Submitted by South Sound Partners for Philanthropy
Philanthropists, including a local volunteer who helps more than a dozen organizations, will be honored during the annual luncheon of South Sound Partners for Philanthropy. The event will take place on National Philanthropy Day, Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Hotel RL. The luncheon will begin at noon; registration opens at 11:30a.m. The public is invited to the event.
This year’s honorees are:
Next Generation Philanthropists: Spencer and Ben Rex. For the last several years, the brothers have scoured local garage and other sales for unique items that they sell for a profit on eBay. Ten percent of their profit then goes to local charities. Among those benefiting are Seattle Children’s Hospital, Wounded Warriors, Community Youth Services and Pear Blossom Place. Ben, 14, and Spencer, 16, go to Capital High School. Both are active in band and sports. They also have volunteered the last two summers at the City of Olympia’s Olywahoo summer day camp.
Leadership in Personal Philanthropy: Ted and Tanya Jernigan. The Jernigans, who have lived here for about 10 years, have been instrumental in local giving through The Jernigan Foundation, which focuses on global and local concerns, including human trafficking, Boys and Girls Clubs, CareNet Pregnancy Centers, Salvation Army, Washington Engage and the Evergreen Christian School.
Leadership in Business Philanthropy: Phillips Burgess PLLC. This local law firm gives extensively in both time and talent to United Way of Thurston County, Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Capitol Land Trust, the Thurston County Food Bank and other groups.
Leadership in Philanthropy – Community Organization: First United Methodist Church of Olympia. This church has served the community for more than 160 years and been instrumental through its Warm Hearts Fund and its Help Us Move In fund (now an independent foundation) in helping local families in need. FUMCO is also being honored for helping to get Camp Quixote started, for providing meeting space for non-profits for free or at a reduced rate and for its members volunteering and giving at a wide range of local non-profits, including the Family Support Center, the YWCA, Homes First and Community Youth Services.
Paul Grudis Inspirational Award: Carole Jones. Local volunteer Carole Jones has clocked in thousands of hours since the early 1990s, helping more than a dozen local non-profit organizations. Carole helps with the Providence St. Peter Foundation’s No One Dies Alone program, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary No. 318, The Washington Center for the Performing Arts and the United Way of Thurston County, which honored her as Volunteer of the Year in 2013.
South Sound Partners for Philanthropy, founded in 2000, is a consortium of more than 30 local non-profit organizations. To attend the luncheon, register online at www.celebrategiving.org
