Jones County Community Foundation Meets Matching Challenge
May 31, 2022 // Community Savings Account, Donors
Because of many generous donations including a recent donation in the amount of $12,500 from the Gail & Delores Miller Foundation, the First Fidelity Bank & Jones County Community Foundation (JCCF) recently met its challenge to raise $40,000 within a three year period for a match of $5,000. The additional match came from the Lillibridge Family Community Support Fund held with SDCF. The fund was created in 2007 to provide financial support for challenge grants to Community Savings Accounts (CSA’s) in the First Fidelity Bank communities of South Dakota. The funds will provide a sustainable funding source for charitable causes for years to come.
“We were fortunate to receive a very generous $12,500 donation from the Gail & Delores Miller Foundation to push us over the edge of meeting the challenge,” said Brian O’Reilly, JCCF Advisory Council member. “Because of this gift and the gifts of many generous donors, the JCCF savings account now has assets exceeding $467,000. The local community foundation has granted over $180,000 to charitable causes in the Jones County area. Having a foundation for the Jones County area is critical to ensure a viable community moving forward. Thank you to the many generous donors who helped in meeting this challenge”.
Donations to the JCCF are invested along with other SDCF endowed funds. A percentage of the fund’s value is made available annually for the local advisory council to distribute. As the fund grows, so does the annual amount available to give back to nonprofit groups and organizations making a difference.
Recent grants distributed included:
- $2,000 to the Town of Draper -new furnace in the community center
- $6,435.94 to the Jones Co. School District-new basketball hoops installed
- $1,000 to the Messiah Lutheran Church
The First Fidelity Bank & Jones County Community Foundation was established in 1997 by a local board of directors in partnership with the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF). Their goal was to create a long-term funding source for charitable causes in the local area. With careful investment, the fund will continue to grow and enhance quality of life in the local area forever. This fund is one of 80 community savings accounts in partnership with SDCF. Since inception, the CSA has granted over $180,000 toward charitable causes in the local area. To learn more about the Jones County Community Foundation, please visit https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/local-impact/community-foundations/jones
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers over 1,100 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed approximately $18 million in grants in 2021 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 605.224.1025.
To learn more about the First Fidelity Bank Jones County Community Foundation