Category Archives: Philanthropy

Malzahn Family Fund Awards $182,000 to Perry-area Nonprofits

Community, Donors, Grants, Philanthropy

The trustees of the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation are pouring more financial support into the Noble County community, even in the face of a tough economic year. A total of $182,000 was recently awarded to nine Noble County nonprofits and civic organizations, and another $65,000 in scholarships is now available to Noble County graduating high school seniors.  

Students must submit applications online for the two Malzahn Family Fund scholarship opportunities no later than Mar. 1, 2021. Opportunities include an award up to $5,000 available to high school seniors graduating from Perry, Morrison, Frontier and Billings high schools who plan to enroll in undergraduate studies, and an award up to $3,000 available to graduates or high school seniors graduating from Perry, Morrison, Frontier and Billings high schools who attend or plan to attend a vocational technical school. Interested applicants can learn more at occf.academicworks.com and search by keyword: Noble.

Late Perry residents and Ditch Witch founders Ed and Mary Malzahn established the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in 1992 to support their community in perpetuity. Since its establishment, the fund has awarded more than $4.3 million to Noble County nonprofits. In 2019, the family expanded their impact with two scholarship funds supporting students pursuing higher education.

“Not only were Ed and Mary known for their generosity, but they partnered with the community to create impact where it was truly needed,” said Oklahoma City Community Foundation president Nancy Anthony. “Through the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund, they found a way to continue to support Perry and the surrounding community for a long time.”

Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund grants were awarded to the following organizations:

  • Cherokee Strip Historical Society | $8,150 to support tree trimming services.
  • Christ Lutheran Church | $11,000 to purchase new playground equipment at the learning center.
  • City of Perry | $3,000 to support the Senior Citizen Center and $37,000 to enhance communication options within the Perry community through a partnership with Chisholm Broadband.
  • Noble County Family YMCA | $39,750 for the development of a collective impact model supporting childcare in Noble County.
  • Oklahoma Lions Service Foundation | $50,000 to support the addition of a splash pad at Lion’s Park.
  • Operation Blessing | $6,700 to purchase a new air conditioning unit.
  • Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation | $15,000 to purchase two new emergency room beds.
  • United Fund of Perry | $10,000 to support their annual fundraising drive.
  • Wheatheart Nutrition Project | $1,500 to support an entertainment and socialization program for Perry seniors.

The Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund invites Perry and Noble County education, civic and charitable organizations to apply for grants quarterly. Interested organizations should email malzahnfamilyfund@occf.org for answers to grant application questions.  

This is the Time of Year to Think About Your Year-End Giving. Here are Some Things to Consider to Create an Impact Within Your Community.

Community, Donors, Philanthropy, Professional Advisors
People at a meeting table
Joe Carter meeting with the Payne family.

2020 has been a trying year, but with the holiday season nearly upon us, giving back becomes front-of-mind for many, and in this unprecedented year, that support is needed more than ever.

A few things we have for you to remember – First visit with those organizations you wish to support to better understand the impact your gift will make if you decide to make a year-end gift. Second, meet with your financial advisor to better understand what assets would make the best gifts and what tax benefits have changed in 2020. For cash gifts in 2020 you can receive a charitable deduction up to 100% of your adjusted gross income. Appreciated stocks, bonds, mutual funds, property and even cash gifts have the potential for greater charitable deductions in 2020.

In addition, individuals age 70.5 and older with a traditional IRA have historically had the opportunity to roll their required minimum distribution directly to a charity without reporting it as income. For 2020, the age was raised to 72 with no mandatory distribution requirement. However, you can still take advantage of the rollover at age 70.5 for charitable gifts.

At the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, our expert staff and many charitable tools can help you make a charitable impact. With 365 charitable organization endowment funds, hundreds of scholarships and the ability to create a donor advised fund or legacy gift, we are prepared to help you make a difference in the community. In addition, GiveSmartOKC.org, our online date hub, donors can discover more than 300 central Oklahoma charities, their programs and how they benefit the community to make informed decisions.

By working with the donor services team at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, you can be sure you can make decisions about the local nonprofit organizations you wish to support and what your impact will have on the community.

If you would like more information on how you can make a greater impact in your community through year-end gifts, call Joe Carter at 405-235-5603, or visit OCCF.org today.