This week many of us will gather with friends and family and take a moment to express our gratitude for the people and opportunities in our lives. The next day, we’ll be expected to start spending. Stores will be full. Lines will be long. Crowds will be on edge. All of us will be inundated with the message to buy, buy, buy.
In the midst of concerns about consumerism and the pressures of the holidays to spend more, one shift has emerged that at least helps families keep more of their hard-earned dollars close to home – buy local. It’s a great way for neighbors to show that they care about one another and their communities.
Most folks don’t consider how the same concept can extend to philanthropy. There are organizations and people right here in your community who are working hard to keep kids in your school district fed, protecting environments you directly enjoy and supporting friends and neighbors as they fight addiction. There’s good reason to not just buy local, but to give local, too.
One way to do that is through a community foundation. At Community Trust Foundation (CTF) you can choose from over 100 funds that support local causes. Giving to one of those funds means you can make a difference in our community today. Even better, you have an opportunity to help your community address needs now and 100 years in the future, problems we can’t presume to know. CTF serves Allegany and Garrett counties in Maryland and Mineral County in West Virginia by connecting philanthropy with community good through charitable funds. These funds are professionally managed, and grants and scholarships are awarded annually to nonprofit organizations, programs and deserving students.
Donors who’ve created endowment funds at CTF are helping put books into kids’ hands, providing access to dental care for people who couldn’t otherwise afford it, and connecting communities to each other and to a better future through improved trail systems. As our communities move into the future, those same funds – supported by past and present donors – will adapt to address new challenges.
Our greatest need at this time is to prepare for ever-changing needs in our region. Separate endowment funds for each county: Invest in Allegany County Fund, Invest in Garrett County Fund, and Invest in Mineral County Fund are earmarked to address the charitable demands of that community as it evolves. Your gift to one of these funds or one of your own, can help your community care for those in need long after you’re gone. Whether that means supporting literacy, animal welfare, arts and culture, senior services, food pantries or anything else the community needs. No matter your charitable interests, your local community foundation makes it easy for you to experience the joy of giving locally and investing in the place you call home. For more information or to donate online, visit ctfinc.org or call us at 301-876-9172.