Carroll County Community Foundation Board of Directors are working to continue the charitable legacy of the late Wayne and Janet Clark. Supporters of the Community Foundation since its inception in 2001, the Clarks created their own named endowment in 2002 which endures today – lending financial assistance to many projects throughout the county in their memory.
In the past 12 months, the Wayne and Janet Clark Charitable Endowment has provided two significant donations to the Berryville community. In the summer of 2024, a Clark Endowment grant built a safety fence around the Janet Clark Memorial Playground next to the Berryville Community Center.
“The addition of the fencing around our playground has been a huge safety benefit for our patrons and looks attractive as well. We cannot say enough how thankful and blessed we are for the contributions of our donors and the Clark Endowment through the Carroll County Community Foundation,” said Jamie Hussey, Berryville Parks and Recreation Director.
Last week, the Clark Endowment provided a significant grant to the Friends of the Berryville Library to bolster support of the new library building program.
“We are very thankful for the support of the Clark Endowment. Like an endowment, a new library in Berryville will be a gift that serves our community for generations to come,” said Julie Hall, Director, Berryville Library. “We have been raising money towards this goal for years and are breaking ground April 1. While this is a momentous achievement, we are not done yet. We need to raise additional funds to furnish the building.”
The Clark’s charitable legacy is a perfect example of the power of an endowment—it grows through investment and gives out grants forever. In 23 years, their endowment has provided 75 grants totaling over $215,000. It will never stop giving back in their memory. The Clarks understood that a charitable gift should be an investment in a cause you care about that will generate unending returns for the entire community.
“We are so thankful for donors like the Clarks,” said Janell Robertson, Carroll County Community Foundation Executive Director, “Their love and continued support for our county through their thoughtful and generous endowment reminds us that we can all make a difference, not just now, but forever.”
Working with the Carroll County Community Foundation provides charitable donors with the opportunity to give where it matters to them while maximizing their tax-deductible contributions.