Circle of Giving Helps Sustain Wilbur Wright Birthplace
In 2007, two billboards and a new computer system were funded by community grants from the Unrestricted Fund. The two billboards were installed on interstate 70 promoting the Wilbur Wright Birthplace. They are located both east and west bound before approaching the Wilbur Wright exit.
Several visitors to the Birthplace have mentioned seeing the billboards and as a result visited the museum. The $6,150 grant helped defray the cost of the new billboards for a period of one year and to purchase additional rack cards to place in interstate welcome centers. The intent is to inform thousands of travelers about this Henry County treasure. The Birthplace Beacon newsletter indicated, “Thanks to the Henry County Community Foundation for their continued support and in helping to market the Birthplace to all the people who have no idea we exist.”
After lightning destroyed their computer, the Birthplace applied for and received a $3,000 grant to aid in the replacement of their computer hardware and software. This equipment enables them to collect files, use standardized forms, to create a database for tracking Gift Shop performance and to develop computer presentations volunteers can use to educate the community about the Birthplace and entice the public to visit. The benefits of this grant include increased efficiency of operations and increased traffic, which will help the Birthplace obtain admission and Gift Shop money to become self-sufficient.
In a note from Richard Glaser, Wilbur Wright Computer System Project Manager, he expressed his gratitude for the support of this critical effort for the Birthplace. According to Board Chairman and volunteer, Pat Malott, “Without the help from community grants we could not make it.” The Wilbur Wright Birthplace also has an agency endowment fund started by Marvin and June Luellen to help sustain the museum. According to Malott, “The endowment fund and community grants are moving this organization toward a self-supporting status.”
As benefactors of grants and designated funds, Malott encourages all Board members, volunteers and friends to invest in both the Birthplace Fund and to give back to the Unrestricted Fund for Community Grants, which benefits so many non-profit organizations like the Birthplace when they need it most. She and other board members are helping to complete the circle of giving by making tax-deductible donations to the Unrestricted Fund in an effort to “pay it forward” and help address the ever-changing needs in our community for current and future generations.
Malott indicated with conviction and a smile that she wants the public to be aware of how much the Community Foundation means to the Birthplace and other local not-for-profits. After overcoming several medical challenges, Malott personally made a decision to give back to the community. She has done so by serving as a board member or volunteer for several organizations including Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Henry County, the Henry County Art Center as well as the Birthplace – all of which have received community grants from the Community Foundation. Consequently, she knows first-hand how valuable and rewarding giving and receiving can be. The donations to the Foundation and the resulting grants from the Unrestricted Fund are sometimes essential to the survival and growth of local non-profits and the residents they serve.
Donations to the Foundation are endowed, or permanently invested, so the donations are never spent, yet the earnings will forever be used to improve our county. Community grants from the Unrestricted Fund, earnings from the Wilbur Wright Birthplace Preservation Society endowment fund and donations from Birthplace volunteers, board members and friends to these funds held at the Community Foundation beautifully demonstrate how wonderful and effective the circle of giving has been for Wilbur Wright Birthplace and for all of Henry County.
