I’ve been thinking a lot about Randy Smith, whom we lost to cancer this January. I knew Randy as a professional advisor who took a holistic and compassionate view of financial planning, one who included talk of philanthropy in his sessions with clients. Whenever I met a donor referred to the Community Foundation by Randy, I knew that referral had started with a thoughtful conversation about values and community, about giving back and giving forward.

So it did not surprise me to learn that Randy had coached his children’s soccer teams or that he had refereed adult games as well. Because these are the people we want as our advisors, aren’t they? The people who devote their lives to helping others play by the rules, do well, and strengthen their community—their team.

Some professional advisors, like Randy, make it a part of their routine to ask every client about their charitable interests. Others ask themselves several questions first to help qualify their clients’ needs: Do I have clients who care deeply about Adams County or a particular cause? Do they give to more than one charitable cause? Are they interested in establishing a personal or family legacy?

When those advisors answer “yes” to any of these questions, they understand their clients would benefit from knowing more about the charitable options available at the Community Foundation.

The Community Foundation is a resource for professional advisors, so they can help their clients understand the many ways they can achieve their charitable, as well as financial, goals. The Community Foundation has a broad and deep understanding both of our community’s needs and of the methods available to donors and clients to make a difference. We ensure that every gift made through the charitable planning process is not only the right gift at the right time, but is also personal, meaningful, and lasting.

To help create those charitable legacies, we rely on our community’s professional advisors to introduce their clients to the Community Foundation. Many people arrive at their advisor’s office knowing which nonprofits they’d like to support through their will or trust. Advisors find that the Community Foundation’s ability to provide a variety of giving vehicles and insight into local needs are a valuable extra ingredient in building a satisfying plan.

Over the years, the Community Foundation has celebrated the advisors who demonstrate a commitment to Adams County and South Central Pennsylvania by working to advance philanthropy and encourage charitable giving across our region. We gratefully acknowledge advisors who introduce the Community Foundation to their clients by including them in our Professional Advisor Recognition Society. A complete list, including the name of Randy Smith and 21 other financial advisors, attorneys and CPAs is on our website.

Together we can make a huge difference in the lives of people today and in the generations that follow by building permanent charitable funds, a civic endowment  for Adams County.

Are you interested in learning more about options for charitable planning with the Community Foundation? Contact me at 717-337-0060 or rserpe@adamscountycf.org  Ralph Serpe is president & CEO of the Adams County Community Foundation.