“To whom much is given, much will be required.”
It’s a bible verse, and one that Melissa and Parker Gilbert’s daughters know well because their grandfather recalled it often. The Cardinal Legacy Fund, their family’s new donor-advised fund, was created as a nod to “Gam” and “Poppy,” the affectionate titles used by their daughters for Melissa’s parents, Harrison and Judy Williams. Longtime Marietta residents and active members at Marietta First Presbyterian Church, Harrison and Judy created a legacy of community volunteerism and charitable giving. Inheritance received by Melissa and her family after her parents’ passing became a meaningful way to continue that legacy of giving by establishing a donor advised fund at Cobb Community Foundation.
The Gilberts’ love of their community is evident in the way they give their time and their treasure. Also active members of Marietta First Presbyterian, Melissa, Parker and their daughters have volunteered in countless ways at church through ministries like Club 3:30, at school in many roles, and in the community through organizations like Cobb Landmarks and Simple Needs GA.
CCF’s Professional Advisor Network has also been a part of Melissa’s approach to keeping informed about the opportunities that could be beneficial to her law clients seeking estate planning assistance. Even so, they determined that holding off on finalizing charitable giving plans at the time the inheritance was received was the right course of action. Creating a donor-advised fund as a hub for family giving has provided an organized approach to their finances while offering the time they need to be intentional about their plans for future giving. It also gave them peace of mind that the “life of service” led by the Williams is still being honored into the future.
