Mary McLeod was a tireless advocate for children in Arkansas. In recognition of her lifelong dedication to youth and mental health, a $50,000 endowment was established in April 1978 in Mary’s memory donated by former Governor Winthrop Rockefeller’s estate. The fund was named the Mary McLeod Memorial Fund for Youth Home. Youth Home is a residential treatment center in central Arkansas serving youth struggling with mental illness.
When you examine the financial return of that initial $50,000 investment, you can see the lasting power and impact of an endowment with Arkansas Community Foundation. And how a financial legacy can live beyond a donor’s lifetime.
Thanks to careful financial management, the principal amount has nearly doubled to more than $92,000. Since the endowment started, Youth Home, Inc. has received more than $210,000 in grants, and every year, more will be issued to provide essential support for the organization’s programs, ensuring that this gift will continue to support Youth Home’s important work for generations to come.
While much has changed since the endowment’s creation, the need for legacy gifts like this has not. For those who take a long-term approach to philanthropy, an endowment offers stability and longevity — indefinitely. Endowments are permanently invested with only a portion of the fund used annually for grantmaking. The remaining funds are reinvested for the future, so long after you’re gone, it will continue to support the causes you care about.
As Arkansas faces a growing adolescent mental health crisis, Youth Home’s efforts to support teens and families across the state are more crucial than ever. “We are proud to continue honoring Mrs. McLeod’s passion and memory in the work we do every day,” said Larry Betz, chief operations officer at Youth Home, Inc.
McLeod’s passion for supporting mental health in Arkansas lives on, forever, because of the power of an expertly managed endowment, the commitment of the Foundation to honor her legacy and the passionate work of Youth Home to serve children in our state.