Tucker Community FoundationCommon Threads . . . Tucker Community Foundation news, notes and nonsuch

February 3, 2016 – There is nothing like a good snowstorm to demonstrate how fortunate we are to live in an area where neighbors take care of neighbors. The act of giving doesn’t always involve money and for those on the receiving end the value of a kind act may be priceless. Those who voluntarily moved snow or cared for others during Storm Jonas demonstrated a very powerful form of local philanthropy.

Emergency responders are on duty and on task during events that have most of us sheltering at home so it seems an appropriate time for Common Threads to feature endowments that benefit emergency services.

The Donaldson – Corey Fund was established by Fritz and Joanne Corey in 2002 to honor the memory of their parents: F. Kermit & Helen Scott Donaldson and James L. & Norma M. Corey. The fund provides perpetual support for equipment and training of emergency medical responders in the Canaan Valley area.

The Capt. Karl Patrik Youngblood Memorial Fund provides funding for Tucker County emergency personnel and/or their families to aid with the cost of training opportunities for emergency medical services personnel, particularly those involved in EMT-Basic, EMT-Paramedic or Emergency Vehicle operation classes. It was established in 1999 with memorial donations by friends and family. Capt. Karl P. Youngblood was a search and rescue pilot. In 1998 he was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV. He died while on a night training mission in the Nevada desert.

The James D. Jordan Fund was established in his memory by his wife and children to provide funds for emergency services in Canaan Valley and Harman. The Jordan’s lived on the family farm in Laneville, WV. Having a chronic respiratory condition, Mr. Jordan was always grateful for emergency service responders from Canaan Valley and Harman who answered the call when he was in need.

The Tucker County EMS Fund was established in 2014 by the Dominion Foundation. The Foundation dedicated $10,000 of their $25,000 Tucker Boulder Park donation to establish the fund. The Boulder Park project, Run For It Team EMS, and donations from the general public continue to build support and raise awareness for Tucker County Emergency Medical Services.

The Parsons Volunteer Fire Department Fund was established by the estate of Harold W. & Ruth F. Shaffer to provide perpetual funding for operations. Mr. Shaffer was a veteran of the United States Army and taught at Parsons High School from 1933 to 1973.  Ruth worked at the First National Bank (now Mountain Valley Bank, NA) in Parsons from 1960 to 1972.

The Katherine Zabriskie Canaan Valley Fire Department Fund and the Katherine Zabriskie EMS Fund were established by her estate in 2015 to provide perpetual funding for emergency medical services and the Volunteer Fire Department located in Canaan Valley.  Zabriskie moved to Canaan Valley after retiring from IBM.  She was 69 when she died in 2010. According to her pastor, “Kathy was active in many community service agencies and projects. Because of her concern for the safety and well-being of her neighbors, the Canaan Valley Fire Department and the Rescue Squad will have much needed, ongoing support.  Kathy cared so much for the people of this area.”

These endowments produce more than $10,000 annually to benefit emergency services.  Anyone can donate any amount to any fund any time. Visit www.tuckerfoundation.net to donate online.  All donations are tax deductible.

For more information how to endow a fund to benefit emergency services or other needs in your community, contact the Foundation Development Office at 304-259-5008.  Visit us online or on Facebook www.facebook.com/tucker.commfound for more information about Tucker Community Foundation.

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