Earlier this year, the Wayne Area Legacy Fund (WALF) announced its latest fundraising campaign aimed at growing its unrestricted endowment.
With an impressive $242,000 already raised, the campaign is well on its way to reaching its ambitious goal of $300,000 by Dec. 31, 2026. This initiative, known as the "Gratitude Challenge," is a pivotal effort to secure charitable resources and continued growth of the Wayne Area community.
The Gratitude Challenge is driven by the generous support of local donors Dick and Becky Keidel, whose $100,000 matching gift sets the foundation for this campaign. Their challenge is further bolstered by an additional $50,000 match from the Nebraska Community Foundation, creating a powerful opportunity to enhance the Wayne Area Legacy Fund's endowment by a total of $450,000. This significant increase will ensure sustained support for various community projects and initiatives for generations to come.
Lead donors, with gifts of $25,000 or more toward the campaign, include Julie Claybaugh, Bill Claybaugh, Bob Ensz and Elkhorn Valley Bank.
"In 1977, Debbie and I moved to Wayne with our two-year-old daughter. This was Debbie’s hometown – where she had been born and raised. We came here because of what Wayne had to offer – the schools, college, hospital, business, and industry. This is where we wanted to raise our children. We also saw Wayne as a vibrant and progressive community. Nothing has changed over the past 47 years in this belief. My hope is that our investment, along with others, in the Wayne Area Legacy Fund endowment, will help to ensure that this continues long after we are gone," Ensz said.
“Elkhorn Valley Bank prides itself on building strong community partnerships, and our support for the Wayne Area Legacy Fund reinforces that commitment. We are honored to help advance the Wayne Area Legacy Fund’s mission of fostering collaboration and investing in the long-term success of the Wayne area. Together, we can make a difference for generations to come," said Corby Schweers, Executive Vice President, Elkhorn Valley Bank.
According to the Nebraska Community Foundation, a homegrown challenge is one of the most effective ways to substantially grow an unrestricted endowment and fortunately generous individuals have ensured their legacy will be felt in the Wayne Area forever.
The Gratitude Challenge Campaign aims to increase both current giving and the number of planned gifts to benefit the Wayne Area in the future. A blended gift is a giving strategy that pairs the impact and instant gratification of a current gift with the long-lasting legacy of a charitable planned gift. Combining a gift in this fashion affords you both the opportunity to enjoy witnessing your gift at work and to make the maximum charitable impact through legacy giving.
Current Gift Giving Opportunities include:
CASH – A gift of cash may be eligible for income tax deductions as prescribed by current law.
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES – Gifts of grain or livestock may provide significant income tax savings to a producer.
MARKETABLE SECURITIES – A gift of publicly traded stock, bonds or mutual fund shares is eligible to be matched at full fair market value. Such a gift may provide you with additional tax benefits, as you will not pay capital gains tax on the appreciation in the value of the securities.
GIFTS OF IRA – Individuals who have reached age 70 1/2 may contribute up to $100,000 directly from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA), without having to recognize the IRA distribution in taxable income.
A planned gift is a gift for the future, often extending beyond a donor’s lifetime. The easiest ways to make a planned gift are in a will or trust (simply designate a percentage or dollar amount of your estate to a charity like Nebraska Community Foundation for the benefit of Wayne Area Legacy Fund) or through a beneficiary designation (for instance on a financial account, CD, or insurance policy). Not only does charitable planned giving impact the charitable causes and communities you care about most, it often comes with tax benefits to you or your heirs.
The Wayne Area Legacy Fund is inviting ALL community members to join us by donating/pledging towards the Gratitude Challenge.
Contact any member of the Wayne Area Legacy Fund Advisory Committee or visit www.WayneAreaLegacyFund.org for more information on ways to give. Donations can be made through the WALF website or mailed to Wayne Area Legacy Fund, P.O. Box 163, Wayne, NE 68787.
