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History
The Suffolk Foundation was incorporated on November 9, 2006; however, the Foundation did not become fully operational until it received its 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS on October 4, 2007. Mr. William N. Hill, former Suffolk Public Schools administrator, was selected by the Board to serve as the Foundation's first Executive Director. The Foundation office was originally located at 1514 Holland Road, which shared office space with the Obici Healthcare Foundation. Later through the generosity of Mr. Angus I. Hines, Jr., one of the Founding Members, the Foundation established its current office at 1426 Holland Road
The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization and is a non-profit, autonomous, publicly-supported, nonsectarian philanthropic institution with a long-term goal of building permanent benefit of the residents component funds. These funds will be established by many separate donors for the broad-based charitable needs of Suffolk and the surrounding area. The Suffolk Foundation accepts contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, and other non-profit organizations. These funds are held in trust and pooled together for investment purposes. The income earned on these funds is distributed annually in the form of grants to nonprofit agencies, enhancing the quality of life for area citizens.
The Foundation distributed its first grants after a devastating tornado damaged numerous homes and businesses throughout Suffolk. Through the generosity of many individuals and organizations, over $185,000 was donated to the Foundation to support the victims. Victims of the tornado received immediate assistance from organizations, such as the Salvation Army, Mercy Chefs, God’s Pit Crew, Samaritan’s Purse, and Suffolk’s Open Door Church. All of these 501(c) (3) organizations received grants from the Suffolk Foundation’s Tornado Relief Fund to assist in supporting their efforts. A Disaster Relief Fund of $75,000 was also established to assistst victims of possible future disasters.
The first scheduled grant distribution was the presentation of the $2,500 Howard D. Mast Memorial Scholarship, which went to Juan Lascano, a senior at Nansemond River High School. The 2009 recipient was Daria Godunova from Nansemond River High School and the 2010 recipient was Rebecca Jean Warren from Lakeland High School. The Foundation received almost $40,000 in 2009 to manage its second scholarship. The Colonel Fred V. Cherry Scholarship was awarded by the Foundation for the first time to Desmond McGlone, a Lakeland High School senior.
The first grant cycle was completed in December, 2008, with the Foundation distributing $41,5000 to nine nonprofits. Including awarding grants from Donor-Advised Funds, the Foundation awarded over $200,000 to nonprofits during 2008. During the second grant cycle in December, 2009, the Foundation distributed $43,800 to eleven nonprofits grants. Throughout 2009, the Foundation was able to distribute to nonprofits agencies more than $194,500, which included donor-advised grants. At the end of 2009, the Foundation was honored to have the family of R. Curtis Saunders, Jr. desiginate contributions in his memory to establish an administrative fund to help support the ongoing work of the Foundation.
The year 2010 brought several first to the Suffolk Foundation. The Foundation received its first bequest from Mrs Ann Godwin Moore, who left her entire estate valued at over $275,000 to the Foundation's Unrestricted Fund. Unrestricted funds allow the Foundation to support nonprofits by annually awarding grants from the interest earned on these accounts. Seventeen nonprofit agencies were awarded $70,000 in grants in 2010 and over $85,000 was awarded through donor advised funds and scholarships. The Foundation's Board approved an agreement with the Suffolk Education Foundation to help support its mission by establishing an Organization Fund valued at over $410,000. The receipt of these, and other funds, brought the Foundation's assets to over $3.3million.
The Founding Member campaign, which requires a pledge of $100,000 over a three-year period, has been very successful. Through the generosity of these Founding Members and other individual donations, the Foundation currently has assets and plledges of over $3.5 million.. The Foundation continues to seek Founding members. The Marketing and Fund Development Committee continues to meet developing strategies to help create and promote philanthropic efforts that will lead to improving the quality of life for the City of Suffolk and surrounding areas. If you would like to become a Founding member, please contact one of the Board members or Mr. William Hill, Executive Director of the Suffolk Foundation.
Another first was accomplished by the Foundation during 2011. The Foundation, in an effort to continue to enhance the quality of life in Suffolk, held their first annual Community Forum and Luncheon at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts in November. Dr. James V. Koch, noted, local economist and President Emeritus of Old Dominion University, was the featured speaker. His topic "THE STATE OF THE REGION VIEWED FROM SUFFOLK", was well received by over 150 guests. This activity was not a fund raising activity or a request of financial support by the Foundation, but an opportunity for the Foundation to bring important issues and information to the community. This effort was made possible through the generous contributions of the Birdsong Corporation, SunTrust Bank, and anonymous donors.
The Foundation continues to expand its annual unrestricted grant distribution by donating $75,000 to 18 non-profit agencies and awarding $119,450 in donor-advised funds and scholarships to numerous non-profit organizations. Since the Foundation distributed its first check to tornado victims back in 2008, a total of over $850,000 has been awarded to non-profits. Foundation assets continue to grow reaching over $3.7 million this past year. In the near future, the Foundation will be moving its office to the Obici Healthcare Foundation Building, located at 106 Finney Street. For the past four years, the Foundation has been located at 1426 Holland Road, with the space being provided through the generosity of Angus I. Hines, III.