As 2024 comes to a close, many people reflect on the impact they’ve made throughout the year. Charitable donations not only help those in need or enhance the quality of life for a community – they also offer personal fulfillment and financial benefits. Supporting initiatives like those funded by the Butterfield Trail Village Foundation is a personal way to express gratitude and pay it forward.
Benefits of Charitable Giving
Giving back is more than just a kind gesture; it’s a way to create a lasting legacy. Providing resources to organizations and causes of personal importance offers the satisfaction of helping to shape a better future for generations to come and the sense of fulfillment that comes from contributing to something greater than self. Studies even show charitable giving can reduce stress and boost happiness – proving kindness is indeed good for the soul!
For seniors, charitable giving can also be a way to foster a sense of connection to the community. It builds bonds with like-minded individuals who share similar values and goals. And from a practical standpoint, many donations are tax-deductible, making year-end gifts a smart financial choice.
Donations to the Butterfield Trail Village Foundation Make a Meaningful Difference
The Butterfield Trail Village Foundation was established in 2012 by Truman and Sylvia Yancey as a trust to enhance the quality of life for residents. As a 501(c)(3) supporting organization, the Foundation ensures all contributions directly benefit Village residents and staff.
Since 2014, the Foundation has funded over $550,000 in projects that have tangibly impacted the community. Contributions have supported initiatives ranging from major landscaping, art installations, a grand piano and stage lighting for the Performance Hall – to the David Lashley Boardroom, a front security gate, the chapel, fitness and healthcare equipment, and more. A generous $250,000 planned gift helped fund the renovation of the Special Care Center completed in 2024, improving services for residents with cognitive disorders. And, the next major project will be the installation of noise-absorbing panels to improve sound quality in the BTV Dining Room. Regardless of size, each gift has helped enhance the everyday lives of residents, proving every donation can have a far-reaching effect.
How to Support the Butterfield Trail Village Foundation
The BTV Foundation offers several ways to give, ensuring contributions align with donors’ charitable goals:
- Cash Donations: Simple and direct, cash gifts are the easiest way to support the Foundation’s various initiatives, providing immediate benefit to chosen funds.
- Stock and Security Gifts: Donating appreciated stocks or securities can have a significant impact while offering tax advantages, like potentially avoiding capital gains taxes.
- Planned Gifts: Donors can include the Foundation in their long-term financial planning through charitable trusts, gift annuities or bequests, ensuring their legacy continues.
- Endowments: By creating or contributing to an endowment, donors help provide long-term stability for initiatives they care about – now and well into the future.
The Butterfield Trail Village Foundation distributes donations into designated funds, each established to enhance the lives of residents and assist with specific employee needs:
- Beautification Fund: Finances improvements to the campus grounds.
- Birds & Wildlife Fund: Nurtures and cares for birds and wildlife located on Butterfield’s 44-acre campus.
- Chapel Fund: Helps maintain and furnish a space dedicated to prayer, meditation and remembrance.
- Employee Care Fund: Provides critical financial support to employees facing unexpected hardships during times of need.
- Employee Scholarship Fund: Supports relevant BTV staff education and training.
- Gardens Fund and Butterfly Garden Fund: Supports campus gardens and courtyard projects.
- Health Care Center Fund and Special Care Center Fund: Focuses on resident well-being by supporting a high-quality healthcare environment and medical equipment.
- Library Fund: Keeps the campus library collection dynamic and current.
- Music & Performance Fund: Brings entertainment and cultural enrichment to Butterfield, fostering a vibrant arts and lifelong learning environment.
- Recycle Fund: Provides resources to support resident-managed recycling and sustainability efforts.
- Unrestricted Gifts: Allows donations to be directed by the Foundation to where the need is greatest.
If you have questions or wish to make a donation, please contact BTV CFO Kim Moore at kmoore@btvillage.org or mail donations to her attention at Butterfield Trail Village, 1923 E. Joyce Boulevard, Fayetteville, AR 72703. Secure online giving is also available by clicking this link. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
