By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JULY 1, 2022 | The original founders of the Gwinnett Foundation must be smiling today, those still living, and those who have passed away, at the mounting size of its assets. When it started in 1985, the Foundation, now known as the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia, had only $170,700 in assets at the end of its first year. Today its assets top $80 million. (See table below.)
That it is a formidable size. It routinely distributes an average of $1 million each year to local nonprofits.
A capital campaign provided the initial seed money. Then in 1987, Bob Fowler, publisher of the Gwinnett Daily News, and the other owners of the Gwinnett Daily News offered a $1 million challenge grant, which was soon matched by the community, propelling the young foundation to greater heights.
The initial board of directors included Paul Duke, developer of Technology Park/Atlanta; Charles Brown; Pat Brown, the initial executive director; and J.D. Caswell; Jim Pack; Ed Heys; Glenn Harbin; Jack Sawyer; and Michael Tennant, who wrote the bylaws. Charlie Brown was the first president, followed by Ray Weeks, while Paul Duke was the third president. By the end of its third year, it had assets of $2,189,285.
Duke
Duke, in particular, was a champion of asking people to contribute to the Foundation. You could bet that in those early years, every time you got into a conversation with Duke, he would eventually turn his blue eyes on you and start talking about contributing to the Foundation, and how important that was. Though the Foundation then had very little in assets, he saw what the Community Foundation of Atlanta, and the Georgia Tech Foundation, were doing for their respective communities, and he was constantly bringing up the Foundation to everyone he met. He was a real bird dog about looking out for the Foundation, and was responsible for much of the early growth.
Meanwhile, the Foundation was reaching out to other leaders of the Gwinnett Community, asking them to serve. (See adjacent table for a list of the presidents and assets of the Foundation.)
In particular, look at the end of year asset growth in recent years. From $35 million in 2016, the Foundation has more than doubled to $80 million at the end of 2021 while Sandra Strickland of Lawrenceville and Dick LoPresti of Berkeley Lake have been chairs. That’s amazing growth!
How did the Foundation grow so quickly? Randy Redner, the outgoing CEO, says it was because “…we sat down with families who run great businesses, who care about the community. We also talk to their accountants and attorneys, so that the Foundation can be the expert at the table on their journey and generosity. And finally, we deliver on what we say. We connect people that care with causes that matter to them.”
It was in 2001 that the name was changed from Gwinnett Community Foundation to the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia. And in 2017, the title of president was changed to chairman, while the executive director was changed to president and CEO. Now DePriest Waddy steps into the leadership role, to move the Foundation ever more forward.
Through 2021, the Community Foundation has granted out more than $100 million – impacting the arts, education, faith-based organizations, community service and health care. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Can’t you see Paul Duke (and others) looking down from heaven and grinning at the great good the Foundation is doing each year for our area!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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