Rock Island Community Foundation receives $2.1 million bequest

ROCK ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECEIVES $2.1 MILLION GIFT

The Rock Island Community Foundation and the Rosemary Woodward Trust are pleased to announce the receipt by the Community Foundation of a $2.1 Million gift to the Foundation from the Trust.

Rosemary Woodward was a longtime resident of Rock Island who gave generously of her time and resources to make her community a better place. Born in November 1925 in Appleton, Wisconsin, she married Keith Woodward in 1965.

Educated as a nurse, she worked for many years as private duty nurse, and at St. Luke’s Hospital, and was also employed as a school nurse for many years in the Quad Cities. For over 43 years she volunteered her services to the Red Cross, helping those facing adversity.Rosemary also loved traveling the world, including trips to Europe, the Middle East and China. While in China, she for a time taught conversational English through the organization, Global Volunteers.

Her great interest in gardening and history led her to service as a long-time member of the Quad City Botanical Center, as well as an active gardener at her home in Rock Island. She also was a member of the Rock Island County Historical Society.

Her deep love of community was reflected by the generous gifts she extended both during her lifetime and upon her passing to many charitable organizations. She had a special place in her heart for organizations based within the City of Rock Island.

As a result, she generously directed the residue of her Estate to the Rock Island Community Foundation, to help fund in perpetuity several organizations based in Rock Island which enrich the community's quality of life. The Fund at the Rock Island Community Foundation will be designated as the Keith and Rosemary Woodward Charitable Fund.

This Fund will be administered through the Foundation, whose Board of Directors will be responsible for allocating grants for the benefit of the organizations specified in Rosemary's Trust: the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department, the Quad City Botanical Center, Niabi Zoo, the YWCA of the Quad Cities, the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation, Christian Family Care, Trinity Visiting Nurse and Homemaker Association, and the Rock Island Library Foundation. Each of these organizations will be invited to submit grant requests annually for specific programs or projects that offer benefit to the community.

In keeping with the terms of Rosemary's Trust, awarding of grants will give consideration both to the projected benefits of proposed program or project to the community, as well as to the level of support from other sources within the community.

It is anticipated the annual grants from the Keith and Rosemary Woodward Charitable Foundation will ensure that the good works and good will of Rosemary will live on indefinitely to the benefit of her hometown,

“This is a great day for philanthropy in Rock Island,” said Gary Rowe, Executive Director of the Foundation. “Mrs. Woodward’s generosity will benefit our community for many years to come. We encourage others to follow the example of Rosemary Woodward in perpetuating the good work of nonprofit organizations that serve Rock Island citizens.”

The Rock Island Community Foundation was founded in 1967 by eight civic leaders to “promote the civic needs and general welfare of the City of Rock Island.”The Rock Island Community Foundation total assets are nearly $4 million with the addition of the Woodwards gift. The Foundation has provided more than $1.9 million in grants to 208 nonprofit organizations. Grants decisions are made by a nine-member board of Rock Island citizens who serve without compensation.

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