Insights foundation director BILL ROYER AND BRENDA REAU WERE TWO OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION AND HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SHARE SOME INSIGHTS ABOUT THEIR WORK WITH THE UNITED SUFFOLK SHEEP FOUNDATION. AS THE PERSON WHO WAS THE LEADER IN STARTING THE FOUNDATION, TELL US ABOUT WHY YOU STARTED THE FOUNDATION.
into the foundation: restricted and unrestricted. An example of a restricted contribution is money that is donated for the specific purposes of scholarships. We must use those contributions to fund scholarships exclusively. Unrestricted contributions allow the board to allocate those funds to developing programs that fit within the foundation goals of education, youth development, and research. HOW DO YOU THINK THE FOUNDATION HAS BENEFITED THE SUFFOLK BREED? BRENDA: The foundation has collaborated with USSA in creating excitement around the Suffolk breed. There has been a resurgence of interest in the breed, with many new families coming into the breed in the last few years. The Ewe Grant Program is introducing new youth to Suffolks. The Suffolk Event we support is an outstanding educational opportunity, and builds a sense of community around our breed. Our scholarship program has expanded significantly, helping Suffolk youth to achieve their educational goals. There is no other breed of sheep that offers the opportunities to youth that we do. We are investing in the breed and its people, and we are seeing results! BILL: I feel like the foundation has benefited the Suffolk breed in many ways, and we have only begun. We are providing significant scholarships to many of the young Suffolk individuals that will likely be our leaders of the future. We have also provided a great program to get young people started in the Suffolk breed. The foundation looks at the entire Suffolk breed without preference for any particular type of Suffolk. The foundation is also supporting the Suffolk Event which provides education for people who may have been in the Suffolk breed for several years, but would like to have more knowledge. Again, the foundation has only begun. We will have even more positive influence on the Suffolk breed as we move forward. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAM THAT THE FOUNDATION HAS SUPPORTED? BILL: My favorite program of the Suffolk foundation is for sure the scholarship programs we have developed. I chose to get personally involved in this early and to particularly support young people from the three Midwest states that I have been involved with. Those being Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois. I would encourage everyone to look at how you would like to support the Suffolk breed. Get involved through the Foundation, which can make your contributions tax deductible and help manage the influence you want to have. No contribution is too small. Brenda: My favorite program that the foundation has supported is the Suffolk Event. Providing a significant sponsorship allocation to the Suffolk Event has allowed USSA to keep the registration fee they charge to a more affordable level. It costs money to provide this high-quality weekend for attendees. The foundation also recognizes the economic challenges young producers face and provides special grants to help young producers attend. With education being one of our goals, this weekend program is an excellent fit for our mission. Last year, the Suffolk Event brought together the largest group of Suffolk breeders together that I have seen in over 20 years.
BILL: I was fortunate to have been a member of a team that set up a foundation for our local county 4-H program. I was able to see how this strengthened the 4-H program and provided funds that were not previously available. With this knowledge, I investigated the Angus and the Hereford cattle breeds to learn what they had been able
to do in establishment of a foundation. I was amazed at the success they had each accomplished and found them to be quite helpful in counseling us. We very much used the programs of these two organizations and their guidance as we established the Suffolk Foundation.
THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDATION, YOU’RE FORTUNATE IN HAVING EMPLOYER MATCHED SUPPORT. CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW THIS WORKS? BILL: I was very fortunate to have had a great career with Caterpillar. This company strives to support charities and communities that their employees are a part of. Each year Caterpillar will match my contributions to any charity that I contribute to. There is an annual max, but it is quite generous. This has provided funds for the Suffolk Foundation to match those that I provide for a scholarship fund. While the contribution from Caterpillar can be used by the foundation for any purpose, it is quite helpful in funding the work of the Suffolk Foundation. I urge anyone reading this to check with your employer and see if they provide a match to charitable giving. If they do, you can double the benefits, when you give to the Suffolk Foundation. Why have you chosen to devote your time and talents to the Foundation? BRENDA: I have raised Suffolks for 44 years and love the Suffolk breed. I want to support and strengthen the breed and its position in the sheep industry. The foundation is an avenue to accomplish this goal. By supporting the breed and its people, we can continue to grow the Suffolk breed. Now that I am retired from my professional career, I have the opportunity to focus my organizational and communication skills to benefit the Suffolk breed. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE FACED WITH THE FOUNDATION? BRENDA: The biggest challenge we have faced is recognizing who we are, what we do, and why people should support us. Marketing the concept of the foundation has been challenging since we are still a new entity.
We started with a very meager budget in the foundation’s early years, which limited what we could do. We are now in a growth period with additional resources coming in, and we can do so much more. With the increase in the programs we offer and the more lives we touch, I am hopeful that recognition of the foundation will grow and that contributions will follow. I think there are a lot of Suffolk folks who are passionate about the breed, and I am hopeful they will want to invest in the foundation for the future of the breed. HOW ARE FOUNDATION PROGRAMS DEVELOPED?
BRENDA: Programs are developed by assessing the needs we see in the breed, and we also must consider the available funds. Two types of contributions come
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