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Donor Stories

Ray & Carole Adams

As Carole and Ray Adams know, one of the most valuable services that Truman Heartland provides donors is insight into community needs. For several years, the Adams have managed their charitable contributions through a donor-advised fund at THCF. The fund helps strengthen their grantmaking process and saves the Adams valuable time that they can spend on other priorities – like their grandchildren.

Ray and Carole believe they have a vested interest in the area’s future. Both are from Kansas City, have raised children here, and operate highly successful car dealerships. There’s no question that they wanted to give back to a community that has supported them in many ways. But finding the time to research and understand all of the complex issues became impossible.

That’s where THCF comes in. The Foundation provides donors with a wide range of grantmaking support services including the latest updates about nonprofits, philanthropic research, local community needs and even national issues impacting citizens, as well as investment-related information.

“The Truman Heartland staff is just terrific. They have taken a layer of responsibility off of us and at the same time helped us make the best use of our funding dollars,” says Carole.

Gene and Mary Haug
Throughout their married life, Gene and Mary Haug supported charitable causes in Eastern Jackson County. Through their St. Bernadette parish and on their own, and with contributions of time and money, the Haugs found ways to help those who were less fortunate.

Their generosity was clearly embraced by the family's four children and their spouses — Roger and Kelly Haug, Michelle and Randy Cummings, Darin and Sarah Haug, and Gina and Ken Crum.

When Gene, an engineer at Hallmark Cards and reserve Kansas City police officer, passed away in 1995, Mary, a homemaker, and her family established the Haug Family Foundation. "Setting up a fund with the Foundation was the ideal way to honor our father," says Darin. "At the same time, it offers a vehicle for our mother and all of us to continue doing good things for the community."

Today, grants are awarded to causes that the family becomes aware of through the Foundation and their church and through community involvement. "We feel we're building a fund that will grow and perpetuate itself," Darin says. "We've organized the process by which we consider needs in the area, and we're now able to proactively seek those entities that can use our help. Best of all, Mom has been an integral part of that process and is helping shape the way the fund will assist the community in the future."

“We feel like we’re building a fund that will grow and perpetuate itself”, says Darin.

Dennis and Jane Taylor
For Dennis and Jane Taylor, financial planning presented specific challenges. A few years ago, they were looking for investment opportunities that met personal, financial and philanthropic goals. Thanks to a financial program recommended by THCF, the Taylors were able to secure a healthy investment rate, purchase long term care insurance, assist their community and leave a legacy for their children and families.

“Our eldest son was getting married and neither he nor his wife-to-be needed or wanted ‘stuff’,” Jane recalls. Instead the Taylor’s established a Donor-Advised Fund for their son and future daughter in-law so that friends and family could contribute rather than buy wedding gifts. At the same time, they set up Donor-Advised Funds for their two other sons as a depository for their charitable giving.

“We discovered that the return on an investment with a Truman Heartland gift annuity would more than pay for long-term care insurance for both of us, plus purchase a life insurance policy in the amount of the gift,” she adds.

Today, the Taylors are reaping the benefits of their decisions. Their foresight has helped provide supplemental income through their investments and the long-term care insurance. Most importantly, THCF will guarantee that the Taylors’ thoughtful planning will eventually provide significant support to several charities.

David and Shirley Wurth
Heartland donors realize many tax advantages by giving gifts in addition to cash through their fund at Truman Heartland Community Foundation. Having advised a Donor-Advised “family” Fund at THCF for several years, Dave and Shirley Wurth have enjoyed making contributions of stock to support their charitable interests.

A former bank employee, Dave wanted to use his shares of stock to fund their family’s charitable interests. “By depositing highly appreciated bank stock into our family fund, charities receive full benefit of the stock value. Also, the entire value of stock gifted during each tax year is claimed as a charitable contribution,” says Dave.

Often times, the complexity of donating gifts other than cash keep donors from making those contributions. At THCF charitable giving is made simple and powerful for the donor, allowing you to enjoy the freedom to support all your charitable interests. “By depositing our investments of high capital gains, we realize tax advantages which, in turn, increase our giving to charities dear to our hearts. It is easy for us to use Donor Central online to make grants as THCF sends the checks to support our charities,” says Shirley.

Raytown residents, the Wurths enjoy supporting many local, national and international charities through their family fund; organizations such as Raytown Educational Foundation, Southeast Enterprises, Rotary International Foundation and Fellowship of Christian Athletes receive their faithful support. Giving through their fund at THCF, continues to help them achieve their charitable goals.