Plan today, impact forever.

When we think about leaving a legacy, we often consider the tangible assets we’ll pass down to our loved ones. However, legacy giving extends beyond the confines of familial bonds, reaching into the community and nurturing the growth and development of future generations. One such legacy is the Howard and Phyllis Glendenning Scholarship, a bequest to the students of John Marshall High School, albeit after a prolonged period of dormancy.

The Glendenning Scholarship

The Glendenning Scholarship was conceived to support graduating seniors of John Marshall High School in their pursuit of higher education. Established in 1982, the scholarship had all the potential to transform lives but lay dormant due to unforeseen complications in estate planning.

Luckily for the students of John Marshall, circumstances changed. Four decades later, local attorney Jeff Kessler, in collaboration with United Bank and the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley (CFOV), breathed life into the dormant fund, ensuring the Glendennings’ vision would finally reach fruition.

Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley

Community Foundations, like CFOV, are embedded in their communities. They grasp the unique needs and opportunities of their local areas, ensuring that the philanthropic aspirations of donors are realized effectively and efficiently.  Luckily, Kessler recognized this, and his collaboration with CFOV is a testament to the impacts that partnerships can yield.

Anyone Can Leave A Legacy

Legacy giving isn’t just for the wealthy. It’s a way for anyone to make a lasting impact, ensuring their contributions extend beyond their lifetime. It is a means to give back, fostering growth, development, and prosperity for future generations.

However, misconceptions abound. Estate planning is often misconstrued as difficult, costly, or unnecessary for those without extensive assets. These misconceptions can lead to oversight, as witnessed in the 40-year dormancy of the Glendenning Scholarship.

The revival of the Glendenning Scholarship is not just a celebration of revitalized opportunity for John Marshall High School seniors but also a clarion call for meticulous, informed, and strategic legacy planning. Engaging with local organizations, well-versed in the community’s needs and opportunities, ensures that legacy funds are not just well-administered but are also responsive, adaptive, and impactful.

As we commemorate National Estate Planning Awareness Week, the Glendenning Scholarship serves as a reminder of the power of well-planned, well-executed legacy giving.

With local partnerships, foresight, and planning, every individual can create a legacy that impacts lives and communities. The Glendenning Scholarship, once dormant, now stands as a testament to this enduring truth.

The Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, located in the Ohio Valley, can make your impact last forever. We work with you and your professional advisors to make planned giving simple, flexible, and fulfilling.

Contact Us to start your perpetual legacy.

**Special thanks to the Wheeling News Register for originally publishing this article in their ‘Leave A Legacy’ insert October 16th, 2023**