Scott and Julia Jones Create Charitable Endowment for PARS with SDCF

Because of the generosity of Scott and Julia Jones of Pierre, S.D., and a nonprofit savings account challenge (NSA) from the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), an endowment totaling over $100,000 was created to benefit Pierre Area Referral Services (PARS) in perpetuity. SDCF offers NSA challenges to encourage endowed giving for our state’s nonprofits. $20,000 is provided from SDCF if $80,000 is raised by the nonprofit within two years.

“PARS fills a very significant need in our community”, said Ginger Niemann, Senior Program Officer, SDCF. “The fund would not exist without the foresight and generosity of Scott and Julia. We congratulate them on helping PARS meet their challenge.”

PARS began in 1974 as a legal aid program. Since the beginning, the agency has grown in many ways and is currently administering the Food Pantry, Holiday Food Program, which had over 750 applicants last year; the Emergency Assistance Program, which kept the lights on for over 70 families last year alone; the Backpack Food Program in the Pierre and Fort Pierre elementary schools serving up to 389 children each week during the school year, and provided over 200 children with backpacks full of required school supplies.

“Receiving money from donations is never a guarantee. This endowment will allow PARS to continue to perform, even in times of uncertainty,” states Corwin Jones, PARS Executive Director. “Let’s face it, times of uncertainty are when people need us most.”

Donations to the existing Nonprofit Saving Account for Pierre Area Referral Services are invested along with other SDCF endowed funds. A percentage of the fund’s value is made available annually for their organization to distribute to support the mission of their nonprofit. As the fund grows, so will the amount available to give back to PARS. If you would like to donate to the PARS endowment, please visit https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving/support-an-existing-fund