The Start of the Fund

NOW. . . You Can Make a Gift That Keeps on Giving
The Income Trust Fund of The First Presbyterian Church of Sun City  Makes This Possible

This is the headline for the brochure introducing The Income Trust Fund – which today we refer to as The Fund. The brochure goes on the answer the question: Why do we need the Fund?

“Many people have expressed a desire to name our church as a beneficiary in their wills and bequests, in addition, future gifts, should substantially increase the assets of the Fund over a period of years. A permanent fund will greatly strengthen the total Ministry of our church.”

It really started in 1974 with small gifts designated for endowment. In 1974 to 1979, endowment gifts as small as $10 to over $1,000 were received.

On September 18, 1979, several members of the Board of Trustees ‘evidenced an interest’ in using the recent, generous $21,131.62 cash and stock bequest from Hilda M. Kundert’s Estate as a nucleus for a permanent fund. Ramona Meyer, Milford Schueler and Arthur Comer were appointed to an ad-hoc committee and drafted a Memorandum to establish an Income Trust Fund.

From Session minutes of November 29, 1979, when the Stewardship Commission Chair reported expected shortage based on pledges received to date, ‘considerable discussion followed on the expectations of meeting the proposed Budget.’ In the next paragraph, under the heading of Unfinished Business, the Ad-Hoc Committee presented their report on the proposed Income Trust Fund. The Income Trust Fund with a beginning balance of $25,000 was formally established and approved by Session action in January 1980.

The leaders, members and friends of our church, then and now, continue to work together to discern God’s call for our ministry and future.

To be continued....