As I mentioned in last week's article, 'tis the season to think of community service.
When I ponder all the wonderful things that millions of people are doing, I feel very optimistic about us humans. That, coupled with the great financial resources of some very large foundations, is a prescription for progress.
Thinking of foundations, I thought of our very own Flagler County Education Foundation. The Gates or Ford Foundation it's not, but it's ours and we should be proud of it.
It's composed of a couple dozen people who want to see Flagler County public education improve and improve and improve. But that takes money.
Nothing gets accomplished without resources. Whether those resources are human, financial or inanimate, they're necessary building blocks for any enterprise.
For your Education Foundation, the biggest and best resource is people. I've been impressed, amazed, and humbled by the energy, creativity, and commitment that these volunteers bring to our school system.
The Foundation's role is to enhance public education by raising and providing money to supplement existing County monies. These funds are over and above what the school system receives from public tax revenue.
Of course, the money available to help our kids isn't as large as anyone on the Foundation would like to see it. Members are working harder to build the Foundation's annual budget, which currently stands at a respectable $80,000. While that's a lot of money, it doesn't go far, even in a county as small as ours, to fund scholarships and classroom project grants for a system with over 6,000 kids.
But the Foundation has a plan. It wants to build legacies. It wants the best for all Flagler children. Innovative ways are needed to raise money and dramatically increase the Foundation's budget.
One creative, and easy, funding mechanism is to bequeath some of your estate to the Flagler County Education Foundation. It's not only a great way to reduce federal taxes that must be paid on your estate by your heirs, it's also a great way to leave this County a great legacy. It's not only your legacy; it's a legacy for the kids.
Some of the Foundation members have been working with local attorneys, financial planners, insurance agents, and others to develop and publicize this program throughout the County. They have produced a very informative and attractive brochure that explains this option very clearly. It's exciting and it looks like our best shot in many years to significantly increase the assets of our Education Foundation.
Already a couple kind-hearted citizens have remembered your kids and our public education system generously in their wills. We wish these folks the longest, healthiest, and happiness lives possible. But when they pass, they'll leave public education here in a far better position than it was before. Isn't it great to know that their gifts will live on? It will help many students, parents and educators. But, most important, it'll arguably improve the quality of our lives in this community and maybe even the nation or the world.
Who's to say the next Marie Curie or Thomas Edison isn't hiding somewhere right here in Flagler County. What if that potential star needs some financial assistance to attend college? And what if your gift made the difference? How would you feel? How would we all feel?
I suppose I'm getting a tad carried away. After all, it's not like Colin Powell and Eleanor Roosevelt are standing on every street corner. Or are they? Do we know where our leaders will come from? Why not from Flagler County?
They can come from here, with your help. Think about the Foundation -- for today and tomorrow.
If you'd like to talk to someone about a donation or bequest, call the School Board at 437-7526 and ask for Howard Elliott.
You'll feel good about it. Lots of other people will, too.
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Fred W. Apelquist, III, M.Ed.
Approximately 640 words.
(c) 2001