For the past several years, the Cory McInnis Compassion in Education Fund has been an integral part of the grant awards given by the High Point Community Foundation. Before the fund came to fruition, the McInnis family was looking for a way to honor the memory of their beloved son. Eventually, they decided to establish a donor advised fund, which would allow them to keep Cory’s legacy alive while affecting positive change in a community they love.

“Cory was a funny, easy-going young man who faced a tremendous challenge dealing with the debilitating symptoms of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, and yet, he never complained about his situation. This illness, which ultimately confined him to a wheelchair, did not deter him. He loved being with his friends in the public school system and despite his limitations, he always wanted to be independent. Cory brought out the best in the people around him and, in return, all of his peers looked after him. The schools did so much to help him have a good experience that we wanted to find a way to give back.

 

“We set up a donor advised fund at the foundation because of the flexibility it offered. The goal of the fund is to support High Point schools. We have some of the poorest schools in the country and we’ve got some that don’t even have a PTA. We thought it would help enhance the lives of those less fortunate and have been pleased with the variety of needs that have been met through the fund. There will always be a need for this fund and thanks to the way it’s set up, no one will ever forget who Cory was.

“Our experience with our donor advised fund has been, in a word, wonderful. We don’t have to worry about anything. The Grants Committee always does a fine job of assigning the money where it needs to go. This will last forever. We feel comfortable with the way every penny has been used and it has been fun to sit back and watch it happen. I recommend this to anyone who has a specific interest or love for a cause and wants to give over time while having someone else manage the money and process. The leadership is great and there are plenty of options to meet your needs. Nowhere else can you find this option. The High Point Community Foundation is the perfect vehicle for our family.”

Jane McInnis, mom