For 35 years, the Burman J. Misenar Fund has served as a steady, flexible source of support for local programs and nonprofits, leaving a lasting impact across the county.

Established in 1996 by Mary Jane Misenar in memory of her husband, the fund was built on a simple but powerful idea: that unrestricted giving can meet needs as they arise, without the limitations often tied to designated donations. Misenar, a former teacher and lifelong reader, understood that communities are dynamic and that the most meaningful support is often the kind that allows organizations to respond in real time.

“Unrestricted bequests and estate gifts are the most powerful type of giving,” said Randy Maiers, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “They allow us to be flexible and adapt how we use the fund as times and circumstances change,” he added.

Mary Jane’s commitment did not end with the fund’s creation. Although her first gift was just $7,500 in March of 1996, she continued to nurture and grow it for 15 years, up until her death in 2011. Today, the fund has grown to more than $221,000, a testament to both her foresight and the enduring value of her approach to philanthropy.

Over the years, the Burman J. Misenar Fund has awarded more than $88,000 to a wide range of initiatives. Its impact can be seen in local classrooms, where literacy programs have helped students build critical reading skills – an especially fitting legacy given Misenar’s career in education and her passion for books – and at many nonprofit fundraising events benefiting organizations such as Blue Water Safe Horizons, Mid City Nutrition, CAN Council, Hunter Hospitality House and SONS.

The fund has contributed to cultural efforts such as Black history banners and helped bolster local museums, connected people to basic needs services at the Community Resource Fair, and during the holiday season it has also played a role in programs like Christmas with a Cop and gifts for former foster kids.

“Our unrestricted assets are really what has enabled the Community Foundation to make such an impact over the years,” added Maiers. “We can’t predict the future, and Mary Jane Misenar knew that.”

Three and a half decades after its founding, the Burman J. Misenar Fund remains a quiet but vital force – one shaped by a belief that generosity, when given freely and thoughtfully, can ripple outward in ways both immediate and enduring.

If you or your family are interested in a confidential conversation about creating your own unrestricted legacy, Jackie Hanton, Vice President at the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, would be happy to connect. Jackie can reached at jackie@stclairfoundation.org or 810-984-4761.