Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Get a Clue: Leave Some Clues

"The Clue in the Old Station Wagon." That was the answer Ann gave my mom when she asked her what Nancy Drew book she was reading. "Are you sure?" said Gran. "Have you ever seen a station wagon?" "No," said Ann. "But you can see one in a museum."

Actually Ann was confused. She is reading the Clue in the Old Stagecoach. But really, to a seven-year-old, growing up in 2008, what's the difference?

Times change! That's why the Community Foundation is here for you, ensuring that your charitable wishes are followed, even after you're gone. We encourage you to keep your family involved over many generations so that your legacy lives on. Our staff can serve as a resource for your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, helping connect them with causes that align with your values in exactly the way you'd hope they would. Contact my colleague, Debbie Starke, to find out how you can create your own Vision and Philosophy Statement to guide the future distribution of your family's charitable foundation, which, by the way, is so easy to establish under the Community Foundation's umbrella.

After all, someone's got to keep the family legacies alive. I got such a kick out of telling Ann about the 1979 Dodge Aspen station wagon (with wood siding, of course) that was our family car when I was growing up. It was okay in 1979, but by the mid-1980's, I was so embarrassed about it that I'd make my dad park it down the street when my friends came over. "Why's your car always parked at the neighbor's?" they finally asked. Guess they were clued in after all.

Our lips are sealed

Last night before dinner, Ann pulled Lindy aside with a sneaky look on her face. I wasn’t quite sure what to think when Ann told me that they "were going to the laundry room to have a private conversation." (Big words for someone who's still got two weeks left in first grade!) Off they went to huddle by the washing machine. With great restraint, I did not eavesdrop, even though I was dying of curiosity. How much trouble can a seven-year-old and a four-year-old get into, anyway?

Confidentiality is not to be taken lightly. At the Community Foundation, all information about the more than 2,200 charitable funds under our umbrella is strictly confidential. Sometimes, certain donors permit us to tell their stories in publications, which we sure appreciate. Other than that, the only information we ever release about a fund to the public--or, for that matter, to anyone other than authorized users on the account--is to list the name of the fund in our annual report. Of course, donors may choose to opt out of the annual report listing, remaining completely anonymous. Not only is confidentiality an integral part of the Community Foundation's core values, but it is also a perk for the individuals, families, and businesses who establish foundations with us. (By contrast, information about private foundations is readily available on the Web. Not so private!)

As for the under cover laundry room operation, what do you think? Should I ask Ann or Lindy to spill the beans, or keep my lips sealed?

Model homes...and a model home

Ann and I both love to visit model homes, so that's how we spent a delightful Sunday afternoon. (For a seven-year-old, she's got pretty good taste. For example, one of the houses on the Parade of Homes featured some very interesting knick knacks, including a large figurine of a woman in a very, shall we say, odd pose. "That's a little weird," Ann said. "I'd take that out.")

What a treat to stumble upon a darling nursery filled with baby-safe furnishings donated by Babies 'R Us! We were greeted by a terrific volunteer from Charlie's Safe Haven, a new nonprofit organization whose mission is to make Heartland homes safe, one child at a time. I made it my mission to encourage her to become part of DonorEdge, the Community Foundation's online resource for information about area nonprofit organizations, accessible at www.gkccf.org. Tonight I checked out www.charliessafehaven.org and learned about a "model house" that will provide adults with real-life demonstrations, examples, and resources on children's safety in and around the home. According to the site, the house is named after Charlie Horn, whose life tragically ended on November 1, 2007, when a dresser fell on him.

What an inspiration to see such good things emerge from an unimaginable loss. At the Community Foundation, what's important to you is what's important to us, and it is a privilege every day to encounter role models--even in the most unlikely of places--for what the power of philanthropy can do in our community. P.S. Ann confessed that she "accidentally" left her socks in one of the houses. Dark brown with little bows, size 8. Not exactly "model" behavior!