Torch Foundation Update

The mission of the Torch Foundation is to support educational activities throughout the International Association of Torch Clubs and to develop opportunities and recognition that encourage lifelong learning, reasoned discussion, and interchange of information between Torch members.

In its simplest terms, we do that by raising money and by making grants.  The graphic below summarizes the programs and processes we have in place:

Assets & Grants
At 7/31/2019, the Foundation had assets of $188,416.  Of that total, 72% represented endowment funds, and 28% operating (spendable) funds.  Each year, up to 5% of the endowments is transferred to the operating funds, to meet the twin goals of making grants and preserving the inflation-adjusted value of the endowments.  

These assets are up 107% from the end of 2013.  And during that same time period, we gave grants of $32,724 – to support the Paxton Prize (for best paper submitted to the Torch magazine during the year), The Torch magazine, and regional and local programs and club formation.   

Your Role
You can help us do even more in the future.  Become a member today—either as an annual member for $25 or a lifetime member ($500 or 4 annual payments of $125).  Contribute to honor a fellow Torch member living or dead through our Memorial and Honor Roll programs.  Contribute to our dedicated fund to help found new Torch Clubs.  Or consider adding a bequest to the Torch Foundation to your will.  We also have brochures you can share with your club.  If you are interested, please reach out to one of the Foundations officers or trustees below—we’re from somewhere near you!  Or you can reach the President at sue.breen.held@gmail.com.

Officers Susan L Breen-Held, President, Des Moines, IA	Trustees Peter Dowling, Saratoga, NY
John Tordiff, Vice President, St. Catharines, Ontario	David Hammond, Columbus, OH
Jim Johnson, Secretary, Lincoln, NE	Edward Latimer, Columbia, SC
Shirley Eberly, Treasurer, Rochester, NY	Richard Lynch, Saratoga & Albany, NY
John Fockler, Communications Officer, Youngstown, OH	Roland Moy, Boone, NC