Powerful U.S. Sen. Richard Burr talks about the importance of volunteerism at Kernersville Foundation's annual meeting By KristenJohnson - Staff Reporter - 5/8/07

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr paused for a moment and looked out at the almost 400 people gathered in the sanctuary at First Christian Church on Monday morning.

"How many times have we heard about something good that was happening and been excited about it - until we find out how we plug into it?" he asked. "We're all for a lot of things, but we're just not for starting them today. But if we don't step up to the plate right now - if we don't volunteer and give of our time and money to help those less fortunate - when will we ever find the time?"

Burr was the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Kernersville Foundation. During his remarks, Burr cited Friday's storm in Greensburg, Kansas, where tornadoes carved a path more than a mile wide, leveled most of the community and killed nine people.

"I got to Kansas and saw how the entire town was decimated," he said. "There were hundreds of people downtown and many of them were rescue personnel from other states. I saw people in the rain holding five-gallon buckets full of bricks and other debris. They were carrying those buckets away and refilling them as fast as they could because they weren't sure whether or not there were survivors in the rubble.

"I realized then that community is more than bricks and mortar. It's more than buildings and infrastructure. Look at Kernersville. You're not the biggest or the oldest. You're sandwiched between two giants. But the Kernersville community has never forgotten that it is the individual who must take the lead. Every morning when you brush your teeth and you're looking in the mirror, you're looking back at the person who can effect the most change."

Burr commended the Kernersville Foundation's efforts and acknowledged "the foresight of the Kernersville Rotary Club in forming the Kernersville Foundation."

"This is a wonderful thing to have in a community," Burr said. "The Kernersville community has clearly stepped up to the plate and is taking steps to make this community a better place.

"But I challenge all of you. You can do better. Now is the opportunity. You've seen the faces and you've heard the names of the people this money is going to help. You ought to all donate to this foundation because with your money, you can touch a future generation."
During the annual meeting, the Kernersville Foundation awarded grants to 12 local non-profit organizations. They were Crisis Control Ministry, Paul J.Ciener Botanical Garden, Friends of the Paddison Memorial Library, Kernersville Cares for Kids, Kernersville Christmas Stocking, Kernersville Downtown Preservation and Development Council, Kernersville Family YMCA, Kernersville Little Theatre, Korner's Folly Foundation, the Lamb Foundation, Next Step Ministries and the Shepherd's Center of Kernersville.
"In our brief history, we have distributed more than $262,000 in grant money," Kernersville Foundation President Arnold King said. "That's still modest by way of community foundations, but we we're gaining traction. I really don't think it's possible to thank these organizations enough for the work they do in this community."

In 2006, King said, the Kernersville Foundation awarded $49,675 in grants.

Members of the Kernersville Foundation Executive Committee - Vice President Jim Bland, Secretary Kevin Bugg, and Treasurer Darrell Walker - awarded the grants to representatives from each organization.

Almost 400 people attended Monday's meeting, which was held in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club of Kernersville, the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Kernersville.

The Kernersville Foundation was founded in March 1999. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that enables donors to support multiple Kernersville Foundation charities of their choice through a single fund by designating which organization(s) will be the recipient of their contribution. The Kernersville Foundation also enables contributors to designate what type of fund is to be established whether it be a permanent fund, a non-endowed fund, a scholarship fund or others.

The Foundation's purpose is to "maximize financial assistance to non-profit organizations that are essential to the Kernersville community." All contributions to the Kernersville Foundation are tax-deductible.

Part of the proceeds from Spring Folly go to the Kernersville Foundation along with all of the money raised at Summerfest.
This year's Summerfest is scheduled for June 22 and 23 at Kernersville Elementary School. Admission is free. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy performances by the Band of Oz on Friday night and by The Embers, Lia & The Wave, and the Part-Time Party-Time Band on Saturday. Summerfest will also include a classic car show, a fireworks display, a Kid's Day Health Fair, a petting zoo, arts and crafts vendors, food and pony rides.

For more information about the Kernersville Foundation visit the Web site:
www.kernersvillefoundation.org.

The Kernersville Foundation
P. O. Box 525
Kernersville, NC 27285-525