Zetmeir Family Fund
On May 15, 2018, Sophia Zetmeir invited her closest friends to share in a special farewell event hosted by the Parsons Area Community Foundation, Labette Community College Foundation, and the Gary Wall Family. This dinner was a tribute to Sophia as a dear friend as well as to thank her for the innumerable enhancements she, and her husband the late Sonny Zetmeir, provided for the Parsons community. She is moving to the Kansas City area where she will not only be close to her three daughters and grandchildren, but also to her two brothers.
In the early 1970’s Sonny and Sophia moved to Parsons for Sonny to work in his parents’ cabinetry manufacturing business, Grandview Products. During this time they raised three daughters, purchased the business, and built it into a nationwide kitchen cabinet supplier. Working long hours and with many personal sacrifices, this business became a great success financially and the Zetmeirs munificently gave back to the community donating cabinets to a number of local churches, schools, and libraries. In addition, for years they co-sponsored the annual 4th of July firework display at Marvel Park and have been exceptionally generous to Labette Community College, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Stella Wells Christmas Basket program, and the Parsons Area Community Foundation.
In 2013, Sophia established the Zetmeir Family Fund at the Parsons Area Community Foundation (PACF). There is an interesting story behind this fund. From 2006, until his demise in 2013, Sonny served as the PACF board president. Also during a portion of that time, he served as chairman for the campaign steering committee for the Labette Community College Health Science Building, kicking that off with a significant pledge from he and Sophia. To meet this pledge, the Zetmeirs established a fund at the Parsons Area Community Foundation named the Sonny and Sophia Zetmeir Designated Fund for the LCC Capital Campaign. This campaign spanned a period of five years, and each year the Zetmeirs contributed a portion of their total pledge to the fund held at PACF. During this time, the contributions to the PACF fund were invested, and at the culmination of the campaign had earned an additional $97,085. Once construction for the Health Science Building commenced, the total contribution was distributed to Labette Community College. The earnings, however, had been designated to remain with PACF. Sophia then established the Zetmeir Family Fund using those earnings as the initial gift to this fund.
The Zetmeir Family Fund is an endowed fund. There is no access to the principal; grants are made solely from the investment earnings. It is also an unrestricted fund, allocating decision making for annual grants to the PACF board of directors. Since the fund’s inception in 2013, it has already provided nearly $60,000 in grants to local schools and organizations, and this is only the beginning. Year after year this fund will give back to our community through the annual grants program provided by PACF.
The Parsons Area Community Foundation is so grateful to Sonny and Sophia Zetmeir and hope their story will inspire others to see all the possibilities for giving back to make a difference.
Hughes Family Fund
In 1995 the wheels were set in motion to establish the Parsons Area Community Foundation for the purpose of providing improvements and enrichments to the community beyond what tax dollars supplied. It would be funded through contributions of those wanting to give back to the community.
Prior to the establishment of the Foundation, a long time resident of Parsons died leaving a sizable estate. She would have been thrilled to have left the money for the betterment of Parsons if there had been such a vehicle as a community foundation in existence. As it was, the money was left to a distant cousin who was independently wealthy and over 80 years old. This was the catalyst for creating the Parsons Community Foundation.
"Mary and I have a donor-advised fund at the Foundation. We are able to direct income from the investments of this fund to support the projects we value for the community. We can do this for our lifetimes and, if we choose, our children and grandchildren may continue with their direction. Since this fund is endowed, the principal always remains, and the income from the fund may be used to benefit generations to come. What a perfect way to support our local community. And all gifts are tax deductible!" (Pete Hughes)
Virginia Wommack Charitable Trust Fund
In 2010, Ginny attended a planned giving seminar presented by the Labette Health Foundation, Labette Community College Foundation, and Parsons Area Community Foundation. She was intrigued by information regarding Charitable Gift Annuities.
A CGA is a contract between a donor and a charity whereby the donor transfers cash or property to the charity in exchange for a partial tax deduction and a lifetime stream of annual income from the charity. When the donor passes away, the remainder of the gift will be used by the charity.
In Ginny’s case, the ability for her gift to eventually benefit multiple charitable causes through the community foundation, while providing a fixed income stream during her lifetime, was the perfect fit.
Taylor Family Fund
When Charlene Taylor was asked to tell the story of why the Parsons Area Community Foundation was chosen to establish the Taylor Family Fund, this was her answer: “The city of Parsons, and the workers in our company from this area, had been good to our family. With the sale of our company, we had an opportunity to give back to the community. In exploring the best way to do that, we felt establishing a fund at the community foundation would benefit the most people over time. The benefits that we have seen since starting the fund have been numerous and will be long lasting.”
Here is a short history of this amazing fund. The Taylor Family Fund was established in 1997 with gifts of $2,000,000. The terms were for 80% of the income from the fund to be used for grants at the board’s discretion, and 20% of the fund earnings designated for St. Patrick’s Catholic School. Grants began coming off this fund in 1998, and to date it has given local grants of nearly $3.65 million dollars. And here is the even more amazing part: Financial growth from the investment of this fund has not only enabled it to give $3.65 million toward the betterment of our communities, but the balance of the fund as of the end of March 2024, remains at more than $3.7 million. What a tremendous gift this family has given our area, and through the power of endowment, it is a gift that will just keep giving.
Shaun Hill PASS Fund
Shaun Hill, quarterback for the Detroit Lions, established a donor advised fund at the Foundation in 2009. “PASS” stands for Parsons Area Support System.
We asked Shaun why he chose the Foundation and were given these reasons:
- To meet needs in his home community, especially for its youth
- By taking away the barrier of lack of money, engage all interested kids in activities at a young age to hopefully propel them into participation on into their high school years
- Keep sport programs alive in schools despite cuts to education funding
- The Parsons Community is very giving. This fund gives people the opportunity to add to the fund through tax deductible gifts
With a donor advised fund, Shaun is eligible for NFL charity grants to the fund. How very fortunate Parsons is to have Shaun’s support!
Bonnie Oden Fund – Bonnie’s Great Gift
As a bequest, the Oden Endowed Fund was established at the Foundation with the direction of using the income from the fund to give $1000 each year to the Stella Wells Christmas Basket organization with the balance to be used in a wise and prudent manner to help the needy people in the community of Parsons, Kansas. Commercial Bank managed Mrs. Oden’s trust and transferred the amount bequested for investment along with other Parsons Area Community Foundation funds. However, the Parsons Area Community Foundation board subsequently voted to return the Oden Fund to Commercial Bank’s Trust Department for investment. All funds established with the Foundation have the option of being invested elsewhere with an approved fiduaciary manager, and since Mrs. Oden had known and trusted the officers at the bank, the Foundation board felt this would be the most appropriate.
Bonnie Oden worked for thirty years as a secretary at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, living frugally and saving her money. People who knew Bonnie well want others to know she was a kind, gentle woman, and the money she gifted was because she did without the extras to save her hard-earned money.
Since this fund is endowed, only the earnings on the fund will be distributed for grants. However, in 2024 alone $1,000 was given to Stella Wells Christmas Baskets and an additional $18,475 was granted to other organizations who provide services to the needy in our community. The wonder of an endowed gift is this will continue into perpetuity! What a remarkable woman, and what a difference her gift will make in years to come.
Hazel Wall Scholarship Fund
Our Aunt Hazel Wall was a longtime teacher at Washington Elementary School in Parsons. She died in 2001, a few months after her 90th birthday. We chose her church and the Community Foundation to be the recipients of memorial donations.
Later I discussed with other nieces and nephews the possibility of each of us making additional contributions to bring her memorial fund with the Parsons Area Community Foundation to the $10,000 amount necessary to be a permanently endowed fund. We decided income from this fund would provide an annual scholarship to assist a student attending Labette Community College, with the goal of becoming a teacher.
We are so pleased to have Hazel remembered for years to come through this scholarship. (Gary Wall)
