Winter 2015 - Virginia Baptist Foundation

The
Winter 2015
“We are the best program out there...”
Megan Rollins, CEO, Boaz and Ruth
Story on pg. 1
The
Winter 2015
On the cover:
With input from the residents of Richmond’s Highland
Park community, this mural painted by Hamilton Glass
represents the desire for peace within the neighborhoods
serviced by Boaz and Ruth.
In This Issue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE
Commentary
Our Best Words... Thank You! . . . . . . . . . . . Contents page
by Ron Hall
Relying on the Lord to Rehabilitate a Community. . . . . 1
by Cindy Elmore
Charitable Remainder Trusts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
by Todd Fuller
Taking Students to Greater Heights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
by Cindy Elmore
Foundation Expands Reach to Southwest Virginia . . . . . 3
by Cindy Elmore
Faith to Save a Farm and Give it Away. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
by Cindy Elmore
Foundation Names Two New Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . Cover 3
by Cindy Elmore
Matching Challenge Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover 4
The VBF Staff:
Ronald C. Hall, CEO
Todd J. Fuller, CFO
Cindy R. Elmore, Director of Donor Relations
Wendy M. Reynolds, Account Manager
Janet E. Bess, Accounting Clerk
Donna K. Clune, Office Manager
Photography and Layout
Geep Schurman
Virginia Baptist Foundation, Inc.
2828 Emerywood Parkway
Richmond, VA 23294
804.672.8862
800.868.2464
vbf@vbfinc.org
The Virginia Baptist Foundation Inc, is a non-profit organization which assists
anyone who desires to make a gift to a charitable cause.
Neither the author, publisher, nor this organization is engaged in rendering
legal or tax advisory service. The purpose of this publication is to provide
accurate and authoritative information of a general nature only.
Our Best Words...
Thank You!
While Ebola, conflict
in Crimea & Ukraine,
ISIS, unrest in Ferguson,
the Sochi Olympics,
Malaysian Airlines, Oscar
Pistorius, the World Cup,
the Scottish Referendum
and the Sony hack captured the headlines in 2014, charitably minded
individuals and institutions contributed near
record dollars to the watchcare of the Virginia
Baptist Foundation. It can be argued that 2014
was the single best year in this ministry’s
ninety-one year history. Donors contributed
over $9 million (the 2nd highest ever!) and the
Foundation distributed over $6.8 million (also
the 2nd highest ever!) to hundreds of donorselected charitable causes. Thank you for your
encouragement, trust and support.
This edition of the Sower is dedicated to
the newest leg of the Foundation’s four-legged
ministry stool...grants.
Did you know that the Foundation has
awarded fifty-five grants totaling over $1 million
to forty different ministry partners since the
grant ministries inception in 2005? The recipients read like a Who’s Who of Virginia Baptist
life including the VBMB (now BGAV-our initial
grant), Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Bluefield College, Chaplain Service Prison
Ministry (now GraceInside), the Leland Center,
Oak Hill Academy, Spence Network, Virginia
Baptist Historical Society and Virginia Baptist
Homes. In fact, the BGAV and seventeen of her
agencies or educational institutions, eleven of her
Baptist associations, and six of her churches have
received grants. But the work does not stop here.
In 2014, the Foundation awarded two grants to
non-Baptist ministry partners. There are a lot of
groups doing incredible Kingdom work around
the Commonwealth.
Despite the headlines, I hope that you will
read this issue to learn more about what God is
doing among His people. If you would like to
lend your encouragement or financial support
to this ministry, contact the Foundation.
President and CEO
The Virginia Baptist Foundation:
Strengthening and Encouraging Christian Stewardship
Relying on the Lord
to Rehabilitate a Community
Stepping into the offices of Boaz and Ruth,
the essence of the organization is immediately
communicated and the passion for assisting
Highland Park community of Richmond is
very apparent. Bea Robinson, the “Director of
First Impressions,” immediately offers to give
the grand tour, which includes two thrift stores,
a restaurant created from an early 1900’s fire
station, 15 restored houses, a community garden
and a mural symbolizing peace.
Founded in 2002, the faith-based nonprofit
was named after the biblical characters of Boaz
and Ruth. Modeling after the biblical story, the
organization believes that everyone is a “Boaz”
with gifts and everyone is a “Ruth” with needs.
The organization’s founder, Martha Rollins, was
determined to make her vision happen in this
underserved community where many of its
residents were former inmates.
Over the last 14 years, Martha’s vision has
been realized by creating dynamic social enterprises that provide on-the-job training and work
readiness skills for individuals needing a second
chance. Employment is provided in six social
enterprises called Life Labs that assist participants in building skills and establishing a foundation of positive work history.
Making Martha’s vision continue is not always
easy. “We have the capacity to serve folks, but
not always the funding,” says Megan Rollins, the
organization’s recently named CEO. Working to
rehabilitate
the entire
community,
Boaz and
Ruth also
has faced the
difficult task
of lowering
crime. In
fact, during
the first two
years of Boaz
and Ruth’s
existence,
there were
nine murders
in Highland
Park.
Bea Robinson, the “Director of First Impressions”
Located along a four-block section of the
Meadowbridge Road commercial corridor, Boaz
and Ruth’s six social enterprises are designed to
achieve both financial and social return. According to Martha, “We believe that all individuals
can choose to shop and dine as part of doing
missions. Intentionally shopping and eating
outside of our comfort zone, even 10 percent
of the time, can move the economic needle
toward justice.”
Through a network of supporters and business owners, the Transition and Job Connection
Teams work one-on-one to establish connections
between graduates and potential employers.
Seventy-two
percent of
graduates
obtained a
job after graduation and
80 percent
maintained a
job for at least
a year. “We
are the best
program out
there to help
people get to
where they
want to be,”
says Megan.
(continued on pg. 2)
VBF SOWER Newsletter - WINTER 2015
1
The CRT
Charitable remainder trusts (CRTs),
which were created by Congress in
1969, are classified as split-interest
trusts by the Internal Revenue
Service because their assets are
split between charitable and noncharitable beneficiaries. The CRT
provides both a gift and an income.
Many donors have found that a CRT
is a great way to achieve their charitable goals
while retaining an income for themselves and
security for their families. Through a CRT, an
individual can convert appreciated, low-yielding
securities or property into a sizeable income
stream and at the same time avoid potential
capital gains taxation on appreciated property.
CRTs come in two types. A charitable remainder unitrust, or CRUT, which ties the unitrust
payout percentage to the fair market value of the
donated assets, rather than a charitable remainder annuity trust, or CRAT, which would have
set lifetime payments at a fixed percentage of the
donated assets.
Charitable gift annuities are
similar to charitable trusts, but are
simpler. The charitable gift annuity is a simple contractual arrangement between the donor and the
foundation (unlike a charitable
remainder trust, which is a legal
trust). The charitable gift annuity
pays a guaranteed fixed sum each
year for the life of one or more beneficiaries.
“My experience is, most people prefer to fund
a CRT because they’re thinking long-term; they
have an asset they would like to make a gift of,
but they don’t feel comfortable simply giving
it outright,” said Todd Fuller, foundation CFO.
“By making a gift into a CRT, they are hedging
their bets a bit because they are giving away their
asset, but they’re also making a provision to
receive income back for life.”
Vice President and CFO
(continued from pg. 1)
The foundation provides grants that stimulate church growth and
focus on mission opportunities. Since the program’s inception, 55 recipients
and 40 organizations have received grants totaling $1,037,880.
In addition to job training, Boaz and Ruth
helps individuals develop the relational skills,
behaviors, understanding and attitudes that
are needed to sustain healthy relationships. To
develop and support individuals who are rebuilding their lives, Boaz and Ruth mobilizes a wide
variety of paid and volunteer staff, consultants,
post graduates, mentors and tutors who become
like a family for trainees. According to Megan,
“We believe in redemption. We rely on it.”
Boaz and Ruth has greatly invested in the
community’s future. Earned revenue from the
organization’s social enterprises covers one-third
of the cost per participant. Just $40 per day is
needed to fully fund employment, training and
case management for one participant for one
year. This is half the cost of re-incarceration,
2
which is approximately $80 per day. Less than
14 percent of Boaz and Ruth graduates with a
criminal history have been re-incarcerated while
The Commonwealth of Virginia has a rate of
recidivism of nearly 50 percent.
Boaz and Ruth’s leadership firmly believe
that their success in Richmond’s Northside is due
to the organization’s reliance upon the Lord. “We
believe that the faith
component of our
program is what
makes the difference,”
says Megan.
Megan Rollins
CEO, Boaz and Ruth
VBF SOWER Newsletter - WINTER 2015
Taking Students to Greater Heights
What do you get if you combine a youth pastor,
firefighter, mountain climber, Eagle Scout and
an outdoorsman? For those living in the Daniel’s
Hill neighborhood of downtown Lynchburg, they
would easily say that James Bourdon is all of the
above. Founder and director of Urban Mountain
Adventures, Bourdon moved his family into the
underserved neighborhood in 2007 and quickly
became part of the community.
Since Bourdon wanted to combine his greatest
passions of outdoor adventures and sharing the
Gospel into one ministry, he established UMA to
take a few neighborhood boys backpacking, fishing
and camping. The organization soon developed into a community of believers moving into the neighborhood to invest
and disciple the boys and girls of Rivermont.
Today, Urban Mountain Adventures seeks to grow a
core group of youth leaders through relationship cultivation, team building, group follow-up and by reinforcing
key Christian values. In addition, UMA takes at-risk teen
groups on exciting, outdoor single and multi-day trips to
challenge and broaden self expectations by developing life
skills, inner-confidence, and a deeper sense of purpose
through exploring God’s creation. UMA maintains partnerships with many existing youth programs and offers its
services to youth at little or no cost through donations from
generous donors and sponsors.
According to James, “We have consistently operated with
a low-cost, high efficient attitude. However, as we enter a
new era of possibilities, we are finding money can limit the
number of children we are able to include on our activities.
To assist with this need, VBF provided a grant in 2014 to
UMA to support its mission of reaching at-risk youth in the
Rivermont section of Lynchburg.
Foundation Expands Reach to Southwest Virginia
In August 2014, the foundation opened a new office in Roanoke to better
serve Southwest Virginia. Leading the expanded efforts is Cindy Elmore,
Director of Development for the foundation. Recently, relocating to
Roanoke, Cindy’s husband, Joe, is the pastor of Belmont Baptist Church.
She has three children, Annamarie, Joel and Josiah.
Holding a master’s of public administration in nonprofit management
from Virginia Commonwealth University, Cindy is a certified fundraising
executive (CFRE). “As a pastor’s wife for over 25 years, I hope to bring my
ministry, nonprofit and fundraising experience to assist churches in Southwest Virginia.”
Please contact Cindy Elmore, Director of Development, for assistance with planned giving
or church money management needs at celmore@vbfinc.org or 804-898-0686.
VBF SOWER Newsletter - WINTER 2015
3
Joyce S. Ailstock
Faith to Save a Farm and Give It Away
Hay bales, a smokehouse and a tool shed symbolize the hard work of Joyce Story Ailstock’s
grandparents, parents, three brothers and two
sisters. Joyce grew up on a Spotsylvania County
farm that was started by her grandparents in
1895. Her distinctly Virginian voice takes the
listener back to a time when cooking on a cast
iron stove, sitting in the parlor on Sunday, rocking new babies in a handmade cradle and reading
from the family Bible were treasured pastimes.
In 1957, when Joyce was only 22-years-old,
she performed a feat beyond her years. Her
father, who had started a transportation
company in Spotsylvania
County and Fredericksburg,
made the decision to expand
into the Tidewater area in the
early 1950s. To do so, he mortgaged the family farm. Unfortunately, the business failed and
led to bankruptcy. As a result,
the farm was placed on the
auction block.
Determined to save the
farm, Joyce worked with an
attorney to handle the financial affairs including securing
a mortgage loan. The auction
took place on the front lawn
of the property. Besides Joyce,
there was only one bidder, a
representative from the Continental Can Company. So, she
was able to miraculously buy back the farm.
4
According to Joyce, “I just knew it
had to be saved for the family...
Many years later, I knew that it was
God providing.”
On August 4, 1962, Joyce married
her beloved, Everett, and moved to
his hometown, Alexandria, where he
worked as a firefighter. Although Joyce
left the farm, she never really abandoned it because she treasured all
the happiness that she had found there.
On a regular basis, she traveled back
to the farm to visit relatives and eventually became the “maintenance crew,”
caring for the property.
Just as she stood at the auction to
purchased the farm, Joyce has had to rely on the
Lord for the courage to place her family farm
in the hands of Virginia Baptist Foundation. At
the sale of the property, a charitable remainder
unitrust will be created and she will receive a
fixed income for the remainder of her life. At her
passing, three nonprofits will benefit from the
payout of her trust, including VBF’s grant ministry. “This has been a long process and one that I
had to give quite a lot of thought to. I had to trust
God and have faith that this was the right thing.”
Joyce says that she chose to work with Virginia
Baptist Foundation because of its strong financial
history and sound investment programs. “Not
only is it sound, but it is worthy. I don’t know how many
organizations render such a
wonderful program based on
your own financial situation.”
Although Joyce feels that
the Virginia Baptist Foundation is the right choice, she
also recognizes the emotional
consequences of her decision.
She believes that the most
difficult part of giving away
the family farm will be when
she drives away from the
property for the last time.
According to Joyce, “I have had
the wonderful opportunity of
accessing this for the last 20
years and more seriously the
last 10 years. While there are
going to be emotions. It’s time. It’s time.”
VBF SOWER Newsletter - WINTER 2015
Seated: (L-R) Nancy Wren, Jo Lynne DeMary, Janet Garrett. Standing: (L-R) Gene Watson, Brent Kimlick, Mark Ross, Jon Hatfield, Ron Rash,
John Beck, Bob Thompson. Not pictured: Beverley Dalton and Bob Carden.
2015 Board of Trustees
Foundation Names Two New Trustees
Two new trustees, Jo Lynne DeMary and John Beck,
were named trustees of the
Virginia Baptist Foundation at its December board meeting.
Jo Lynne DeMary
A member of Central Baptist Church (Richmond), Jo Lynne serves as a deacon, chair of the
endowment fund, church moderator, and on the
VCU SOE Advancement Council. With a rich
background in education, she was the former
State Superintendent of Public Instruction for
Virginia, a retired educator and professor of
education at VCU. She also co-authored the
book, The Turnaround Mind.
Jo Lynne has two children and two grandchildren. When she is not playing with her
grandchildren, she enjoys reading, gardening
and travel.
John Beck
A native of Richmond, John is a member of
Woodland Heights Baptist Church (Richmond).
He is employed by Dominion Virginian Power
as a Nuclear Technical Specialist. He holds membership in the American Society for Metals. He
also is a past member of the International Metallographic Society and the City of Richmond
Election Office. John and his wife, Nancy, have
one daughter. His hobbies are sailing and woodworking.
VBF SOWER Newsletter - WINTER 2015
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Virginia Baptist Foundation
Awards Four Matching Challenge Grants
The following grants were awarded in 2014:
• Boaz & Ruth’s Rebuilding Lives Program in Richmond
($7,500) to assist formerly incarcerated individuals with
life skills training, mentoring and on-the-job education
necessary for re-entry into society.
• Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in Lynchburg ($1,500)
to help defray the costs of purchasing, packaging and
shipping approximately 15,000 meals to the Source of Light
Center orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
• Portsmouth Baptist Association in Suffolk ($2,250)
to help defray the cost of PBA’s 2014 Operation Inasmuch
Missions Weekend (October 4-5, 2014) in the greater
Portsmouth area.
• Urban Mountain Adventures in Lynchburg ($3,000) to
sponsor approximately 15 inner city youth from Lynchburg
during UMA’s Summer Camp 2014.
2015 Grant Application Available April 1st on VBF Website