A GOOD FOUNDATION THE NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
FALL • 201 9 At The Community Foundation, we have a myriad of types of funds: Agency Endowment, Corporate Care, Designated, Donor-Advised, Field-of-Interest, Scholarship, and Unrestricted Impact funds. In this issue, we introduce you to some of our generous donors who have established Donor-Advised Funds. Through the lens of these stories, we want more people to know about the versatility of this fund type, the services and resources we offer, how donors are active and giving in supporting community organizations through their funds, and that Donor-Advised Funds are often a donor’s introduction to The Community Foundation and all of the fund types available to him/her. We hope you enjoy these stories, and we would love to hear more about your story at cfmt.org/stories.
BARGE DESIGN SOLUTIONS IMPACTS COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY
“Architecture is the very mirror of life. You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit of a place; they are the reflection of society.” — Architect I.M. Pei (1917-2019)
Barge Design Solutions is a professional services firm with offices in five states and corporate headquarters in the Central Business District of Nashville. The multidiscipline team includes engineers, architects, landscape architects, planners, biologists, geologists, scientists and surveyors. Celebrating its 65th year, Barge has been a part of the development of Nashville since its founding in 1955 by a group of Vanderbilt engineering graduates. Since then, Barge has been engaged in such organizations as the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Nashville Partnership, The Rotary Club of Nashville, and other key business organizations. “We have literally worked across every block of the downtown area and continue to be a part of the growth of the core of the city,” says Paula Harris, Barge’s Executive Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer.
Committed to caring for the communities in which their employees live, work and serve, Barge Design Solutions opened the Barge Design Solutions Community Fund at The Community Foundation in 2014. In the five-year period since the Fund’s inception, Barge has awarded more than $250,000 in grants — with two grant cycles each year. “The Community Fund grants are primarily given to organizations surrounding our 15 offices,” says Cendy Dodd, Barge’s Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. She continues, “Barge encourages employees to view grants as an extension of the work they are already doing in their communities. Grants are only given to organizations at which our employees are already involved." Barge encourages their employees to use their skills and knowledge beyond the workplace to better their communities. For example, many of their engineers participate in service and mission trips aimed at providing engineering services in areas of need — such as developing water systems in rural South America. Other employees are involved in organizations focused on providing education and mentorship, such the Dayton
Regional STEM School, the Nashville State Community College Fund, Youth Encouragement Services, and Laurel JustLead. One specific instance involves Kody Walker, a Transportation Project Engineer at Barge. After Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle in October 2018, Walker took the initiative to assemble a team to assist in disaster response efforts. “Kody and his team showed incredible collaboration and leadership during the process of helping utility workers restore water and sanitary sewer infrastructure in the Bay County area of Florida,” Barge’s Harris says. “In addition, due to connections made through their team’s presence in this area, Barge engaged with a group of locals to feed community members displaced by the storm,” she continues. “The Community Fund was able to quickly support their efforts by granting Operation BBQ Relief $5,000.” It’s clear Barge Design Solutions cares enough about its employees — and about the communities in which they live — to foster the spirit of generosity through financial support as well as through individual time and effort.
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FOR BURRUS FAMILY, SERVICE IS A WAY OF LIFE
(From left) Lisa Burrus Turk, Nan Burrus Cox, Barbara "Bozi" Burrus Figge, Laura Burrus Smith, Kate Burrus Griffin; (Middle) Liz Cox caring for a child from the Ugandan community; (Right) Liz Cox stands proud with team members / Ugandan nurses at Ekisa Ministries.
When it comes to family influence, we often hear stories of inspiration passed along from generation to generation. For the Burrus family, a passion for philanthropy and life of service to others has been a common thread.
For many years, the family facilitated their charitable work through the Roger Ellen-Burrus Foundation, named after Dr. Burrus and Dear’s two children who had preceded them in death.
Looking back at the late Dr. George Roger Burrus and devoted wife Barbara “Dear” Burrus, their remarkable lives were filled with family, friends, and medical missionary work.
In 2012, the family moved their foundation from South Carolina through an easy, convenient process at The Community Foundation and established the Ellen and Roger Burrus Endowed Advised Fund.
Barbara Howard became Mrs. George “Dear” Burrus on June 8, 1953, the Monday after she graduated from Peabody College. The bride watched her husband, George, graduate from Vanderbilt University College of Medicine in 1955.
“The Community Foundation has made it very accommodating for us to manage our Fund, to distribute our monies to the missions we are committed to supporting, and to communicate in a timely manner when we have questions and/or requests,” says Laura Burrus Smith.
What soon followed was the beginning of a new family — and a lifetime of adventure and service. The young Burrus family boarded the Queen Elizabeth I in July 1962 and began their lifelong dedication to the human condition. For many years, the couple raised their children in “faraway lands surrounded by strange cultures,” as described in Dear’s autobiography, “Sharing Four Cultures: a Journey of Love.” Dr. Burrus dedicated several decades of his life to what he wanted to be — a doctor where there was no doctor. "The way my grandfather lived his life was very different; everything he did was with service in mind.” says Liz Cox, granddaughter of Dear and Dr. Burrus. “My grandfather did not pursue medicine just for medicine’s sake — he didn't always have a dream to be a doctor — but he knew it was an avenue through which he could serve people.” The global experience the Burrus children grew up with left an impact that inspired them to continue the work of giving, whether though service projects in the United States and beyond, or through their grantmaking efforts to organizations working for causes important to them. “My parents set a wonderful example of what it means to serve others,” says Laura Burrus Smith, daughter of Dear and Dr. Burrus. “I saw Mom and Dad love and support people who came to them and needed help, and it made a lasting impression on me.” This lasting impression also has been passed down to the Burrus grandchildren. Liz Cox, a young RN who graduated from the University of Virginia’s School of Nursing in May 2018, recently returned from a year of service in Jinja, Uganda, where she provided medical care to special needs children for Ekisa Ministries and Children's Home. Keep in mind that children living with special needs in Uganda face immense discrimination and stigma. Liz learned from her experience that many Ugandans believe these children are cursed or possessed, and that their disability is contagious. According to Ekisa’s website, special needs children have little hope for their future, as they are excluded from the education system, healthcare, and other basic services. “With the lack of supplies in medical centers, it takes a lot of advocating to care for residential and community kids,” Liz says. “We are trying to empower parents to know how to navigate government-funded healthcare once their children leave the Ekisa program.” 2 • CFMT.org
Early on, grant distributions were decided collectively by all five Burrus daughters. As their families have aged and now live all over the country, they divide the amount to be distributed by five, and each sister decides on her portion. They do talk among themselves, however, and often support each other’s missions. “I love working with my sweet sisters as we find and seek ways to help those in our local communities and globally who are in need,” Laura says. “We all feel like we are honoring our late parents and siblings in a meaningful way.” As the younger generation becomes involved in the decision-making, they have seen that the power of giving is as impactful as an act of doing. “We are not all called to be the ‘doers’ … some of us are called to be the ‘givers’,” Liz says. “I was so humbled by the people that gave to my calling. I could not have gone to Ekisa without them.” Along with others, a friend from college supported Liz’s dream to serve as a medical missionary. Impacted by a sister with special needs requiring complex care, Liz’s friend realized not everyone has the same medical resources available in the United States. With her gift to support Liz’s work, she knew the story of children’s lives across the globe could be different. This act of kindness was a good reminder to Liz, now that her yearlong commitment in Uganda has ended, that she can still care for these children from afar and still have a direct impact.
“Sometimes a gift of money doesn’t make you immediately feel like you’ve done much to help,” she says. “But I’ve been on the other side, and I saw what it can do. Nothing happens without money.” At the passing of Dear in 2014 and of great-aunt Edwina Griscom in 2018, the Ellen and Roger Burrus Fund provided a place for memorial gifts to be made to help carry on their family’s legacy. “When I was walking down a dirt path, I thought about how it was crazy that my grandparents fostered this dream and now they are enabling it well past their lives, ” Liz says. “That is such a gift.”
Our Mission The Tomorrow Fund is dedicated to harnessing the energy, enthusiasm, and resources of young Nashville residents above the age of 22 in an effort to serve the community. The Fund seeks to build community awareness, leadership and responsibility by establishing a pattern of community service and charitable giving.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS The Tomorrow Fund invites young professionals to build community awareness, leadership and responsibility by establishing a pattern of community service and charitable giving.
The Tomorrow Fund’s logo, the oak tree seedling, represents its philosophy and mission perfectly. The metaphor often used to describe endowment funds within a Community Foundation is planting acorns. By setting aside money in an endowment fund and allowing it to grow, Tomorrow Fund members are ensuring that what now provides small yet meaningful grants in its seedling stage transforms over time into strong and vibrant support for the nonprofit community. The Tomorrow Fund was formed in 1998 by several young professionals in the greater Nashville community to foster civic leadership and community awareness among their peers. Through both hands-on charitable service and committee-based grantmaking, this organization provides a training ground for the future leaders of Middle Tennessee’s philanthropic and outreach efforts. Annual fundraisers and contributions by members and donors augment the Fund within The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Contributions remain in the Fund while a small portion (4-6%) of the Fund is distributed annually for grants to nonprofits throughout Middle Tennessee serving children. By leaving the vast majority of the Fund untouched, the endowment is able to grow and grow, eventually providing a significant stream of grantmaking revenue. The Tomorrow Fund Advisory Board is committed to providing a training ground for the future leaders of Middle Tennessee’s philanthropic and outreach efforts. Board members include: Stephen Garrett, President Mike Stewart, Vice President/Treasurer Kayla Clayborne, Secretary Leah Glover Hayes, Public Relations Chair Amanda Kerns, Social Chair John Rader, Service Chair Stephanie Gambill Simkin, Special Events Chair Scott Bannach Jennings Harlan Ben Shuster Cara Sweeney Grace Sweeney Concetta Wilson Lillian Turman, CFMT Sponsor
Learn how to get involved at www.TheTomorrowFund.org.
www.cfmt.org/explore/initiatives/tomorrowfund The Tomorrow Fund is a component fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennesseee.
FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ARTS, PHILANTHROPY CAN BE JUST THE TICKET As witnessed time and time again, the benevolence of the arts, cultural and entertainment communities create essential change for nonprofits in our community and across the country. Just as a coalition of artists and musicians collectively hosted more than 160 events in 2010 when floods ravaged our Middle Tennessee communities, donations and ticket proceeds from Music City’s entertainment partners — benefiting charitable endeavors as a way to directly help the community — began a decade ago. CFMT’s first Donor-Advised Fund with country music artists started with Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s Neighbors Keeper Fund in 2009. Since then, dozens of artists have created Donor-Advised Funds at The Foundation as a meaningful and compassionate way to benefit their favorite philanthropic efforts. In 2018, proceeds from funds established by music artists at The Community Foundation benefited more than 100 charities both locally and across the country, to the tune of $3 million. Those contributions support work in categories such as children’s health, human services, education, the arts, and animal welfare. More than one-third of these dollars stayed right here in Middle Tennessee as a result of concert-ticket proceeds from nationwide tours of dozens of highprofile recording artists. The LadyAid Advised Fund, a Donor-Advised Fund at CFMT, was started by Grammy Award-winning group Lady Antebellum in 2012 as a way to provide
additional financial assistance to children’s health initiatives nationwide. Judah & The Lion established the High Five Squad Fund in 2019 to remind every human, from every walk of life, that they are worthy of love and worthy of giving love to others.
model [Ticketmaster premium seats] and put the proceeds directly to charity. It’s extra money that price-sensitive artists don’t want but can redirect to ‘good' because they cannot otherwise stop this practice."
Making the concept a reality is relatively Many of these funds were orchestrated by music artists, their managers and business managers in the entertainment industry, alongside nationwide partners such as AEG and Live Nation and national talent agencies Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and William Morris Endeavor. The practice of artists allocating an extra dollar or two to charities has been around for some time. But as entertainment artists and their managers struggle to control the sale of their own concert tickets, built-in payments to charities are a welcome byproduct, says Jamie Cheek, award-winning business manager, president of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy and board member of The Community Foundation. "I see this as a combo of a couple things: technology both good and bad,” Cheek explained. "The bad is bots [a type of computer program that automates the process of buying a ticket] able to accelerate what gets to the secondary market [StubHub and the like]. The good is that now there are better tools for artists to price tickets against the secondary market.” Continued Cheek, "The challenge is some artists want to keep prices more affordable for all fans. To discourage the level of secondary market activity, they take a few of the good seats and throw them into the TM platinum
easy for the artists and their teams. By setting up a Donor-Advised Fund at The Community Foundation, artists are able to direct much-needed financial resources to philanthropic efforts in our community and beyond. Emphasis on beyond: A recent snapshot of entertainment industry fundholders with The Community Foundation found a worldwide reach of more than 422 million followers on social media channels. That substantial reach can help attract financial support to many philanthropic endeavors as well as significant attention to the valiant work of some of our region’s most benevolent partners. Additionally, ticket proceeds have benefited scholarships at The Foundation, including the Josh Turner Scholarship Fund (established in 2008) and Charlie Worsham’s Follow Your Heart Scholarship Fund (established in 2016). These funds remind us that our music partners continue to create life-changing support for those who need it the most, while perpetuating a belief that the circle of generosity will forever be unbroken.
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THE JONES MISSION Tennessee Titans' center Ben Jones and wife Alex delivered generous contributions to Middle Tennessee nonprofits Preston Taylor Ministries and Endure Athletics via their Donor-Advised Fund, The Jones Mission, following The Ben Jones Celebrity Clay Shoot. The Jones Mission provides at-risk youth with opportunities they might otherwise not have through grants, additional resources, and educational opportunities.
BLACK PHILANTHROPY MONTH The Community Foundation celebrated Black Philanthropy Month in August with a gathering at the Nashville Business Incubation Center. (Photo left) Mrs. Lisa Swift Young and husband Antonio — whose Change We Seek Donor-Advised Fund was set up to encourage and inspire others — are not originally from Nashville but talked to guests about how they desire to collaborate with other philanthropic-minded individuals and nonprofits making a difference in our area’s African-American communities. (Photo right) The Brandon Key Scholarship Fund’s first recipient, Kanayo Offodile, proudly stands alongside his younger brother Chuma Offodile, and mother Dr. Regina Offodile, at CFMT’s Black Philanthropy Month event.
BRIDGE TO EQUALITY LUNCHEON Gail Williams speaks to the crowd at the Music City Center’s Davidson Ballroom as she and her late husband, David, were honored at the Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Award luncheon in May 2019. In 2009 the couple established the David and Gail Williams Family Advised Fund within The Community Foundation as a way to make their charitable giving easier now, and for their children in the future. "Like Francis Guess, many people born and raised here have worked to build bridges for those in need of a hand up to a better future," said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation. “David and Gail Williams weren’t born here, but individually and collectively have set about building bridges to people of every age, race, religion and economic status. Hands were extended to them on their arrival, and in turn they extended their hands to make the path easier for others."
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Staff Spotlight
AMY FAIR Amy Fair is Vice President, Donor Services, and is responsible for meeting the needs of current and prospective donors, including offering donors a further understanding of all resources and services available to support their philanthropy. Amy was previously with The Community Foundation from 1998 to 2001, serving in a similar position.
The phrase "Donor Services" is a wide net to cast when you’re talking about a nonprofit as far-reaching as The Community Foundation. Give us a sense of an average workday for you and your team. The wide net aspect is exactly what I love about being here! I am curious by nature, so having the chance to work with a range of donors with a variety of interests is ideal, and I think the rest of the donor services team would agree. Here is a list of a few of our activities during the last week: a colleague and I traveled to Murfreesboro to present to the Estate Planning Council; I’ve helped connect our communications team to donors featured in this newsletter; I met with a colleague to talk about plans for continuing the momentum of excitement we had following our inaugural Black Philanthropy Month celebration; we had a grant committee meeting and prepared for an upcoming board meeting for the Women’s Fund; and I responded with some recommendations for a generous donor wanting to help support relief efforts in the Bahamas following the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. Every week sees this type of variety. Say I have $5,000, the minimum amount to open a Donor-Advised Fund. Walk me through the process of what needs to happen from here. The process is very easy, and we work to be as quick and responsive as the donor needs it to be … sometimes it is the same day, especially for those who like to call us in late December. For others, they need to let the information we share in an initial phone call or face-to-face meeting sink in, and pair with their charitable objectives. Once the donor is ready, we ask a few key questions to create a customized fund document. When that document is signed and we receive the initial gift, the fund is officially open. From there the donor services staff is here to help guide donors to the next steps for activating their charitable giving through The Community Foundation. What’s the question you’re asked most often by prospective donors, and how do you answer it? A question asked often, and one that has a really important answer, is about the fees charged for funds at The Community Foundation. Every fund is charged an administrative fee that comes to us for our work, and an investment fee that is paid to the investment managers. The administrative fee represents the potential value we add to the donor’s philanthropic journey. This fee is 1.25% annually of the market value of their fund. The fee covers the transactional services (writing checks, offering an online account, preparing monthly financial statements) and the transformational services (hosting family giving meetings, providing research and recommendations
for giving, coordinating visits with local nonprofits, and support with legacy planning.) We are always available to meet face-to-face and provide the most personalized giving experience. We can also assure donors that the administrative fee ultimately goes back into the local community, through the support of The Community Foundation’s grantmaking and the staff ’s research and giving resources offered to donors who care deeply and give generously in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee community. We are not the least expensive option for a Donor-Advised Fund; we are the most locally engaged option. You first worked at The Community Foundation from 1998-2001 after arriving in Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University for graduate school — were there no child labor laws back then? — and returned here after working for your alma mater The Ohio State University as well as The Columbus Foundation in your home state of Ohio. Compare and contrast: What did you learn during that time? You are too kind … and funny! I was so lucky to accidentally stumble on a path that introduced me to generous people early and at many points in my journey. I received scholarships to help pay for college. I worked a number of different jobs, most of which were at different nonprofit organizations and at my alma mater, to make money to complement those scholarships. I responded to a classified ad (remember those?!) in The Columbus Dispatch for my initial professional role in a community foundation with The Columbus Foundation. The contrast is represented in the size and shape of the nonprofit organizations I have worked in during the last 20-plus years. The comparison is in the generous spirit of the people I have worked with in these roles, including the donors, nonprofits, and staff. I have learned everything I know about both the art and the science of giving in these different roles. How has the philanthropic playing field changed in Nashville and Middle Tennessee compared to 20 years ago? There are more people, so there are more givers. But the other reality is that there are also more people with needs. This is where we have always come in: The Community Foundation has staked its claim in connecting generosity with need from its beginnings in 1991, and for perpetuity. These things have changed and evolved in size and scale, but The Foundation’s objective has always been to be the connector. You manage to juggle a husband and two school-age children as well as your responsibilities at The Foundation. How does Amy Fair relax when there’s no one else in the house? My children are at the back end of their K-12 academic life as MNPS students, so their need for my day-to-day mac and cheese-making skills are dwindling. Because of this, our family dinners are now informed by greater opinion and contribution by all members! Everyone is always in the house … at the moment … because my children don’t yet have their driver’s licenses. But everyone’s self-sufficiency has grown, so I have more “me” time on things like riding the Peloton [exercise bike] my husband and I bought for one another last Christmas, and volunteering for the PTOs at my children’s schools, or for Impact Nashville, the women’s giving circle I have been a part of the past five years.
QUESTIONS ABOUT DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS Q: I set up my Donor-Advised Fund years ago with just me as the advisor. What happens to my fund after I am gone? A: There are a few different options, and we are here to help you with those plans. In more recent years, we’ve started asking donors who set up what we call “one-generation” funds about what they might want to see happen with their fund after they are no longer here to make recommendations. An example of this in action is the Donor-Advised Fund Elise Steiner established in 1994. She had a plan in mind for her fund. So when Elise died in 2012, her fund was converted to the Elise Steiner Fund to Benefit the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and FiftyForward, a designated fund that makes annual contributions in perpetuity to two organizations Elise cared deeply about and supported during her lifetime. Note: The Community Foundation has recently reviewed its one-generation funds
and will soon be contacting donors with these funds to discuss future plans for the funds.
Total Number of Donor-Advised Funds: 600 Total Market Value of All Donor-Advised Funds: $257 million Donor-Advised Funds Size Range: $5,000-$82 million 2019 Gifts to Donor-Advised Funds: (As of October 1, 2019)
2,263 gifts totaling $18.7 million 2019 Grants Made from Donor-Advised Funds: (As of October 1, 2019)
2,306 grants totaling $35.9 million Donor-Advised Fund Support for CFMT's The Big Payback 2019: $383,050 Donor-Advised Fund Support for CFMT's 2019 Grantmaking (10% of the 1.25% administrative fee):
$258,811
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SECOND CHANCES THROUGH EDUCATION offered by a state’s corrections department. To eliminate the need for WiFi, inmates can download courses and digital texts directly to their tablets through on-site kiosks. A few years later, Turner and his wife, Phylanice, sold Innertainment and came to The Community Foundation. The sale had provided their family both the financial resources and the tax incentive to explore opening a Donor-Advised Fund.
Born in 1974 in Cleveland, Ohio, Turner Nashe grew up in a single-parent household in a neighborhood devastated by the untimely downturn of the U.S. steel industry, then the crack epidemic. These were tough times indeed on the shores of Lake Erie. At age 14, Turner moved in with his father, who was a police officer. Turner watched his mother strive to better herself through education, while listening to his father’s crime-fighting exploits. Thus, the teenager lived within the juxtaposition of knowing and watching his father work in criminal justice, while too many of his friends and classmates turned to selling drugs to survive. In this challenging environment, Turner carried along on the straight and narrow — a path that led him to early financial success in the real estate business until the financial markets came crashing down in 2008. Unable to apply for any financial assistance other than a student loan, he took the opportunity to earn his doctorate in Education Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University in Nashville. In 2010, Turner would encounter another hurdle that would shape the trajectory of his career. He was indicted, with dozens of others, in a mortgage fraud case in Ohio. Before the charges were dropped without prejudice, he would have to return to Ohio to be booked, an experience he refers to as “the first day of his internship,” in his 2015 Ted Talk.
“I heard a lot of uneducated, very hungry people who are probably taking advantage of what little they have and still coming up short,” he said in the talk.
“We know individuals who have funds here. The Community Foundation is a really good liaison for people who want to be philanthropic, but not be taken to the cleaners,” explained Phylanice Nashe in an interview. “They’ve been a great tool in helping vet individuals and organizations, while also setting up parameters for giving and allotments.” In 2017, Turner and Phylanice opened the Nashe Family Fund to support their own charitable giving along with exposing their children to the power of philanthropy. “They understand [philanthropy] is an obligation that they will have to continue on in their adult life,” Phylanice said of her children. “It’s being a basic human being. You love God and you love the world, and it’s our responsibility to help others when you’ve been blessed. We talk about that with our kids and expect it to be carried out.” The Nashes have expressed areas of giving that represent their personal life experiences as entrepreneurs and their work in delivering educational resources to the prison system. Since opening their Fund, they have made nearly 40 grants in the Middle Tennessee community to: • Organizations supporting entrepreneurs, such as Corner to Corner, the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and Project Return. • Organizations serving the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and their families, such as Dismas, Men of Valor, and Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry.
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• Organizations supporting youth with prevention services, such as the From the Heart Education Foundation and Impact Youth Outreach, to help youth avoid crime, violence, and a future in prison. In 2019, the Nashes opened a second fund, called The Bridge Resource Partner Fund. They have been working with The Community Foundation staff and others interested in supporting the development of new resources and increasing the connected networks available to “Main Street” entrepreneurs in Nashville.
t Educati on Reformer, Philanthropis CARRIE GENTRY
The need is overwhelming.
Shortly after returning to Nashville, Turner began researching prison education as part of his doctorate.
As of 2016, 2.3 million people were incarcerated in the United States. We have the largest prison population in the world.
He quickly realized the rate of recidivism dropped if inmates participated in a GED program. But with prison lockdowns, solitary confinement, and antiquated textbooks, there was no consistent access to a learning environment.
To some, second chances are a tired refrain. We make a mistake and have multiple opportunities to try again. But for many, one bad decision could lead to years — even a lifetime — behind bars.
Turner proposed that instead of moving an inmate to a classroom, educational material could be uploaded to a tablet computer and sent directly to an inmate’s cell.
The Nashe family believes that with the right tools and an education, incarcerated individuals who return to the public are far less likely to end up back in jail.
Through his company, Innertainment Delivery Systems, which originally developed battery powered MP3 players for the corrections market, Turner created CorrectionEd — a system that allows inmates to take online courses
Investing in someone’s second chance could change the entire trajectory of a life.
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THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
It could even save it.
TS ator and CiviUl REidguhcts Activist ROSETTA MILLER-PERRY
r The Tennessee TribuneAcFoutivnde ist ts gh Ri and Civil at the 26th ANNUAL JOE KRAFT HUMANITARIAN AWARD LUNCHEON on October 17, 2019
Board Spotlight
JACK B. TURNER A Clarksville native, Jack B. Turner’s commitment to community service has extended from Austin Peay State University, near where he grew up, to the
U.S. Army’s famed 101st Airborne Division in nearby Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and to cities and counties across Middle Tennessee. His leadership has fostered the creation of the Ajax Turner Senior Citizens Center, the Fort Campbell Historical Foundation, Leadership Clarksville, and Leadership Middle Tennessee, to name just a few. He was a key figure in the creation of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and has been a long-time member of its Board of Directors and later its Board of Trustees.
Tell us about how you and your wife, Margie, started your involvement with The Community Foundation. I had learned about The Community Foundation concept early in my financial services career and was intrigued with all of the potential charitable planning opportunities. I learned then that we did not have a community foundation, and I really couldn’t understand why. I was so interested that I attempted to recruit several others for us to investigate starting a community foundation in Middle Tennessee. It turns out that we simply did not have enough “clout” to get it off the ground … I doubt that anyone ever knew of our effort. From that experience, I learned through a charitable tax lawyer that Memphis had a community foundation, so I opened a Donor-Advised account there in 1989. (We still maintain a small balance there and use the account for special interests.) You opened a Donor-Advised Fund with us in Nashville in 1992, which was very early in the Foundation’s history. Tell us about how that came about and what you most enjoy about maintaining the fund all these years. Upon learning of the effort led by Alyne Massey, HCA and other prominent Nashvillians that the NCF [it was originally called the Nashville Community Fund] was being launched, we stayed tuned with the objective of being one of the first Donor-Advised Fund participants. Margie and I have always considered our DonorAdvised Fund as our charitable planning tool. It allows us to make creative tax-deductible contributions of appreciated assets when the timing is right, and allows us to plan for the future distributions as we are ready to support our special charitable interests. You and Margie were at the forefront opening funds for your children to be actively involved in philanthropy, and they in turn have talked about what role models you as parents have been as examples of giving back to the community. Give us your thoughts on the importance of introducing new generations to philanthropy. Margie and I always encouraged our children to “give back” to our community with both time and treasure. We wanted them to “learn and experience” the joy of giving, knowing that one day it might be very important to them. Therefore, the establishment of a donor-advised account for each allowed them to take “baby steps” in getting their own charitable pathway started. … Further, it allowed us to, in effect, make gifts to them in excess of the IRS annual gift-exclusion limit. You’re a proud native of Clarksville and an active business and civic leader in the area and with the military in nearby Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Tell us some of the things that make your hometown special, and what challenges it faces moving forward. Early on in my career, I wanted to make a difference in my hometown. I not only wanted to be involved, but I wanted to help shape the positive directions of the Clarksville area. I became especially impressed with Army friends at Fort Campbell who dedicate their lives to protect and defend our great county. … I felt that too many people in Middle Tennessee were unaware and did not truly appreciate the commitment and sacrifice of our military. Therefore, I broadened my vision of personal service to support and promote their effort. … I love being around soldiers. They provide me energy, since they always bring along a “can do” attitude. The glass is always half full, never half empty. They make me walk taller and prouder as an American.
(Photos above) The Jack B. and Margie Turner family, Margie and Jack Turner, CFMT President Ellen Lehman and Jack Turner.
You’ve been an outspoken proponent of regionalism and taking about philanthropic efforts that involve the entirety of Middle Tennessee. What would you like to see on that front? Don’t get me started on regionalism! If you do, we will be here all day! … Early on, I felt that local politicians tend to only see the city limits or county lines. We live in one of the most dynamic and progressive regions in the country. We can learn from each other; we can help each other by sharing, in so many ways. We must talk together across county lines … in short, to me it’s all about regional cooperation, regional sharing, and indeed regional caring if we want to captivate and develop our region’s mutual advantages and opportunities. That’s why I was so determined to help lead the effort of Leadership Middle Tennessee. What advice would you have for someone thinking about opening a Donor-Advised Fund or some other type of fund? Over the years, I have encouraged many clients to open what I call a “starter” account with CFMT and test the giving waters. Time and again, I’ve been thanked for such encouragement. We have an experienced and caring staff to help donors get the ball rolling. So I simply say … “Open an account [fund], try it, and see if you like it.”
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CFMT.org • 7
A GOOD FOUNDATION THE NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Nashville, TN Permit No. 2065
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee 3833 Cleghorn Avenue | Nashville, Tennessee 37215 615-321-4939 | 888-540-5200 | cfmt.org OFFICERS Susan W. Simons, Chairman Jana J. Davis, Secretary Decosta E. Jenkins, Treasurer Ellen E. Lehman, President BOARD OF DIRECTORS Will Alexander Hugh Atkinson Lyle Beasley Jamie Cheek Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr. Beth DeBauche Shari Dennis Mark Emkes Sara Finley Ben G. Freeland Julie Frist Herb Fritch Eddie George Jim Gingrich Max Goldberg Jose D. Gonzalez Ray Guzman Christine Karbowiak Robert S. Lipman Will Morrow Larry Papel Wayne Smith Paul Stumb Steve Underwood Stephaine H. Walker Jay Williams Alan Young
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Judy Liff Barker Jack O. Bovender, Jr. Charles W. Cook, Jr. Ronald L. Corbin Richard J. Eskind Farzin Ferdowsi John D. Ferguson Stephen F. Flatt Thomas F. Frist, Jr. Alberto R. Gonzales Joel C. Gordon Kerry Graham Carl T. Haley Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr. Carol O. Hudler Catherine Jackson William C. Koch, Jr. Kevin P. Lavender Ralph W. Mosley Donna D. Nicely Ben R. Rechter Deborah Taylor Tate Charles A. Trost Deborah F. Turner Jack B. Turner Betsy Walkup Jerry B. Williams
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GIVING CARDS: It’s One Gift That Fits All The Community Foundation’s Giving Cards are the perfect gift for any occasion. Your recipient can make a gift to qualified charitable nonprofits in the U.S.
Order today at www.cfmt.org/givingcards.
GivingMatters.com is a powerful tool to inform, empower, and enrich charitable giving in Middle Tennessee — benefiting donors, nonprofits, and the community-at-large.
Call Jim to find out how American Funds IRA distributions work now that I'm 70
(don't forget to ask about the options o.) for giving to chairty ment ioned on radi
Take Jim's recommendation to call and talk CFMTd to them about what I coul do with my IRA $ since we don't need it just yet. Fill in and sign the IRA paperwork to make distrubution to CFMT for fund. Don't forget to include tax info!!!
Visit The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee online at www.CFMT.org.