Nonprofit Community Foundation Enjoys Record-Setting Year

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis announced record numbers for fiscal year 2016 at its annual meeting recently at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

During fiscal 2016, which closed at the end of April, $195.2 million in new gifts were given to the Community Foundation. The agency granted $143.4 million to nonprofits, compared to $114.2 million in fiscal year 2015. Of the grants coming out of the Community Foundation, 84 percent stay local.

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is the largest grant maker, public or private, in the Memphis area, according to its president Robert Fockler. The Grantsmanship Center reports that, based on the most recent numbers available, it is the top giving foundation in the state of Tennessee.

“Once again, the efforts of our donors have made the Community Foundation the largest grant maker in our region,” Fockler said. “But that is precisely the power of a community foundation – to build charitable wealth in our community, not through a few wealthy families or corporations, but through the collective action of hundreds of individuals, families, corporations and organizations.”

Founded in 1969, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is a collection of more than 900 charitable funds established by individuals, families and organizations. Donors are able to maximize charitable gifts during their lifetimes and provide perpetual gifts through endowments. Other milestones from fiscal 2016 include: 46 new funds totaling $6.9 million; 6,433 grants to 1,848 different nonprofit organizations; 25.6 percent increase in grants over fiscal 2015 (to $143.4 million); and 61.7 percent increase in grants over the past two years.

Donor-advised funds are set up by individuals, families and organizations and managed by the Community Foundation. The donor decides how to allocate the funds; the Community Foundation is the vehicle for distribution.

– Don Wade

Gibbons to Lead New U of M Institute

The day after announcing his resignation as Tennessee Commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security, the University of Memphis and the Memphis-Shelby Crime Commission announced Bill Gibbons will become president of the crime commission and lead a new Public Safety Institute.

The institute at the University of Memphis is a partnership with the crime commission.

Gibbons’ resignation from the cabinet of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is effective at the end of August.

Gibbons is a former Shelby County District Attorney General, Memphis City Council member and Shelby County Commissioner.

During his tenure as Safety Commissioners, starting in 2011, Gibbons maintained a role in Operation: Safe Community.

The coalition of local law enforcement and criminal justice system leaders oversees a crime fighting strategy begun in 2006 that targets police resources based on statistical crime hot spots.

That strategy, including the Blue CRUSH model of police response, relied heavily on the work of now retired University of Memphis professor and criminologist Richard Janikowski.

University president David Rudd said the already close working relationship with the University’s Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice was a factor in the formation of the Institute.

“The U of M has a strong history of research using technology and analytics to pioneer new ways to prevent and solve crime,” Rudd said in a written statement. “This is an important step in advancing the growth and development of our community.”

Operation: Safe Community and the crime commission are now working on a follow-up to the 2006 plan.

– Bill Dries

InnerWorkings Returns as FedEx St. Jude Classic Pro-Am Sponsor

InnerWorkings Inc., a global marketing execution firm, has renewed its support of the FedEx St. Jude Classic and will sponsor the premier Pro-Am event held prior to PGA Tour competition. The InnerWorkings Pro-Am will be played Wednesday, June 8, at TPC Southwind, and will feature many of the best players in the world playing alongside company representatives from around the globe.

“Having InnerWorkings return as title sponsor of our Wednesday Pro-Am solidifies their commitment to not only this event, but to the children of St. Jude,” said Darrell Smith, FESJC tournament director.

The 59th FedEx St. Jude Classic will be played June 6-12 at TPC Southwind. Defending champion Fabian Gomez returns in pursuit of another Seersucker jacket.

The FedEx St. Jude Classic is produced annually by Youth Programs Inc., a 501c (3) organization established in 1960 to host Memphis’ official PGA Tour event. More than 1,850 volunteers contribute approximately 25,000 hours each year. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has received more than $33 million as a direct result of its association with professional golf.

For a full list of tournament offerings, including Island Club, MasterCard Best Seats in the House and Fan Pack, visit stjudeclassic.com/tickets.

– Don Wade

Land Sold for Kroger-Anchored Arlington Strip

Arlington’s upcoming shopping center at the southwest corner of Airline Road and Milton Wilson Boulevard is moving forward.

On May 6, Shop Development Co., acting as Arlington TN Ventures LP, purchased a 22.8-acre parcel. John Hyneman sold the vacant land for $3.6 million.

Also on May 6, Arlington TN Ventures LP sold a 16-acre parcel to Kroger Limited Partnership I for $2.5 million.

Daniel Fuller, founding partner of Shop Development Co., signed as manager of Arlington TN Ventures LP.

In April, Shop Development Co. filed a $1.2 million building permit for the shopping center. The permit application lists the project as “new commercial retail shell building at The Shops.” Texas-based Shop Cos. is listed as the owner and tenant.

The Shops at Arlington Village, located at 5224 Airline Road, will be anchored by Kroger. Other confirmed tenants include a Supercuts and a gas station, according to the Shop Companies’ website. Other deals are in process with UPS, GNC, Starbucks, Wendy’s and an unnamed urgent care facility.

– Madeline Faber

Campbell Clinic Hosting Total Joint Replacement Seminar

Campbell Clinic is hosting a Total Joint Replacement seminar next month in Germantown.

The June 16 event, at the Great Hall & Conference Center at 1900 S. Germantown Road, will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Attendees will hear from Campbell surgeons Dr. Anthony Mascioli and Dr. Patrick Toy about Campbell’s same-day outpatient joint replacement procedures.

Through that same-day procedure, Campbell Clinic is working to redefine the joint replacement experience, the goal of which is to ease pain and restore motion to hips, knees and shoulders that are experiencing wear and tear caused by age, activity and injury.

– Andy Meek