Inclusion is the defining word for the Leonhardt Foundation making it an ideal fit to be part of the foundations’ funding and community support platform.
“Many scholarships are for scholastics only,” says Mark Leonhardt, spokesperson and director for the family endowment fund. “We are a family of varied talents with many career choices so when we started the foundation with the purpose of giving scholarships, we wanted our program to reflect our family and go ‘outside the box’ when supporting our youth in their career path,” he explains. The family felt strongly that there are many students pursuing many different endeavors that are deserving of financial support based on skill and ability and not limited to grades.
Ernie Leonhardt, the patriarch of the family, arrived in Plumas County in the 1930s and had five sons and one daughter. It is for this reason Mark says you can’t go anywhere in the county and someone not know or be related to a Leonhardt. It is also a big part of the reason for starting the family fund. “The area has been good to our family with over 200+ of us living here so it was important for the family to give back and continue to help Plumas County prosper,” he adds. They feel the model they have developed for their scholarship program offering support to varied careers; and whether one goes to a trade school or university; contributes to many of the students who are recipients continuing their education and returning to the county.
The Leonhardt Family Endowment Scholarship program began in 2005. Each June there are up to 20 students from Quincy High School who receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $750 to assist them in their pursuit. “We have supported budding artists, scientist, dancers, doctors, entrepreneurs to trade options such as mechanics, welding, carpentry and more for which the foundation recognizes, supports and encourages. We say go for your dream!”
All the funds have been contributions from family members. “We do not solicit funds from the community. The family keeping the foundation operable is our commitment to Plumas County and though we do not ‘demand’ a cousin or sibling give, it seems the model we have developed works.” Since founding, the foundation has given over $$$ to students.
“The Almanor Foundation’s platform for an endowment fund is management of funds,” explains Julie Childers, treasurer of the foundation. “We do not raise monies, but rather the family donors make contributions, while the foundation oversees the investment and award scholarships determined by the donors. The intention of creating an endowment fund is to provide long-term, sustainable support by preserving the principal amount and ultimately using the income for scholarship awards.”
We welcome the Leonhardt Family Endowment Fund, applaud their wonderful work in Plumas County and appreciate their trust in TAF to help them continue for years to come.
