Week 150
Positive post Sunday, December 29, 2019- Week 150.
As we wrap up the Holidays and close out 2019, I thought I would write about the best gift I gave this Christmas. Yes, I said gave not received. Although I am very thankful for all the gifts I received from family and friends, I believe in the proverb from the Bible, Acts 20:35, “… it is more blessed to give than to receive”.
As shared in a previous Positive Post Sunday (week 62), in honor of my mom and dad Dana and Ken Rendler, my family and I created the Rendler Family Foundation Fund (RFFF), which we presented to my mom and dad at my mom’s 80th birthday celebration in April of 2017. The RFFF raises funds to enrich and enhance the lives of families by contributing to charitable causes that focus on Faith, Education or Health & Fitness, carrying on their legacy of sacrificial giving and in recognition of their faithful lives of stewardship to each other, their family, friends and community.
With the generous donations from family and friends, we raised over $4,000 to start the RFFF in 2017. However, as a permanently endowed donor advised fund, we needed to grow the fund in order to begin awarding grants to not for profit organizations. This has concerned my parents over the past two years, because they wanted to let their friends and family know how their donations were being used to help others. That’s where the best gift I gave for Christmas comes in. Due to continuous generous contributions from family and friends, we were able to grow the Fund to a point where we could award a modest grant. On Christmas day, we surprised my parents by informing them that we awarded the first grant from the RFFF to St. James Elementary School, the school at the church where they have been active members for over 55 years, and the school that all three of their children graduated from. This marked the beginning of a legacy of giving from the RFFF. Michele and I were also blessed to surprise my parents with a substantial contribution to the Fund this year. Seeing how pleased and deeply touched they were to receive gifts that will benefit the School and others for years to come was priceless and reminded me of the value and importance of sacrificial giving and being humble and generous servants of the Lord.
Saint Francis of Assisi is quoted as saying, “Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received—only what you have given.” Please join us in giving to the Rendler Family Foundation Fund to help make a difference and improve the quality of life of families in need.
What was the best gift you gave over the holidays?
What was the best gift you gave over the holidays?
Note: Special thanks to my fellow RFFF Advisory Board members: Michele Rendler, Karen Longpre, Bryan Longpre, Tom Rendler, Jeffrey Rendler, Bob Rendler, Charles Rendler, Heather Stinson, Dana Rendler and Ken Rendler. Thank you for your leadership and service to those in need.