Celebrating milestones: Alderdice Family Fund is giving as the gift

Jennifer and Patrick Alderdice and their daughter Emily love celebrations — birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions... and now, any occasion they celebrate also means a nonprofit organization will have a reason to celebrate, too!

“When I turned 50 this year, I said ‘no gifts but you can make a donation to any of my favorite charities!’” said Jennifer. “When Patrick and I celebrate our wedding anniversary, I love to make a gift to an organization that will help others like Just Food or Family Promise. Emily gets to pick any charity of her choice to celebrate her birthday or special events. She loves animals, so the Lawrence Humane Society is a great organization to support.”

Patrick and Jennifer also regularly support educational causes with donor-advised fund grants by giving back to their alma maters, from elementary school all the way through their graduate school experiences. “I am a proud West Warhawk and Lawrence High Lion. Supporting the Lawrence Schools Foundation has been a way for me to show my appreciation for all that these schools have done for me. Now our daughter is reaping the benefits, too,” Jennifer said.

“I love the feeling of supporting our community through the good work of Douglas County Community Foundation. It’s a combination of awareness and compassion that allows this community to help one another through DCCF.”