Editorial: Foundation lends a helping hand

Talk about it

The Worthington Area Foundation (WAF), in hosting its annual program Tuesday night, demonstrated why it’s an integral community entity.

And, if the foundation continues to maintain the type of momentum it has built up in recent years, it will remain integeral for many years to come.

During one juncture of the program, emcee and WAF Treasurer Randy Thompson told attendees of how the foundation’s endowment has grown sharply. “Our endowment has grown from $75,000 to $200,000 in just about six years,” Thompson said.

That growth, in no small part, has been enabled by a pair of challenges issued by an unnamed local resident as well as the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF). A partnership between the WAF and SWIF, which has existed for the past 10 years, has also helped the WAF grow over the years, but the main credit for the larger coffers should go to each of those individuals who have supported the foundation in its efforts to improve the community through gifts to various 501(c)(3) organizations.

Thompson expressed hope Tuesday that the WAF endowment could continue to grow and surpass the $300,000 mark, and we see no reason why that can't happen. Time and time again, citizens of Worthington have demonstrated their willingness to give to organizations or make gifts toward capital projects - all of which make their hometown a better place. That quality, in turn, helps make the city an attractive place to live.

Tags: opinion, editorials, worthington