August 2026 Newsletter  

Giving together to enhance the quality and spirit of community life. 

Tribute Fund Leaves a Lasting Legacy  
Mary Evelyn Cross Hayes was a devoted member of Haymount United Methodist Church. Mary Evelyn and her husband, Dr. Ben Hayes, raised their three boys there. She shared her talents with the flowers in the sanctuary, volunteered with the Women of the Church, and supported the children and youth programs. When the church doors opened, she was usually there to help. 
After her death in 2003, Ben and the boys wanted to create a legacy honoring Mary Evelyn, but they were unsure how to move forward. Ben married Elaine Bryant Hayes in 2010. Elaine served on the board of Cumberland Community Foundation for twelve years. She had already created two endowment funds of her own and was very pleased. She knew the community foundation would provide the perfect solution – an endowment for Mary Evelyn’s church. 
So, in 2018, the family worked with Cumberland Community Foundation to create The Mary Evelyn Cross Hayes Endowment for Haymount United Methodist Church. She will be remembered every year, forever, through a generous distribution to her beloved church to support her favorite programs. Her son, Dick Hayes, said: “We are so happy that Elaine explained how the community foundation works. Managing legacy endowments is exactly what they do. It brings us comfort knowing that under the community foundation's expert guidance, Mom’s endowment will grow and last forever.” 

Honor a Family Member by Making a Memorial Gift in Your Will 
August is National Make-A-Will Month – a meaningful time to consider the legacy you want to leave. Whether you're creating a will for the first time or updating an existing one, a gift in your will can make a lasting impact. It’s as simple as adding a few sentences to your will:
I give, devise, and bequeath to Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc., a North Carolina nonprofit corporation (the "Foundation"), [Describe the percentage of estate, residual estate, or other description of property], as an addition to the [Insert fund name] fund of the Foundation. This irrevocable gift shall be held, administered, and distributed by the Foundation for charitable purposes described.
Always check with your own attorney for legal advice. 
Would you like to honor a family member by making a memorial gift to Cumberland Community Foundation in your last will and testament? Give me a call. We can talk about tax-smart giving and how to design your legacy.

Maddie Kellogg, Director of Donor Services (910-483-4449 x107) 

Help Local Students Start Strong 
As students head back to the classroom, not every child in Cumberland County has the supplies needed for a successful start to the school year. So, Cumberland Community Foundation is bringing people together to help provide school supplies for students in need in Cumberland County through our Back-To-School Supplies Fund.
To make an online gift to the Back-To-School Supplies Fund, CLICK HERE. The community foundation will work with local schools to help students with the most need.
Thanks for helping local kids have a great school year! 

Better Health Supports Diabetes Patients Thanks to Wilkins Fund for Seniors
(L)Christiana Adeyemi, Better Health Executive Director, (R)Kendra Murray, CCF Community Grants Manager
Neill Wilkins made a gift in her will that continues her legacy.

Better Health’s Diabetes Management Program, supported by the Cornelia "Neill" Bullock Wilkins Charitable Endowment Fund for Seniors of Cumberland Community Foundation, is having an impact in helping seniors better manage their diabetes. Participants are consistently completing key health monitoring activities and reporting improved confidence in managing their condition. Early results indicate fewer emergency needs and stronger day‑to‑day diabetes control among clients. Overall, the program is delivering meaningful support and positive health outcomes for seniors in Cumberland County. 

Nonprofit Training: Planned Giving From the Front Lines  
On August 14, Cumberland Community Foundation hosted Planned Giving From the Front Lines, a training focused on helping organizations establish and grow planned giving programs. Led by Maddie Kellogg, CCF Director of Donor Services, the workshop equipped participants with tools to build long-term support and deepen donor engagement. Through trainings like this, CCF helps strengthen the capacity of nonprofits across our community.

Important Dates
August - National Make-A-Will Month
September 3 - Grantseeker Information Session at 10 AM at CCF**
September 10 - GivingTuesday Nonprofit Kickoff at 9 AM at CFBG*
September 24 - Founders & Friends event at 6 PM at CFBG*
October 1 - The 2027–2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens. Visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
October 1 - Grantseeker Information Session at 10 AM at CCF*
October 8 - National Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Day
October 19–25 - National Estate Planning Awareness Week 
November 23–December 1 - GivingTuesday Campaign 
December 9 - Nonprofit Holiday Social at 1 PM at CFBG* 

*By invitation
**Registration required click here

Stay Connected

Have you recently moved? Updated your preferred phone number or email address?
Let us know: info@cumberlandcf.org

info@cumberlandcf.org
    910.483.4449
cumberlandcf.org

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
PO Box 2345
FAYETTEVILLE, NC | 28302-2345 US
This email was sent to tara@cumberlandcf.org.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.