A Unique Birthday Present Helps Women and Children in Frederick County

April 24, 2008: Imagine the surprise of opening a birthday present and finding a Community Foundation donor-advised fund contract inside with your name on it. That’s just what happened when Frederick resident Joan Hendrickson opened a gift from her husband, D. Hunt Hendrickson, as they celebrated Joan’s 60th birthday on October 4, 2007.

“I had no idea Hunt was planning this,” Joan says of The Joan Hendrickson Fund. “I was very surprised.”

As past Chairman of The Community Foundation of Frederick County and a current Trustee, Hunt Hendrickson shares a commitment with Joan in helping others through charitable giving. He said that his gift was a meaningful way of giving Joan a unique birthday present and also providing her the means to make contributions back to the community.

“Joan has always been a most generous and unselfish person,” says Hunt.

Throughout her life, Joan Hendrickson has been actively involved in helping women and children. She has been a children’s reading program volunteer, a Sunday School teacher, and a volunteer with her church youth group. And, for the past eight years, she has been a volunteer mentor with students at West Frederick Middle School and Monocacy Elementary School.

Although not originally from Frederick County, Joan considers it her home. She grew up in West Virginia and New Jersey and attended college in Michigan before settling in Frederick County in 1975. She said that her experience in volunteering and her involvement with All Saints’ Episcopal Church, which was instrumental in starting Advocates for Homeless Families, opened her eyes to the ever-increasing need to help women and children. When her husband gave her The Joan Hendrickson Fund, she knew she wanted the Fund to benefit women and children in Frederick County.

“Giving back to the Frederick community after benefiting from living here just makes sense,” says Joan. “By assisting even one person to have a better life, the fabric of the whole community becomes stronger and richer. I am very happy with Hunt’s gift which, through The Community Foundation of Frederick County, will keep on giving.”

Those who share a commitment to helping women and children may make a secure, online donation to The Joan Hendrickson Fund.  To do so, click here. Checks made payable to The Community Foundation of Frederick County, may be mailed to 312 East Church Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701. Simply insert The Joan Hendrickson Fund in the check’s memo line. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Since 1986, The Community Foundation of Frederick County has partnered with individuals and organizations in creating charitable funds that benefit a variety of causes throughout Frederick County. To date, more than $17 million has been awarded in grants to area nonprofit organizations and in scholarships to students eager to pursue their academic dreams. Additional information about the Community Foundation is available by calling 301.695.7660.