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Kentucky man shares $500,000 nest egg
By JOHN LUCAS Courier & Press Western Kentucky bureau (270) 333-4899 or jlucas@evansville.net
November 24, 2003
STURGIS, Ky. - During their 40 years of marriage, Donan and Georgia "Jo" Jenkins worked hard to save money.
"We didn't splurge," said Jenkins, 69, who retired in May 1997 after 39 years with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We bought everything we needed, but not the pink Cadillac we might have wanted."
Between their jobs - she worked 25 years for the Selective Service System and the Army Corps of Engineers - and an after-hours business of raising and buying ginseng, they managed to put away a sizable nest egg.
And now, he's giving it away - more than $500,000.
Jenkins said they had talked about what to do with their money before his wife died in February 2002. They wanted to set something up where it would be used in perpetuity and not burned up in a year or so, he said.
There wasn't any fussing or quarreling among family members, Jenkins said, when the childless couple decided to use their money to set up scholarship programs for students graduating from Union and Crittenden County high schools and for children of Department of Fish and Wildlife employees.
Recently, Jenkins set aside $400,000 - $100,000 each for scholarships in the two counties, for children of Fish & Wildlife employees and for children of members of the Kentucky Conservation Officers Association.
Details of how the recipients will be selected are still being worked out, Jenkins said, but he plans to make the first distribution of funds next summer.
Working through a Louisville, Ky., stockbroker, Jenkins said the money has been transferred to the National Community Foundation of Brentwood, Tenn. That organization invests the money with the income to provide the scholarships.
Ideally, Jenkins said he would like to see the scholarships awarded to average students who sometimes miss out on other funding sources. Students with perfect grade-point averages will have money available, he said, and programs are in place to help the extremely indigent. He hopes the schools and the two other organizations will each select three students for the scholarships. Initially, each is expected to receive about $1,000. The amount available will increase in time, he said.
"I think it's wonderful, very generous," said Keith Omer, the assistant superintendent of Union County schools. "We definitely have students in need of help."
Omer said he was not aware of anyone who had previously left so much money for scholarships in the school district. Many civic and community organizations award scholarships, he said, but they raise money each year to fund them. This will be the only one that awards money from the earnings from a trust or foundation.
"I think it's fantastic. It just shows he's got his heart in the right place," Omer said.
"His contributions are not really surprising to anyone that knows Donan," said Col. David Casey, director of the Fish and Wildlife Department's law enforcement division. "He is a man that can always be counted on to do the right thing. He has always pushed people to be their best, and the scholarship programs that he has set up will allow students to reach their goals.
"I am proud to have worked with and to have known such a good person," Casey said. "Donan worked almost 40 years as an officer, and everyone has great respect for him. Even the people he cited will tell you he was a fair and honest person."
In addition to the scholarships, Jenkins has divided more than $100,000 of the couple's stock holdings among five Churches of Christ in Union County. Each will receive income from investments of $22,000.
"They're the ones that need it more than anyone else," he said. "Churches are not wealthy. They always need money."
He also set aside $22,000 for the Odd Fellows cemetery in Union County's Boxville community. Jenkins was raised in the Boxville community, and upon graduation in 1952 from Morganfield High School, he spent a short hitch in the Army before starting work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
By the time he retired in May 1997, he had reached the rank of captain and was law enforcement commander for the agency. His wife, Jo, was the former Georgia Travis of Marion, Ky., and a 1952 graduate of Marion High School.
By JOHN LUCAS Courier & Press Western Kentucky bureau (270) 333-4899 or jlucas@evansville.net
November 24, 2003
STURGIS, Ky. - During their 40 years of marriage, Donan and Georgia "Jo" Jenkins worked hard to save money.
"We didn't splurge," said Jenkins, 69, who retired in May 1997 after 39 years with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We bought everything we needed, but not the pink Cadillac we might have wanted."
Between their jobs - she worked 25 years for the Selective Service System and the Army Corps of Engineers - and an after-hours business of raising and buying ginseng, they managed to put away a sizable nest egg.
And now, he's giving it away - more than $500,000.
Jenkins said they had talked about what to do with their money before his wife died in February 2002. They wanted to set something up where it would be used in perpetuity and not burned up in a year or so, he said.
There wasn't any fussing or quarreling among family members, Jenkins said, when the childless couple decided to use their money to set up scholarship programs for students graduating from Union and Crittenden County high schools and for children of Department of Fish and Wildlife employees.
Recently, Jenkins set aside $400,000 - $100,000 each for scholarships in the two counties, for children of Fish & Wildlife employees and for children of members of the Kentucky Conservation Officers Association.
Details of how the recipients will be selected are still being worked out, Jenkins said, but he plans to make the first distribution of funds next summer.
Working through a Louisville, Ky., stockbroker, Jenkins said the money has been transferred to the National Community Foundation of Brentwood, Tenn. That organization invests the money with the income to provide the scholarships.
Ideally, Jenkins said he would like to see the scholarships awarded to average students who sometimes miss out on other funding sources. Students with perfect grade-point averages will have money available, he said, and programs are in place to help the extremely indigent. He hopes the schools and the two other organizations will each select three students for the scholarships. Initially, each is expected to receive about $1,000. The amount available will increase in time, he said.
"I think it's wonderful, very generous," said Keith Omer, the assistant superintendent of Union County schools. "We definitely have students in need of help."
Omer said he was not aware of anyone who had previously left so much money for scholarships in the school district. Many civic and community organizations award scholarships, he said, but they raise money each year to fund them. This will be the only one that awards money from the earnings from a trust or foundation.
"I think it's fantastic. It just shows he's got his heart in the right place," Omer said.
"His contributions are not really surprising to anyone that knows Donan," said Col. David Casey, director of the Fish and Wildlife Department's law enforcement division. "He is a man that can always be counted on to do the right thing. He has always pushed people to be their best, and the scholarship programs that he has set up will allow students to reach their goals.
"I am proud to have worked with and to have known such a good person," Casey said. "Donan worked almost 40 years as an officer, and everyone has great respect for him. Even the people he cited will tell you he was a fair and honest person."
In addition to the scholarships, Jenkins has divided more than $100,000 of the couple's stock holdings among five Churches of Christ in Union County. Each will receive income from investments of $22,000.
"They're the ones that need it more than anyone else," he said. "Churches are not wealthy. They always need money."
He also set aside $22,000 for the Odd Fellows cemetery in Union County's Boxville community. Jenkins was raised in the Boxville community, and upon graduation in 1952 from Morganfield High School, he spent a short hitch in the Army before starting work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
By the time he retired in May 1997, he had reached the rank of captain and was law enforcement commander for the agency. His wife, Jo, was the former Georgia Travis of Marion, Ky., and a 1952 graduate of Marion High School.
