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It all began with a single gift.

The Whitlock Legacy Society was created to recognize the generous individuals who have made provisions for the St. James’s Endowment Fund in their estate plans through gifts of retirement plans, bequests, life income gifts, or trusts.

The Legacy Society was founded with the $5,000 bequest of Mrs. Elizabeth Whitlock in 1930. At the time, the vestry wisely decided to invest this unrestricted gift, thus creating what became the St. James’s Endowment Fund, Inc. Today, the Whitlock Legacy Society has more than 230 members, past and present, including more than 70 members who have joined in just the last five years.

Since receiving Mrs. Whitlock’s founding gift, many bequests and other forms of “legacy” gifts, together with some outright gifts and wise investment strategies, have grown the St. James Endowment Fund, Inc. to a value of over $11 million. The Endowment Fund and our parish owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the forward-thinking generosity of the members of the Whitlock Legacy Society.

Vestry Statement on Legacy Giving:

“As a vestry we, the leaders of St. James’s Episcopal Church, acknowledge that all things do indeed come from God, and that we have a sacred responsibility to God and to St. James’s to support the long-term health of our parish. Our vibrant church of today is built on the generosity of those saints who have gone before us, and we give thanks for their gracious gifts.  To ensure a healthy church for tomorrow we commit ourselves to make provisions for St. James’s Endowment Fund, Inc. in our estate or other long-term financial plans, and by our example to encourage others to do the same.

St. James’s legacy giving program and the Whitlock Legacy Society have our full commitment and support. We invite other “doers of God’s Word” to join us on this spiritual journey, thereby becoming an eternal gift to our parish.”

Adopted by the Vestry April, 2019

It is part of the legacy from previous generations of our family to give to causes we support, not only during our lives but in what we leave behind.

— Marjorie Bribitzer and her daughter Janet Peyton

Well, first and foremost, we believe in St. James’s Church. It’s a tremendous steward of our annual tithe. Just think about the countless lives that have been blessed by direct or indirect association with the church over the last century. So it makes sense that St. James’s is on our list of organizations that we believe will continue to make the community a better place long after we’re gone. That’s a comforting feeling.

— The Acey Family

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