Endowment information & Application
A Note about the First UMC Permanent endowment Trust
The Endowment Fund was established through a $1.6 million bequest from the estate of Mr. Robert Nye Holmes, widower of Sally Sitton Holmes, and son of the late Rev. Parker and Alice Dwiggins Holmes. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Forest City where his father was pastor from 1920-1924.
Robert Holmes went to New York in the 1930’s where he held jobs with the Social Security Administration, Canada Dry Corporation, and Lassiter, publisher of tax guides. Also, he served as administrator for a law firm.
Robert returned to Forest City in 1958, living here until moving to Clemson in the early 1980’s. He died in Clemson in 1991.
The establishment of the Endowment Fund was announced in 1992 upon completion of estate paperwork and after the value of the gift could be determined.
criteria for consideration
The criteria used for the distribution of the Endowment are in the areas of:
(1) Mission, (2) Programming,
and (3) Building.
These are identified as “Internal” or “External.”
Internal includes: building teams, scholarships, programming needs, building expansion, etc.
External includes: outside missions such as Thui Rancho; social missions such as Yokefellow, Chase Corner Ministry, the Community Clinic, and other local mission/non-profit organizations.
Approximately $100,000 is distributed annually.
members of the Endowment committee:
Chairperson…..Marc Duncan
Finance Chairperson…..Scott Webber
Trustee Chairperson…..Matt Brown
Lay Leader…..Sharon Shipley
Endowment IRC Rep…..David Eaker
Treasurer (non-voting)…..Rachel Crosswhite
Class of 2026
Michelle Smith, Marc Duncan
Class of 2027
Lea Danner, Parker Tate
Class of 2028
Jeff Flack, Susan Taunton