Do you know about Community Funds?
Zach Wright and Dr. Joel Edwards
This article first appeared in the October 27, 2022 edition of the Davie County Enterprise Record
Did you know…
Last week I told you the Davie Community Foundation Board of Directors issued an unparalleled challenge to the community. In February 2013, at the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary celebration, the 5n5 Community Impact Challenge was launched to raise $5 Million over the next five years in Community Funds. Such a challenge had never been considered before nor has it been since.
The exciting news for Davie is that Davie County met that challenge at the end of 2018! It was an amazing accomplishment for a county our size and we think it speaks volumes about the generosity of our community! We should all be proud of the collective investment made for current and future generations!
It is important to note that at the beginning of 2018, the 5n5 Community Impact Challenge was still $1M away from meeting the challenge. It was at that point two amazing Davie philanthropists came forward with a matching opportunity. Mr. Zach Wright and Dr. Joel Edwards committed $250,000 each to match the last $500,000. Meeting the match would put the 5n5 Community Impact Challenge over the goal. It worked! Citizens from all areas of the county responded with donations to be sure we would meet the match and the 5n5 Community Impact Challenge!
Zach Wright served as a board member of the Davie Community Foundation and was a strong advocate for issuing the $5 Million challenge for Davie. He knew there were many needs in the community and wanted the Foundation to have a role in meeting those needs. Zach, co-owner of Surry Insurance and father of three, is a longtime supporter of Davie County Schools, Davie County Arts Council, Davie High Softball, Davie American Little League, Davie Family YMCA, and many other charities in and outside of Davie County.
Zach spent many years impacting the lives of young people directly through his volunteer time as a baseball and softball coach. Although he traveled at a pace few of us could maintain, he always made sure he was back in time to meet his coaching and board duties! Zach and wife Melody supported the 5n5 Community Impact Challenge through the Zach and Melody Wright Fund, an unrestricted community fund. Zach is a Davie County Philanthropist, giving of his time, talent, and treasure to make our community better! Thank you, Zach!
Many in our community know Dr. Joel Edwards as a local physician. He practiced Family Medicine in Mocksville from 1979 to his retirement in June 2022; forty-three years! He has been dedicated to the health of Davie County residents, but he has also served people around the world through Carolina-Honduras Health medical mission teams.
What you may not know about Dr. Edwards is that he is also a Davie County philanthropist! He has given of his time, talent, and treasure to the Davie Community Foundation, Dragonfly House, National MS Society, Smart Start of Davie County, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Davie County YMCA, First United Methodist Church, Care Net Counseling, Hearts with Haiti, Forsyth Medical Center Foundation, and many more.
As part of the 5n5 Community Impact Challenge, Dr. Edwards opened the Joel Edwards Family Fund to provide support in the areas of Health and Education in Davie County. Dr. Edwards will be impacting Davie County people forever through his fund. Thank you, Dr. Edwards!
Both of these gentlemen put their care and concern for Davie County into action by creating community funds that will support Davie forever. By making their funds unrestricted and for use with education and health, the Davie Community Foundation Board will be able to direct grants where they are needed most in our community year after year. True philanthropists give up their control of the decisions, they simply give to make the community better trusting the leaders at the time to direct awards toward needs and opportunities! Thank you, gentlemen, for demonstrating your love for our community so generously!
The Davie Community Foundation Inc. “inspires philanthropy to strengthen Davie County for present and future generations.” The Foundation is working to promote a spirit of giving in our community and build a permanent endowment that is invested forever. Earnings from the endowment will benefit Davie County organizations and projects that are important to you. The Foundation accepts gifts in any amount, at any time: for an existing fund, the Community Scholarship Fund, or the Davie Community Impact Fund. A variety of options for establishment of named funds in honor or memory are also available. To learn more about the Davie Community Foundation contact Jane Simpson at (336) 753-6903 or jsimpson@daviefoundation.org or visit the Foundation web-site at www.daviefoundation.org.