carry out your legacy. The foundation accepts a variety of assets, including cash, real estate, life insurance, annuities and securities.
The foundation’s board says its available to answer any questions that you might have about making a donation, or you can also visit the website seguinfoundation.org.