Endowment
The Hyde Park United Methodist Permanent Endowment Fund was established in 1994 to provide a vehicle by which church members may provide permanent, financial gifts that will help support the future ministry of the church.
The money you give is held in perpetuity, with just the interest spent on church ministries. This ensures each gift makes a lasting contribution, allowing the church to continue its ministry even in difficult economic times, and provides for the long-term future of the church.
An endowment gift may be made at any time, and is frequently made in honor or memory of an individual or as part of an estate plan.
You may designate a gift to one of the below existing Endowment funds. (If the donation is to honor or commemorate special persons or events, acknowledgments are mailed to both donors and honorees. Anonymous gifts are also accepted.)
Endowment donations may include cash, publicly-traded securities, closely-held securities, real property, tangible personal property, other property, bequests (wills), charitable remainder trusts, life estate gifts, life insurance, individual retirement accounts, gift annuities, and retirement plans.
A new fund may be named in memory or in honor of a designate with a contribution of $25,000 or more. Please contact Meagan Kempton at 813.253.5388.
Existing Endowment Funds:
General Fund
Supports ongoing ministry needs as determined by the elected church leadership, and includes the Youth Endowment, Charlotte Nicholas Lehnherr Children’s Ministry Fund, James L. and Martha S. Ferman Special Ministries Fund, Richard C. Langford Legacy Fund, Facilities Fund and Houlihan Building Fund.
Youth Endowment
A church member created this Endowment in July 2006, to help with Youth Ministries’ special needs beyond the annual operating budget.
James L. and Martha S. Ferman Special Ministries Fund
Created in 2012 with gratitude for the Fermans’ lifelong interest in music and education, and to be used for musical concerts, guest artists, lectures or special ministry programs.
Facilities Fund and the Houlihan Building Fund
Maintains, cares for, improves, and constructs physical facilities, furnishings and equipment, including the purchase of additional property. Initially funded by a bequest from Henry Butler – a long-time member and builder who assisted in maintenance of the buildings –and includes the Houlihan Building Fund.
The Houlihan Building Fund was created in memory of church member Frank Houlihan in August 2005, for the maintenance, care, improvement and construction of physical facilities.
Hale Youth & Children Fund
This fund was created in December 2019 by Brad Hale in honor of Rick and Linda Hale and their service to education and to making a difference in the lives of children and youth. Distributions from the fund shall provide financial support to youth and children’s ministries of Hyde Park United Methodist in the name of Rick and Linda Hale.
Richard C. Langford Legacy Fund
Created by his family in 2015, in memory of Richard C. Langford, to be used for faith development in children, youth and adults.
Charlotte Nicholas Lehnherr Children’s Ministry Fund
Created in 2011 by Charlotte Lehnherr–in memory of her mother and sister–to provide support for our mission of “Making God’s Love Real” in the lives of children in our congregation and our community.
Outreach and Missions Endowment Fund
Income for this fund provides for community outreach and missions in the local church, community and the world.
Scholarship Funds
- Provide educational aid to congregation members and friends, and were initiated by the bequest of a church member who taught school. These funds include the:
- Vee Choate Educational Fund—Created in memory of church member Vee Choate in September 2003, for scholarships for individuals preparing for full-time Christian ministry.
- Dorothy Ebersbach Scholarship Fund—Created in 2012 by a bequest from our longtime member Dorothy Ebersbach, for higher education educational assistance for individuals who have been active at Hyde Park and who demonstrate financial need.
- Dorothy Ebersbach Ministerial Scholarship Fund—Created in 2012 by a bequest from our longtime member Dorothy Ebersbach, for scholarships or ministerial internships at Hyde Park for persons preparing for ministry within the United Methodist Church.
- Jim Harnish Ministerial Scholarship Fund—Created on Jim’s 11th anniversary as Senior Pastor in September 2004, for scholarships for United Methodist seminary students.
- Totten Scholarship Fund—This fund was created in June 2017 by Cindy Lieving in memory of her deceased husband, Tim Totten. Distributions from the fund are to be used for youth who are members of Hyde Park United Methodist who are pursuing an undergraduate degree, either an Associate’s degree from a community college or a Bachelor’s degree from a 4-year university or college.