December 2025 Newsletter

A Heartfelt Thank You as We Close Out the Year

As we wrap up another remarkable year at the Union County Foundation, I am filled with gratitude for the generosity, kindness, and community spirit that define Union County. Together, we have accomplished so much—and we’re not done yet.

Thanks to our incredible donors, we have raised $188,000 toward our $254,000 goal for the Lilly Endowment GIFT VIII match. This means we are just $66,000 away from unlocking the full 2:1 match, bringing an additional $508,000 into our unrestricted funds. The opportunity before us is extraordinary—and the clock is ticking.

If you’ve been considering a year-end gift, now is the time. Every dollar given before December 31 is tripled and goes on to support generations of Union County residents through grants, scholarships, and community initiatives. And as always, your gift to the Union County Foundation is fully tax-deductible.

As we enter this season of light, reflection, and giving, I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and abundant blessings in the New Year. Thank you for being part of the story we’re writing together—a story of hope, generosity, and lasting impact.

Let’s finish strong.

Warmly,

Olivia



WOW, Union County — You Did It!

We are thrilled to share our final Giving Tuesday total: $25,245 raised!

Thanks to the incredible Lilly Endowment match, every dollar will be TRIPLED — creating a total impact of $75,735 for Union County.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for this community. Your generosity, your belief in the Foundation’s mission, and your commitment to showing up for your neighbors is what makes Union County so special.

These funds will strengthen our funds and fuel real, meaningful good across our county — meeting local needs, supporting nonprofits, and building a brighter future for everyone who calls this place home.



From the bottom of our hearts: thank you. We can’t wait to see all the good this will create.

Grant Spotlight

Our annual visit to Mrs. Allbright's class is always inspirational! This year the UCHS musical received a $3,600 grant from the

Stephen A. Brack Memorial Fund for the Arts.

Thanks to Stephen's family for keeping his legacy alive, this fund has awarded close to $20,000 to the musical over the past 8 years- ensuring that the shows go on!



Thank you Mrs. Allbright for allowing us to come visit your choir class and empowering these students to be confident individuals! We are looking forward to your spring program of Anastasia!

When an endowed fund is created in someone’s memory, the most important goal is to honor that person’s spirit, values, and legacy.

It’s absolutely okay—and often the right thing to do—to update or broaden the purpose of an endowed fund if it allows the fund to better represent the individual it commemorates. Adjusting the intent isn’t about undoing the original vision; it’s about keeping the heart of that vision alive in a way that continues to make an impact.

We are honored to announce the update to an original fund;

The Jamie Blacker Fields to the Future Fund



This fund was started back in 2007 as a scholarship- but as communities change and needs evolve, this family decided to find a more meaningful way to reflect who Jamie was. The fund has transformed into a designated fund that will grant annually to the UC 4-H Association Tractor Club.

Introducing the McCashland-Weaver Community Heart

Unrestricted Endowment Fund

The Union County Foundation is grateful to announce a new fund created by Kathy Walker in memory of her dear friends and fellow Union County Public Library board members, Carol Reynolds-McCashland and Debbie Weaver.

Kathy shared how much joy she found serving alongside Carol and Debbie—how their friendship, humor, and shared love for the library made every meeting something to look forward to. Regarding Carol, she said she wishes she had met her sooner so that they could be friends even longer, and joked that if she and Carol had met earlier, they probably would’ve gotten kicked out of school for having too much fun together. Debbie and Kathy worked side by side for many years at Union County Middle School, where their treasured friendship began.

By creating this fund, Kathy hopes to honor the legacy these two amazing women left in our community. Their commitment to literacy, learning, and the people of Union County will continue to make a difference for years to come.

We are honored to help carry forward Carol and Debbie’s impact through the McCashland-Weaver Community Heart Unrestricted Endowment Fund.



If you would like to make a contribution to this fund in memory of Carol or Debbie, your donation will be tripled through the end of the year!

Did you see episode 5?

This one is extra special… we’re featuring our very first guest on the UCF Podcast — Wendell Bias, one of the founding fathers of the Union County Foundation!

Wendell takes us back to the early days of the Foundation and shares the heart, history, and hope behind the work we continue today. His passion for Union County and the belief that we should all “give where we live” shines through every moment of this interview.

Watch Episode 5 on YouTube!

SAVE THE DATE

December 5th & 6th- Johnny Welborn Cowboy Night at boys and girls basketball games

December 6th- Everything Christmas! A full day of activities throughout the entire county. View calendar for more details.

December 16th- Community Connection meeting

December 18th- Ugly Sweater Party at El Reparo

Have an event coming up?

Submit it here so we can help spread the word!

Want to see what’s happening?

Check the calendar anytime to stay in the loop.

Add your event here- https://forms.gle/hBGAp844128ULrR36

View upcoming events- https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0...

If you would like to stay updated on other posts, be sure to follow us on Facebook!