By Elizabeth Cook
ecook@salisburypost.com
Dozens of people gathered Tuesday evening to celebrate the Salisbury Community Foundation’s 65 years of philanthropic success.
Meeting in the Messinger Room at Rowan Museum, both givers and potential donors heard about the foundation’s impact.
Tom Smith, president of the foundation, said Salisbury has gained statewide recognition for its extraordinary level of charitable giving.
“Because of the combined charitable work of many, there’s no question this is a community with a big heart,” Smith said.
Patsy Rendleman, immediate past president, said the foundation’s first board included C.H. Wentz, Tom Stanback, Miles Smith Sr., Clifford Peeler, Tom Borland, Bill Robertson Jr., Glenn Ketner Sr. and John Henry Isenhour.
The prominent businessmen wanted a creative way to tackle projects like a YMCA for the city, a new library and a fieldhouse for Boyden High School, said Smith.
The Salisbury Community Foundation was born, and through the years more than $200 million has flowed from its donors to local nonprofits, churches, colleges and educational institutions of the donors’ choice. Another $100 million has supported charitable organizations nationwide.
Donations given through the foundation have helped Salisbury sustain two liberal arts colleges, a seminary, a strong arts community, a public library, beautiful churches, parks, a greenway, a hospital, the YMCA and more, Smith said.
Some gifts are large, he said, and others are modest. But it’s clear many people stretch to give as much as they can.
Steve Fisher, treasurer of the foundation, introduced a video, “Inspiring Philanthropy,” in which some of Salisbury’s most generous and more senior donors talked about their belief in charitable giving and what it has meant to them.
Wilson Smith, a Food Lion cofounder, said his mother told him, “Everything we have is a gift of God,” and that he should take time to give thanks.
Fred Stanback talked about continuing the philanthropic work his father started.
Margaret Kluttz talked about the standard Jim Hurley Jr. set for sons Jim and Gordon when it came to caring about the community. The Hurleys have been generous, she said, and “man, do they know how to raise money.”
Others featured in the 23-minute video include Paul Fisher, Jason Walser, Sarah Cook, Bill Stanback, Edward Norvell, Bill and Shari Graham, Patsy Rendleman, Larry Cloninger, Kenan Smith, Tom Smith, Ralph Ketner, Jim Whitton, Dyke Messinger, Dianne Scott, Albert Aymer, Jack Thomson.
Cloninger, a car dealer, said his family never had anything when he was growing up, but his parents always helped others. He said he told his daughter that as long as all you care about is yourself, you’ll never be happy. “You got to do your part.”
The evening included a video tribute to Chris Whitton, a member of the foundation board from 2001 until her death in August. Her husband, Jim, and daughter, Jane, accepted a resolution from the foundation that announced all 2009 grants of the Salisbury Community Foundation Board will be given in her memory and in appreciation for her leadership and commitment to the quality of life in the community.
“My tears remain pretty close to the surface,” said Jim Whitton. “Thanks.”
For more information about the Salisbury Community Foundation, an affiliate of Foundation for the Carolinas, contact Meg Dees, vice president for development, at 704-224-8840 or mdees@fftc. org.