ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 22, 1996 TAG: 9612230002
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ANNE DAUGHERTY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
Steve Gerus and Rosemary Blieszner always admired teachers. This year, they decided to put their money where their ideals were by investing in the community's best teachers.
They have established a $10,000 fund to help support a Montgomery County program that offers teachers funding each year for innovative programs in the schools.
They even involved their two children, Suzanne and Mark, in the process. The Gerus children, who are students at Blacksburg High and Middle schools, will be included in making decisions on how the income from their family's donation will be spent.
And the donation will grow in value as the years go by because it was made as an endowment through The Community Foundation of the New River Valley.
The foundation was set up to make local philanthropy easy - to allow a family in Dublin or Montgomery County to make a donation to their own community as easily as they could make a donation to the Red Cross or other charity. Incorporated in June 1994, it provides the community with an easy way to help itself.
After two years of planning and organization by the volunteer Board of Directors, two major events have occurred. The foundation has hired Shauna Bishop as its first full-time executive director. It also received its first donation of $10,000 from Gerus and Blieszner.
The Community Foundation suits Gerus and Blieszner for many reasons. The tax advantage is great, because they took the $10,000 from a mutual fund that had appreciated a great deal in value. By donating to the Community Foundation, their money becomes a perpetual gift.
All of the gift is given to the community. Gerus explains that had he and Blieszner tried to set up a similar fund on their own, the money would have been quickly eaten up by costs. By donating to the Community Foundation, they get to have "all the fun [of doing something for their community] without the hassle."
Their donation will aid the Star Grant system, which has been in operation for about six years in Montgomery County. Teachers apply for a grant, usually of about $1,000, to fund a special program that would not otherwise be available to students.
Doris McElfresh oversees the Star Grants in Montgomery County Schools. She described the program as an opportunity for teachers and students to work together on interesting programs, such as building a salt water aquarium, or undertaking a special unit on architecture, or building a dog sled, or focusing on reading. While most of the grants have been awarded to reading programs and science, all teachers can apply. With the additional support of the Gerus Blieszner Fund, more grants will be awarded.
The foundation has a sister organization in Roanoke, The Foundation for Roanoke Valley, which in seven years has built an endowment that exceeds $6 million. Last year, it donated more than $200,000 to more than 75 agencies working in health, education, social services, the arts, the environment and other fields. The foundation also has future commitments of more than $7.5 million through bequests and other deferred estate gifts.
Such foundations receive the most favorable treatment allowed under tax law, according to Alan Ronk, executive director of the Roanoke foundation.
On the national level, the 476 community foundations in the country experienced record growth in 1995 and have assets over $10 billion.
A nationwide survey of charities found that community foundations saw the biggest gain in donations - 93 percent - of all charities last year.
In the New River Valley, The Community Foundation believes that there are "all kinds of Steves and Rosemarys out there" who want to give something back to their community, according to Bishop. The foundation is there to help make giving easy.
For information, call Shauna Bishop at 674-3643.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Alan Kim. Steve Gerius and Rosemary Bleiszner, withby CNBtheir children Suzanne and Mark Gerus. color.