For Deborah Simmons, a member of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, working with a professional advisor is essential to making informed decisions about smart, meaningful philanthropy.
“My parents had a relationship with Merrill Lynch, and my dad – as a good dad would – included me in his meetings with his advisor,” recalls Deborah who, in addition to being involved with The Community Foundation, is starting The Reentry Initiative to support returning citizens’ transitions from incarceration. “When my dad passed away, what developed was this really amazing relationship with Merrill Lynch advisors Mike Cress and Jennifer Newman.
For Deborah Simmons, a member of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, working with a professional advisor is essential to making informed decisions about smart, meaningful philanthropy.
“My parents had a relationship with Merrill Lynch, and my dad – as a good dad would – included me in his meetings with his advisor,” recalls Deborah who, in addition to being involved with The Community Foundation, is starting The Reentry Initiative to support returning citizens’ transitions from incarceration. “When my dad passed away, what developed was this really amazing relationship with Merrill Lynch advisors Mike Cress and Jennifer Newman.
“They have created an approach to promoting philanthropy among their clients that is thorough, inspiring and confidence-building. And they’ve been instrumental in creating a Donor-Advised Fund with The Community Foundation at a higher amount – and at a much earlier stage in life – than I would have thought possible.”
Deborah and her husband, Wayne, decided to move their Donor-Advised Fund to The Community Foundation “because of the flexibility they offer to have our advisors continue to manage our funds.”
Adds Deborah, “We believe The Community Foundation is the most powerful engine for collaborative social change in Boulder County. For example, the TRENDS Report informed us about Boulder County’s disproportionate achievement gap, and that children who can’t read at the third-grade level have a higher probability of ending up in prison.
“That’s why I’m working both ends of the spectrum – as a board member of The Community Foundation’s ELPASO program, and by creating a Donor-Advised Fund to launch The Reentry Initiative.”
Specifically, The Reentry Initiative is launching an effort in Longmont to support women released from state and county jails. “That means picking them up at the gate, getting them all the basics they need to reintegrate into society, providing mentorship and more,” explains Deborah. “We wanted funds to support that, and Jennifer and Mike showed us how we could realize our charitable goals now – at this phase in life – and not have to wait until later.”
Indeed, Jennifer and Mike are advocates for their clients’ values. And by starting the planning process early, their clients are able to enjoy the fun and meaning of their renewed passions and purpose.
As professional advisors, Jennifer and Mike understand that the first step to giving is having the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have a solid financial foundation – and that nothing will disrupt your financial goals. From there, people often realize they can give more, now, than perhaps they thought they could. Perhaps you can, too?
The Community Foundation has worked with professional advisors for more than 25 years – we’re here to help you help your clients make informed decisions about smart, meaningful philanthropy. To get started, contact Margaret Katz, Philanthropic Services Director, at 303.442.0436 or Margaret@commfound.org.
