25th Annual Allen H. Sims Dinner Celebration of Philanthropy

This year, the Community Foun-dation of Gaston County Board of Direc-tors chose to recognize W. Alex Hall with the Allen H. Sims Award. Surrounded by family and friends, Alex Hall listened as his many hours of service and com-mitment to our community were recount-ed. It was an evening of appreciation for all Alex Hall has done to make our com-munity a stronger and better place. Dr. Richard Rankin, President of the Board was the emcee for the even-ing and gave a report on the growing status of the Community Foundation to all donors in attendance as the single annual meeting which gathers fund hold-ers, benefactors at the Friends level, Legacy Society members and special guests.

The evening was kicked off with a flag presentation and the Pledge of Alle-giance by representatives of Boy Scout Troops 4 and 11. Having members of the Boy Scouts of America organization participate was fitting due to Alex Hall’s lengthy service to the Piedmont Council. Executive Director for the Piedmont Council, Connie Bowes attended the Sims Dinner and also appeared in the video to acknowledge Mr. Hall’s service and to reiterate the purpose and mission of the Scouting Program.

As the program, a short video was shown answering the question con-cerning what makes Gaston County a special place to live, work and play. Highlights of the history of the Founda-tion as well as current opportunities, such as; Artspace, Community

W. Alex Hall (1937-2014) Receives the

Community Foundation’s 2014 Annual

Allen H. Sims Award

Board of Directors

President Dr. Richard E. Rankin, Jr.

Vice President Julia Shovelin

Secretary / Treasurer Arthur R. Newcombe IV

Members Susan Briggs

Robert S. Browne Merryman Cassels

William P. Carstarphen Richard K. Craig

Tim Efird Dr. Herman Gore

Jan Jackson Steven D. Long

Gene R. Matthews II Robert S. Pearson

Kim S. Price David R. Ratchford

Sally Robinson Dr. Edward D. Sadler

Tony Sigmon T.J. Solomon II Ronald M. Sytz

Pam Warlick

Staff Executive Director Ernest W. Sumner

Financial Coordinator Lynnelle H. Dobbins

Grants & Scholarships

Coordinator Elizabeth Patton

Donor Development Coordinator

Janet D. Spencer

Program Coordinator Erin Welsch

6/ Making Connections Fall/Winter 2014

Dan Kersh congratulates Sims Award recipient,

Alex Hall.

Inside this issue

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GASTON COUNTY, INC.

Visit our website www.cfgaston.org

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Fall/Winter 2014

ONNECTIONS

AKING

Allen H. Sims Award

Community Foundation

RUN 2015

New Website

Foundation Grants

New Board Member Introductions

New Legal Counsel

Introduction

M C Community Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

Richard Craig currently serves as the President and CEO of A.B. Carter, Inc., a universally recognized company, as a quality supplier of machines, products, parts and accessories for the yarn, carpet, fiber-glass and industrial sectors of the textile and composite industry. Craig is a member of the Gastonia Rotary Club and an Elder of First A.R.P Church. Craig is a Past Chairman of the Glenn Foundation and has served on the Board of a plethora of nonprofits in Gaston County. Rick is married to Rhonda Craig and they have two grown children. Timothy Efird, President of Standard Distributors, Inc., a local An-heuser-Busch InBev distributor. Committed to the Gaston County com-munity, Efird also serves on the Board of Directors for Gaston Day School, the Glenn Foundation, Covenant Village, Gaston Literary Coun-cil, Gaston Family YMCA, BB&T of Gaston County and North Carolina Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. He is also a member of First Presbyterian Church, Gastonia, where he has served as an Elder, Dea-con and Sunday school teacher. Tim is married to Coleman Efird and they have three children in the home.

Tony Sigmon is the President and CEO of the Gaston County Family YMCA, a non-profit organization committed to helping you live a bal-anced, healthy life in spirit, mind and body. Through Sigmon’s dedication to the Next Generation Fund of the Community Foundation, he is now Co-Chair of the Fund. Sigmon is the incoming Chair for Gaston Commu-nity Healthcare Commission and the Task Force Chair for the Healthy Gaston Steering Committee. Sigmon also serves on the Board of Direc-tors for Camp Sea Gull/Seafarer, Gaston County Schools- School Health

Advisory Committee, Rotary Club of Gastonia, Presbyterian Camp Grier, and Young Life Committee of Gaston County. Sigmon attends and serves on various committees for First Presbyterian Church. Tony is married to Jenny Sigmon and they have two chil-dren in the home.

Community Foundation of Gaston County PO Box 123 - 1201 E. Garrison Blvd.

Gastonia, NC 28053 704-864-0927 - www.cfgaston.org

Robert Pearson, Pearson Properties, a full-service real estate develop-ment & brokerage firm located in Gastonia, NC. Striving to be involved in the community, Pearson currently serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Gaston County, Boy Scouts of America-Piedmont Council, Crisis Assistance Ministry, and Covenant Village. Pearson is a member of First ARP Church, where he serves as an Elder and Chair-man of Deacons. Rob is married to Jane Pearson and they have two grown children.

Alex Hall with Lucy Penegar, 1991 Sims Recipient

Alex Hall (present day) with a 1957 Ginny Hall

John D. Kersh, Jr.—Dan Kersh practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, federal income, estate and gift taxation, mergers & acquisitions and closely held business law. He was an adjunct professor in the Ac-counting Department of Belmont Abbey College from 1981-1986 and an instructor for the North Carolina Association of CPAs from 1981-1996. He has been involved in numerous civic and community organiza-tions including serving on the Boards of the Gaston County YMCA (past treasurer), Gaston Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Crisis Assis-

tance Ministries. He is a lifelong and active member of First United Methodist Church of Gastonia and served on the Finance Committee (current and past chair) and Admin-istrative Board (past chair). Education- L.L.M. Taxation, Emory University School of Law; J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law; B.A. Business Administration, UNC-Charlotte.

Community Foundation Announces New Legal Counsel

(Article continued on Page 5)

Impact Funds and Teens Changing Gaston County were featured. Finishing the vid-eo, Executive Director Ernest Sumner announced the Allen H. Sims Award recipient, Alex Hall and thanked Mr. Hall for all of his many contributions. The video is available to view by visiting our website: www.cfgaston.org.

Mr. Tom Efird, longtime friend of Alex Hall, present-ed the Allen H. Sims Award. Mr. Efird shared the many accomplishments of Alex Hall and focused on Mr. Hall’s service to our community. Towards the end of his presen-tation, Mr. Efird revealed the humorous side of his friendship with Alex Hall and talked about some of Mr. Hall’s wise advice on relationships and how to live a happy life. Through the laughter, all in attendance could relate to the joy Alex Hall brings to his friends and the happiness he has been able to spread throughout our community.

At the conclusion of the evening, Dr. Richard Rankin had the following to say: “The Community Foundation matters. It is the repository of more than just our treasure,

it is the repository of our hopes and dreams for this community. It is the place where our vision for what our community should be and can be is made real through philanthropy. Please continue to dream about a better Gaston County and make those dreams come alive through gifts to the Community Foundation. Hopefully, tonight will inspire us to consider how we can dream bigger and do more. The Community Foundation wants to help. We are here to serve the dreamers.”

2 / Making Connections Fall/Winter 2014 Making Connections Fall/Winter 2014/ 5

W. Alex Hall Receives the 2014 Annual Allen H. Sims Award (Continued from front page) Behind the Name “Run for the Money” Evolves into” Community Foundation RUN”

William Shakespeare's famous line from Romeo and Juliet: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose; by any other name would smell as sweet" is remembered because names matter. Names can denote power and purpose. Names can have a history and mean-ing. All this is true for the name “Run for the Money” so appro-priately named in 2003 when the first event was launched to raise money for nonprofits in Gaston County. Fast forward to today and you will find an event that has grown from 61 participating nonprofits to over 140 and attracts over 2,000 runners and walkers. In honor of the Foundation’s 25th year, the original intent to create a community event that would shine a spotlight on nonprofits and allow those organizations to develop a donor base and show case their good works has grown in popularity and in dol-lars raised. In order to keep the momentum going, necessary changes to grow and enhance the event are constantly explored. In May of 2014, the Board voted to re-name the event, The Commu-nity Foundation RUN. Erin Welsch, Program Director for the RUN, says “the name will eliminate confusion about where interested parties can turn for information on the event and how to participate especially given the increased awareness in the region of the RUN.” The upcoming date for the Com-munity Foundation RUN is April 18, 2015. A few exciting chang-es are in store for participants. For runners, the age brackets will change from 10 year

Important Dates for the Community Foundation RUN 2015: February 2, 2015 Foundation begins to accept donations / participant registration begins. April 18, 2015 Community Foundation RUN 2015, Rotary Pavilion Downtown Gastonia

April 24, 2015 Deadline for contributions

brackets to 5 year brackets. For nonprofit organizations, opportunities to win extra dol-lars will be available via a corn hole tournament instead of the Karaoke contest. Some lively entertainment is planned for the enjoyment of all in attend-ance. The mission of the Community Foundation of Gaston County is to be the leader of philan-thropic giving by connecting donors with community needs to enhance the lives of present and future generations. On April 18, 2015 the opportunity to connect donors with Gaston County nonprofits will be host-ed at the Pavilion in Downtown Gastonia. It promises to be a fun filled morning of activity and energy. Nonprofit agencies that attend-ed mandatory meetings know that participating in the Com-munity Foundation RUN is a grant opportunity and certain obligations must be met in or-der to share in the match pot. The giving cycle for the Com-munity Foundation RUN will begin February 3rd and end April 24th, a week after the event. “Run for the Money” has grown and evolved into “The Commu-nity Foundation RUN”. The name now represents a com-munity effort to make Gaston County stronger by building on the success of the past. Con-gratulations to all those through the years that have worked hard to make this event successful for the many participants and the many re-cipients of dollars raised.

PWS Staff serving at the Wrap-Up Lunch The Gazette Sponsor Recognition

Making Connections Fall/Winter 2014/ 3

What to Expect from the New Website and A Sneak Peak into Our New Look Very soon the Community Foundation will launch a new website! For many years donors and perspective donors have enjoyed the benefits of going to www.cfgaston.org to obtain information and better understand the work of the Founda-tion. The staff and Development Committee have considered how the website is used to recommend improvements to the new updated version. Embolden, a division of Crown Philanthropy, was engaged as a professional website developer. Embolden was highly recommended from other community foundations and has experience in understanding the philanthropic world.

What will be different? First and foremost, the look of the site will change to better reflect our community and the current times. Ten years in technology is a life time; so the intent will appeal to donors of all ages in a visual sense. The headings from which one would navigate to areas of interest will change to more recognizable language and away from foundation industry language. In other words, if a site visitor wants to give, they will quickly know where to go on the site. If a nonprofit or other entity desires a grant or wants to receive, they too will be easily di-rected. The Development Committee chose not to use stock photos but instead to carefully select photos that repre-sent our community and the people that reflect the work of your Foundation. One of the goals of the site is to show visitors to the site what a beautiful community Gaston County is and the many scenic views it avails. For profession-al advisors the new website will offer a host of tools to use with clients in assisting those clients with planned giving or another type of gift. To facilitate access to these tools, GiftLaw by Crescedo, has been engaged and has an ex-cellent reputation for keeping information up to date from a legal and professional standpoint. What will not change? Security and integrity within the website is a primary goal and will not change with the new website. Fund holders and nonprofits will still be able to login with a user name and passcode to view the activity of their fund or their RUN account. The domain will not change therefore www.cfgaston.org will still be the URL for the site. This is an exciting time for Your Foundation. We hope you will enjoy the new website and visit it often. The new format will also allow the staff to update the content of the site more frequently to stay current. It should be noted that a website is not intended to replace personal contact but rather is a tool used to gain information. Your presence is always wel-come at the office and we encourage all questions and will make ourselves available upon request.

Local Scenery

Local Living and Commerce

Local Grants

Community Involvement Grants for Special Needs Local Volunteers

www.cfgaston.org

4 / Making Connections Fall/Winter 2014

Have You Seen the Big Check? $592,348 was granted to nonprofits in Gaston County through the Community Foundation’s 2014 Unrestricted Grant Cycle! Eight unrestricted funds form the grant cycle; money from citizens who have thoughtfully included the Community Founda-tion in their estate planning. Grants were awarded to a variety of causes; a ballet of the Nutcracker, a bus to transport youth at the Boys and Girls Club, backpacks with school supplies for children in need, educational materials for domestic violence support, and other worthwhile contributions to causes in our community.

The Foundation staff researched each organization and assessed the need for the services provided. The Foundation Board of Directors reviewed applications for a month and met to discuss each application in detail. After long deliberation the recip-ients on the left were awarded grants this Fall. In addition to the grants on the left, the Foundation will again contribute to the match pot of the Community Foundation Run 2015. Funds will be distributed to the organizations participat-ing in the RUN based on a calculation of the amount each organi-

zation raises for their cause. The Foundation will also continue the payments of multi-year grants to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and Artspace. The Garden received a $100,000 grant in 2013 to be paid over 4 years and Artspace received a grant of $400,000 in 2013 to be paid over four years as well. From the Community Foundation’s unrestricted grant pool, the Foundation’s Community Impact Funds have awarded grants in Belmont, Cherryville and Mount Holly. Each fund received $10,000 in 2013 and again in 2014, and will receive $10,000 in 2015. The Funds are an opportunity to give to your town and a local board will de-cide and distribute the grants. Anyone may contribute to these funds and the grants will remain in the area of impact designated. Belmont’s board awarded grants to S.O.C.K.S. and the Fighting Yank. Cherryville’s board awarded funds to the City of Cherryville/Rotary Park. Mount Holly Community Impact Fund distributed grants to the Mount Holly Historical Society, Mount Holly Farmers Market, Mount Holly Community Development Foundation, and E-Corps Expeditions. Your Foundation is the leading steward of philanthropic giving for Gaston County. In 35 years, the Community Foundation has granted over $77M to nonprofit organizations! The Community Foundation is constantly working to better our community. We research, get involved and contribute when the need arises. This year we had the opportunity to step in and take action to save an organization that is vital in serving the homeless in our com-munity, As One Ministries. Their organization unexpectedly announced their closing in Fall of 2014. Upon hearing of As One’s intention of closure the Foundation Board made the decision to offer an All or Nothing Challenge grant of $35,000 to continue their work with the homeless and for them to put together a sustainability plan. A Board member from the Community Foundation was also elected to the As One board to help with sustainability planning. With the help of the Foundation, As One Ministries raised over $100,000 to save their organization. An impact such as this grant is why your Foundation is vital to serving Gaston County.

2014 Grant Recipients: American Red Cross BackPack Weekend Food Program Belmont Community Organization Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gaston Catawba Lands Conservancy Christ Community Outreach Food Ministry Classroom Central Gaston County Senior Center Gaston County Family YMCA Gaston Dance Theater Gaston School of the Arts Gaston Symphonic Band Gaston Together Girls on the Run Girls on the Run and YMCA The Heart Society Junior Achievement Least of These Gaston Let Me Run Mount Holly Community Development Foundation Prevent Child Abuse Gaston S.O.C.K.S. Second Harvest Food Bank The Shelter of Gaston County Voices for Kids

Impact Funds and Teens Changing Gaston County were featured. Finishing the vid-eo, Executive Director Ernest Sumner announced the Allen H. Sims Award recipient, Alex Hall and thanked Mr. Hall for all of his many contributions. The video is available to view by visiting our website: www.cfgaston.org.

Mr. Tom Efird, longtime friend of Alex Hall, present-ed the Allen H. Sims Award. Mr. Efird shared the many accomplishments of Alex Hall and focused on Mr. Hall’s service to our community. Towards the end of his presen-tation, Mr. Efird revealed the humorous side of his friendship with Alex Hall and talked about some of Mr. Hall’s wise advice on relationships and how to live a happy life. Through the laughter, all in attendance could relate to the joy Alex Hall brings to his friends and the happiness he has been able to spread throughout our community.

At the conclusion of the evening, Dr. Richard Rankin had the following to say: “The Community Foundation matters. It is the repository of more than just our treasure,

it is the repository of our hopes and dreams for this community. It is the place where our vision for what our community should be and can be is made real through philanthropy. Please continue to dream about a better Gaston County and make those dreams come alive through gifts to the Community Foundation. Hopefully, tonight will inspire us to consider how we can dream bigger and do more. The Community Foundation wants to help. We are here to serve the dreamers.”

2 / Making Connections Fall/Winter 2014 Making Connections Fall/Winter 2014/ 5

W. Alex Hall Receives the 2014 Annual Allen H. Sims Award (Continued from front page) Behind the Name “Run for the Money” Evolves into” Community Foundation RUN”

William Shakespeare's famous line from Romeo and Juliet: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose; by any other name would smell as sweet" is remembered because names matter. Names can denote power and purpose. Names can have a history and mean-ing. All this is true for the name “Run for the Money” so appro-priately named in 2003 when the first event was launched to raise money for nonprofits in Gaston County. Fast forward to today and you will find an event that has grown from 61 participating nonprofits to over 140 and attracts over 2,000 runners and walkers. In honor of the Foundation’s 25th year, the original intent to create a community event that would shine a spotlight on nonprofits and allow those organizations to develop a donor base and show case their good works has grown in popularity and in dol-lars raised. In order to keep the momentum going, necessary changes to grow and enhance the event are constantly explored. In May of 2014, the Board voted to re-name the event, The Commu-nity Foundation RUN. Erin Welsch, Program Director for the RUN, says “the name will eliminate confusion about where interested parties can turn for information on the event and how to participate especially given the increased awareness in the region of the RUN.” The upcoming date for the Com-munity Foundation RUN is April 18, 2015. A few exciting chang-es are in store for participants. For runners, the age brackets will change from 10 year

Important Dates for the Community Foundation RUN 2015: February 2, 2015 Foundation begins to accept donations / participant registration begins. April 18, 2015 Community Foundation RUN 2015, Rotary Pavilion Downtown Gastonia

April 24, 2015 Deadline for contributions

brackets to 5 year brackets. For nonprofit organizations, opportunities to win extra dol-lars will be available via a corn hole tournament instead of the Karaoke contest. Some lively entertainment is planned for the enjoyment of all in attend-ance. The mission of the Community Foundation of Gaston County is to be the leader of philan-thropic giving by connecting donors with community needs to enhance the lives of present and future generations. On April 18, 2015 the opportunity to connect donors with Gaston County nonprofits will be host-ed at the Pavilion in Downtown Gastonia. It promises to be a fun filled morning of activity and energy. Nonprofit agencies that attend-ed mandatory meetings know that participating in the Com-munity Foundation RUN is a grant opportunity and certain obligations must be met in or-der to share in the match pot. The giving cycle for the Com-munity Foundation RUN will begin February 3rd and end April 24th, a week after the event. “Run for the Money” has grown and evolved into “The Commu-nity Foundation RUN”. The name now represents a com-munity effort to make Gaston County stronger by building on the success of the past. Con-gratulations to all those through the years that have worked hard to make this event successful for the many participants and the many re-cipients of dollars raised.

PWS Staff serving at the Wrap-Up Lunch The Gazette Sponsor Recognition

25th Annual Allen H. Sims Dinner Celebration of Philanthropy

This year, the Community Foun-dation of Gaston County Board of Direc-tors chose to recognize W. Alex Hall with the Allen H. Sims Award. Surrounded by family and friends, Alex Hall listened as his many hours of service and com-mitment to our community were recount-ed. It was an evening of appreciation for all Alex Hall has done to make our com-munity a stronger and better place. Dr. Richard Rankin, President of the Board was the emcee for the even-ing and gave a report on the growing status of the Community Foundation to all donors in attendance as the single annual meeting which gathers fund hold-ers, benefactors at the Friends level, Legacy Society members and special guests.

The evening was kicked off with a flag presentation and the Pledge of Alle-giance by representatives of Boy Scout Troops 4 and 11. Having members of the Boy Scouts of America organization participate was fitting due to Alex Hall’s lengthy service to the Piedmont Council. Executive Director for the Piedmont Council, Connie Bowes attended the Sims Dinner and also appeared in the video to acknowledge Mr. Hall’s service and to reiterate the purpose and mission of the Scouting Program.

As the program, a short video was shown answering the question con-cerning what makes Gaston County a special place to live, work and play. Highlights of the history of the Founda-tion as well as current opportunities, such as; Artspace, Community

W. Alex Hall (1937-2014) Receives the

Community Foundation’s 2014 Annual

Allen H. Sims Award

Board of Directors

President Dr. Richard E. Rankin, Jr.

Vice President Julia Shovelin

Secretary / Treasurer Arthur R. Newcombe IV

Members Susan Briggs

Robert S. Browne Merryman Cassels

William P. Carstarphen Richard K. Craig

Tim Efird Dr. Herman Gore

Jan Jackson Steven D. Long

Gene R. Matthews II Robert S. Pearson

Kim S. Price David R. Ratchford

Sally Robinson Dr. Edward D. Sadler

Tony Sigmon T.J. Solomon II Ronald M. Sytz

Pam Warlick

Staff Executive Director Ernest W. Sumner

Financial Coordinator Lynnelle H. Dobbins

Grants & Scholarships

Coordinator Elizabeth Patton

Donor Development Coordinator

Janet D. Spencer

Program Coordinator Erin Welsch

6/ Making Connections Fall/Winter 2014

Dan Kersh congratulates Sims Award recipient,

Alex Hall.

Inside this issue

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GASTON COUNTY, INC.

Visit our website www.cfgaston.org

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Fall/Winter 2014

ONNECTIONS

AKING

Allen H. Sims Award

Community Foundation

RUN 2015

New Website

Foundation Grants

New Board Member Introductions

New Legal Counsel

Introduction

M C Community Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

Richard Craig currently serves as the President and CEO of A.B. Carter, Inc., a universally recognized company, as a quality supplier of machines, products, parts and accessories for the yarn, carpet, fiber-glass and industrial sectors of the textile and composite industry. Craig is a member of the Gastonia Rotary Club and an Elder of First A.R.P Church. Craig is a Past Chairman of the Glenn Foundation and has served on the Board of a plethora of nonprofits in Gaston County. Rick is married to Rhonda Craig and they have two grown children. Timothy Efird, President of Standard Distributors, Inc., a local An-heuser-Busch InBev distributor. Committed to the Gaston County com-munity, Efird also serves on the Board of Directors for Gaston Day School, the Glenn Foundation, Covenant Village, Gaston Literary Coun-cil, Gaston Family YMCA, BB&T of Gaston County and North Carolina Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. He is also a member of First Presbyterian Church, Gastonia, where he has served as an Elder, Dea-con and Sunday school teacher. Tim is married to Coleman Efird and they have three children in the home.

Tony Sigmon is the President and CEO of the Gaston County Family YMCA, a non-profit organization committed to helping you live a bal-anced, healthy life in spirit, mind and body. Through Sigmon’s dedication to the Next Generation Fund of the Community Foundation, he is now Co-Chair of the Fund. Sigmon is the incoming Chair for Gaston Commu-nity Healthcare Commission and the Task Force Chair for the Healthy Gaston Steering Committee. Sigmon also serves on the Board of Direc-tors for Camp Sea Gull/Seafarer, Gaston County Schools- School Health

Advisory Committee, Rotary Club of Gastonia, Presbyterian Camp Grier, and Young Life Committee of Gaston County. Sigmon attends and serves on various committees for First Presbyterian Church. Tony is married to Jenny Sigmon and they have two chil-dren in the home.

Community Foundation of Gaston County PO Box 123 - 1201 E. Garrison Blvd.

Gastonia, NC 28053 704-864-0927 - www.cfgaston.org

Robert Pearson, Pearson Properties, a full-service real estate develop-ment & brokerage firm located in Gastonia, NC. Striving to be involved in the community, Pearson currently serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Gaston County, Boy Scouts of America-Piedmont Council, Crisis Assistance Ministry, and Covenant Village. Pearson is a member of First ARP Church, where he serves as an Elder and Chair-man of Deacons. Rob is married to Jane Pearson and they have two grown children.

Alex Hall with Lucy Penegar, 1991 Sims Recipient

Alex Hall (present day) with a 1957 Ginny Hall

John D. Kersh, Jr.—Dan Kersh practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, federal income, estate and gift taxation, mergers & acquisitions and closely held business law. He was an adjunct professor in the Ac-counting Department of Belmont Abbey College from 1981-1986 and an instructor for the North Carolina Association of CPAs from 1981-1996. He has been involved in numerous civic and community organiza-tions including serving on the Boards of the Gaston County YMCA (past treasurer), Gaston Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Crisis Assis-

tance Ministries. He is a lifelong and active member of First United Methodist Church of Gastonia and served on the Finance Committee (current and past chair) and Admin-istrative Board (past chair). Education- L.L.M. Taxation, Emory University School of Law; J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law; B.A. Business Administration, UNC-Charlotte.

Community Foundation Announces New Legal Counsel

(Article continued on Page 5)