The “Season of Giving” is upon us, the season where many of us feel compelled to find that “perfect” gift for our loved ones. With all of the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, we sometimes forget that it is a time to stop for a few moments to pause and reflect on the people and things that we are truly most thankful. I know that at this time I was nostalgic, and I remember the Thanksgivings and Christmases of my past. As an only child, I did not have the opportunity to have the lively interchange with siblings, nor did I have the blessings of a larger extended family that was near. That all changed when I married into my husband’s family, here in Tama.

In a very, very tiny house, 40 some people “stuffed” themselves into the kitchen and living room of the family matriarch. A large dining room table was transformed from a sheet of plywood, five gallon buckets, and planks. People told jokes, argued, and gave good-natured ribbings from, not only across the table, but across the long end of the table. There were multiple conversations going at the same time. It was loud and raucous, and it was fun. I felt that this theatre major fit right in. This atmosphere was quite different from my father’s side of the family, who I love very much. However, eating was serious business. There was not much conversation during the meal. Forks could be heard on the plates. Genteel conversation was saved for after the feast. My husband’s clan is a little smaller now, but the conversations are never quiet.

So, why am I sharing this with you? Because I hope everyone will take time to remember and reflect on the people and events that have made a difference in your life Those memories may not be directly associated with this time of year, but it is important to remember the part they played in making you who you are and the impact they have had on your life.

I know I have been blessed with knowing not only my relatives and my husband’s, but my former co-workers, friends, and community members. I have made Tama County my home. I know the blessings I have received by living here. Many of you who have lived in Tama County the majority of your lives have received many blessings from your families and the communities in which have lived. The question is, “How can you give back to your community that has given you so much?”

As the Development Associate for the Tama County Community Foundation, it is my job to share the “good news” about the Foundation and make sure people are aware of its benefits. Since November is the time to give thanks and reflect, this may well be the time of year that individuals, families, and organizations wish to consider making gifts of significance to express gratitude for our many blessings and to help others in our county. Several possibilities are offered through the Tama County’s own Community Foundation.

Scholarship Funds: By creating a permanent scholarship endowment fund with the Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, you can invest in your community’s future and demonstrate your commitment to education. A scholarship fund through the TCCF could target any particular school district in the county, or it might be more general in nature. For example, a donor who has a passion for engineering, could establish a fund to annually benefit graduates of a particular high school seeking a degree in engineering, no matter what college the graduate attends.

Creating a scholarship endowment fund through the TCCF is a simple process.

You make a gift to the TCCF (cash, appreciated securities, real estate, grain, or other assets)

TCCF establishes a scholarship fund in your name, in the name of your family or business, or in honor of any person or organization you choose.

Your gift will be placed in a permanent endowment that is invested over time.

You receive significant tax benefits in the year your gift is made.

TCCF handles all administrative details and awards scholarships to deserving students in the name of the fund you establish.

You receive updates on the impact your gift is making, as well as recognition as a donor to TCCF.

Field of Interest Fund: These endowment funds help you target your giving to address specific areas of need in your community, such as art and culture, senior care, education, or the needs of at-risk youth. Gifts to establish these funds in TCCF have a bit broader scope, while still permitting the donor to focus giving on strong personal interests.

Donor or Corporate Advised Funds: These funds allow you and your family to make a gift to TCCF and then remain actively involved in recommending grants from your fund each year. You receive maximum tax benefits for each new gift. Grant awards are issued to charities in the name of the fund or anonymously, if you prefer.

Designated Funds: With these funds you can support the good work of one or more specific nonprofit organizations. If, for any reason, the organization you select ceases to exist or changes its mission, the fund can be redirected so that it continues to address your original charitable intent.

One reason you may wish to consider a gift to TCCF is the Endow Iowa 25% state tax credit. Through this program, donors to the TCCF are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit in addition to normal federal deductions for charitable gifts. This tax credit is only available to donors who establish or contribute to a permanent endowment fund at a qualified community foundation, like the TCCF.

Saying thank you through TCCF is a wonderful and deeply meaningful way to impact your community for generations to come. TCCF has been created by and for the people of Tama County. The Foundation’s primary goal is to support charitable projects and programs, to attract additional funds, and to assist donors in creating lasting legacies through a variety of giving options within Tama County. For more information about TCCF, contact Brian Sokol, Chair of the TCCF, at 641- 484-2980 or me, Mary Fasse-Shaw, TCCF’s Development Associate at 641-751-5251.

I hope you all have time to take a moment from this busy season to reflect on the many blessings we have as well as how we might give back to others. May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season.

The Tama County Community Foundation is a local organization making grant investments to organizations that create a stronger and more vibrant quality of life in Tama County and helps people establish permanent funds for the causes they care about in their community. The Tama County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a nonprofit committed to creating long-term impact in 19 counties in northeast Iowa. For more information, contact 319-287-9106 or visit www.cfneia.org. CFNEIA is confirmed in compliance with national standards for U.S. community foundations.