When God chose heavenly healing for Cassandra Dayton after a battle with Cancer, her son Matthew and former husband Bill knew exactly how they wanted to honor her. They chose to establish a charitable fund in her name that would perpetuate her volunteer service to the Barnesville community. o they established the “Cassandra B. Dayton Memorial Fund” at the Barnesville-Lamar Community Foundation (BLCF), and affiliate of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. By creating an endowed fund, they plan to make grants to organizations that the BLCF is supporting, because they believe the BLCF and its board will know the most urgent needs and opportunities of the community. With Mother’s Day right around the corner, sons and daughters are wondering how best to celebrate their Mom. Particularly in these tough economic times, lavish material gifts may seem inappropriate or superficial. More and more, daughters and sons are making charitable contributions to organizations that are close to their mothers’ hearts in lieu of the traditional flowers and brunch. Some families who can afford it are going even further, establishing a charitable fund in Mom’s name ‘” whether living or deceased ‘” to benefit causes special to her. ”The fund in her memory is a way to perpetuate her volunteer service,” says Matthew Dayton, “My Mother was always involved in the community, particularly through Saint Peter the Rock Catholic Church.” Mothers around the country have already benefited from their children’s philanthropic generosity: In Michigan, one son set up a charitable fund in memory of his mother’s lifelong love for people and music. In Virginia, a sister and brother established a scholarship fund for their recently deceased mother, a Greek immigrant who never finished high school. In Minnesota, four daughters and sons opened a scholarship fund for girls on behalf of their mother, who turned 100 on April 19. In Louisiana, three sons opened a charitable fund honoring their living mother and in memory of their deceased father. In Washington, four sons and daughters set up a charitable fund to honor their deceased mother and father. With a Donor Advised Fund, the Barnesville-Lamar Community Foundation manages all the details, including working with donors to identify their interests, investing the funds, reporting the status of the investments, advising donors on community needs and organizations doing good work, cutting grant checks, and, if requested, tracking how the grant is being used. Many groups of adult siblings find the initial investment for such a fund is possible if they pool their resources; it also provides an avenue for future gifts for the Mom who seems to have everything. Starting a fund at the Barnesville-Lamar Community Foundation can benefit the community while enriching the life of the donors and the person it honors. Best of all, a Mother’s Day Fund provides a chance for children to help their mothers create a legacy of which she will always be proud.” For more information on establishing a charitable fund for mom, contact Joe Edwards, BLCF Chairman at (770) 358-8025 or the Foundation office at (478) 750-9338.
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