President’s Letter

Live Life with Passion. Without a passion for living, what does the future hold? Today, I share with you my passion: my beloved town of Cary and its future. Three years ago, I began meeting with five equally passionate Cary residents. We knew we lived in the greatest town in America; however, there was a heart felt desire to ensure the town's vibrancy and quality of life – forever.

Serve Others. We serve our families, our employers, and the organizations we believe in. Recently, I began to serve as the president of the Cary Community Foundation. It is a young, philanthropic organization that grew from the compassionate vision of six Cary residents three years ago. The mission of the Foundation is to enable all citizens and businesses to contribute to our community and its legacy.

Plan for Uncertainty. Every day we experience unanticipated events that alter our path in life, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. Although Cary is currently healthy and vibrant, it is changing. It is not the town it was 25 years ago, or a decade ago, or even last year. More importantly, it is not the town it will be 100 years from now. Cary has grown in miles, in people, and in resources. Most of that growth benefited the town and its people. Unfortunately some members of our community currently face uncertainty as they struggle with unmet needs. The Foundation will help fund nonprofit's efforts to meet today's needs and set aside resources to address unknown challenges that lie ahead in Cary.

Giving Enhances Life. Giving to one another enables us to survive and to sustain the relationships that enhance our lives and, more importantly, creates the community we call home. After all, life is not about what you have, but what you give. The same holds true for our town. It is not about what we have, but what we give to make a difference in our community today, tomorrow and forever. The Cary Community Foundation provides a meaningful way for you to charitably give back to the organizations and initiatives that inspire your passion and ensure their existence for future generations to enjoy.

Life Cycles. There is a beginning, middle and end to our lives. The same holds true for issues, organizations and communities. It is my belief, the establishment of the Cary Community Foundation is the beginning of an era of enrichment for our town. With your support, the Foundation has the potential to improve the lives of all who call Cary home now and in the future. This can be achieved with charitable giving by anyone at any level to establish, or add to, permanently endowed funds to support worthy nonprofits and beneficial initiatives that will make Cary vibrant and healthy for years to come.

Igniting the Passion of Giving is the motto for the Cary Community Foundation in 2008. Please join me and others who live or work in Cary, as we embark on this exciting journey of public service and philanthropy. Your gifts of time, talent and financial resources are most welcome and always appreciated. Together, we will make the future of Cary vibrant – forever.

Sheila H. Ogle
President
Cary Community Foundation