Community Foundation of Henderson County celebrates “Owning Your Philanthropy” at Annual Luncheon

Press release:

CFHC Celebrates Owning Your Philanthropy at Annual Luncheon

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C., AUG. 24, 2016: The theme of “Owning Your Philanthropy” and creating and following your own charitable path was celebrated today at Community Foundation of Henderson County’s Annual Luncheon.

More than 240 guests took part in the event at Kenmure Country Club which featured community members and keynote speaker Meridith Elliott Powell sharing inspiring words about taking personal ownership of your philanthropic dreams.

Honoring someone who wholeheartedly has owned her philanthropy, the Community Foundation also gave its highest award – the Richard C. and Vina L. Sauer Charitable Leadership Award –to Phyllis C. Rothrock.

In her presentation of the Sauer Award, CFHC Board Secretary Shirley McGee described Rothrock as “loving, loyal and committed. As a friend of this community, this individual offers to us a lifetime of philanthropic examples and continues to devote endless hours and unwavering dedication to help people realize the needs of others.”

McGee said Rothrock is someone who knows that helping others gives an innate sense of happiness and humanitarianism. She also said that by establishing an unrestricted endowment at the Community Foundation, Rothrock’s philanthropy “provides the highest level of altruism, choosing the most selfless way to support community. The gifts established not only meet community needs as they emerge today, but will also continue to support Henderson County for future generations.”

Rothrock has served as a volunteer and donor at the Children and Family Resource Center through the center’s Champions for Children; has been involved with the United Agenda for Children; supports the Pardee Hospital Foundation through the Generations of Excellence Society; contributes to the United Way of Henderson County’s Oklawaha Society; and assists Habitat for Humanity, the Council on Aging, the Boys and Girls Club, and Blue Ridge Health Service of Henderson County. Her personal giving also has raised awareness for garden clubs and Bullington Gardens.

Named for the Sauers, the award exemplifies the generosity of a husband and wife team who supported many local charities during their lifetimes and then left the first $1 million gift to the Community Foundation through their will. Their endowment, along with other gifts, provides resources to numerous causes throughout Henderson County.

Rothrock joins a distinguished list of past Sauer award recipients: Ruth Birge, Thos. R. Shepherd, Mary R. Garrison, Dr. Stuart and Carola Cohn, Marian Lowry, Teddi Segal, Robert and Doris Eklund, the Dr. Kathleen McGrady Family, Jeff Miller, Duane and Peggy McKibbin, Dot Marlow, Dr. Colin Thomas, Frank Byrd, Tom and Sue Fazio, Eleanora Meloun, Marcia Caserio, William “Bill” F. Stokes, Jr., William E. “Jamie” Jamison, Kermit Edney, Morris Kaplan, Kenneth Youngblood, and Frank Wyttenbach Ewbank.

Emphasizing that “charity work is learned,” keynote speaker Meridith Elliott Powell encouraged the crowd to own their philanthropy by giving back, building relationships and having personal responsibility for their charitable giving. “If you want someone to give back for the rest of their life, they have to trust it’s the right thing to do,” Powell said. “You have to show that giving back has value. People support what they help create.”

Kenmure Fights Cancer Co-Director Susan Bush talked about how she and other Kenmure residents have rallied together to raise money to battle cancer and support people affected by the disease’s onset. CFHC Board Director Betsy Lutz shared how she was owning her philanthropy by carrying on the charitable legacy of her late parents. St. Gerard House Executive Director Caroline Long told the crowd how her personal journey with her children grew into her founding St. Gerard House which offers therapy and other services to people in our community with autism and their families.


CFHC Board Chairperson Les Boyd III said at the luncheon that “over the next two years, I would like for us all to own our philanthropy within ourselves, within our families and within our community.” Helping families get involved in giving across generations strengthens family units and connects families to community, Boyd said. To encourage cross-generational charitable giving in our community, he announced that CFHC will launch in January 2017 the “My Family in Philanthropy” program.

Working with a team from Henderson County Public Schools, the Henderson County Public Library and area nonprofits, CFHC has created a curriculum to explore and develop a family-style of philanthropy that fits together community and personal family values.

Boyd also welcomed two new members of the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors – Patricia Jones and Mike Moore – and shared that Cindy Causby will be serving as the Board’s Vice-Chairperson.


Past Chairperson John Bell, Jr. thanked and recognized Lauretta Cook and Randy Romeo for the service they just completed on the CFHC Board.

Bell also talked about how “Community Foundation-style giving works positively to weave a living fabric throughout our community.” He said the greatest evidence of this is the fact that “your Community Foundation has given a total of $43.6 million over our 34 years in Henderson County.” Bell also shared that during the 2015-2016 fiscal year, more than $2.9 million was awarded and total assets were $87.7 million.

“The Community Foundation of Henderson County has been serving donors since 1982,” Bell said. “Through the generous works and gifts of benevolent donors, Community Foundation has been able to provide significant services and do great things in our community.”