Giving Back to the Roots that Never Left Her Heart
The Henry County Community Foundation received a five-year $1 million commitment from Randall E. Woods in December 2007 to memorialize his wife, Ellen Saint Woods.
Ellen and Randy both grew up in New Castle, Indiana. Having lived in several places from coast to coast, Ellen never lost touch with the Midwestern values that guided her through life. She never lost sense of what was genuinely important and at times risked being politically incorrect to say what she truly believed.
Ellen, an accomplished violinist and bridge player, was a wonderfully loving and caring person with a great sense of humor. Married in 1976 to Randall E. Woods, she has two sons, William Randall of Boise, Idaho, and Robert Saint Woods of New York City. She was the daughter of the late William K. Saint, MD and Nancy Pfohl Saint. Ellen devoted her life to raising her sons and supporting her husband’s career. Ellen touched the hearts of many during her lifetime as she volunteered and participated in various philanthropic organizations. The intent of this donation is to memorialize Ellen’s legacy of giving, serving and inspiring.
The Henry County YMCA youth scholarships program is the recipient of the earnings of this $1 million donation. As a child, Ellen was an active participant at the “Y” and recognized the value it provides and so it is the hope that youth benefiting from this legacy will learn to give, serve and inspire, as did Ellen. The Ellen Saint Woods Fund will help provide scholarships for youth unable to cover the membership and program fees of the Henry County YMCA. Scholarships are based on financial need.
The endowment concept allows this memorial gift to exist permanently. The original donation will never be spent. The earnings from the donated monies will grow from approximately $8,000 in 2009 to approximately $40,000 annually by 2012. Distributions to the YMCA will commence spring of 2009.
Ellen and Randy, both graduates of Walter P. Chrysler Memorial High School, lived in California. A memorial donation to the Henry County Community Foundation from a former classmate, Maribeth Burton Taylor, sparked Randy’s thoughts of investing in their hometown community. Randy returned to New Castle to find a meaningful way to honor Ellen’s memory. He chose the Henry County YMCA as the way to benefit a local organization and to honor Ellen forever. After visiting the Henry County YMCA and having discussions with Maribeth, Danny Danielson and Director Chris Williams, Randy realized the need for additional scholarships; and he designated the Henry County YMCA as the recipient.
Ellen Saint Wood’s Midwestern roots that never left her heart will be memorialized forever thanks to her family. Youth utilizing the scholarships will be able to participate in YMCA programs that will benefit their lives and help create their own Midwestern values. This generous gift is a treasure to the community that will live on forever.
