At SignatureFD, GIVE is one of the four investment pillars we’ve identified that help us approach wealth management from a holistic perspective. Generosity is a core value at our firm, and we are proud to support organizations that help our areas thrive.
While we donate our time and resources to our community as a firm, we also want to recognize the individuals who embody our core values and help share our vision of holistic wealth management. In celebration of Giving Tuesday on November 29, here are some ways our SignatureFD team members live their Net Worthwhile™ by supporting various non-profit organizations.
James Yost, CFP®, CAIA®, Partner and Wealth Advisor – Warrick Dunn Charities
Did You Know?: Despite making up more than half of the US population, only 31% of single mothers are homeowners.
James Yost has chaired the Advisory Council of Warrick Dunn Charities since 2020. The organization’s flagship program, Homes for the Holidays, surprises single-parent families with down payment assistance and furnishings to help achieve their dream of home ownership. James began supporting the charity in 2016 when he read Warrick’s story in his autobiography “Running for My Life: My Journey in the Game of Football and Beyond.”
Warrick Dunn Charities works to help families break the cycle of generational poverty and improve the quality of life for families across the country. Warrick Dunn founded his charity in 1997, the same year he was voted NFL Rookie of the Year. The organization has since expanded into three additional programs: Count on Your Future, Sculpt, and Hearts for Community Service Scholarships.
Learn more about and donate to Warrick Dunn Charities here.
Ama Yates-Ekong, Portfolio Accounting Specialist – Save the Children
Did You Know?: More than 12 million children are struggling with food insecurity in the United States alone.
Ama Yates-Ekong had food on her mind when she practically bumped into her newest charitable foundation on the sidewalks of Colony Square. She was on her way to lunch when a representative from Save the Children stepped forward to tell her how the organization works to give children a healthy start in life. As someone with a deep love for children and experience in childcare, Ama saw an opportunity to give to a cause close to her heart and became a new supporter this year.
Save the Children was founded in 1919 by Eglantyne Jebb, who believed that children have the right to grow up healthy, educated, and safe. Since then, the organization has expanded into over 100 countries providing hunger and famine relief, humanitarian aid to children in conflict areas, and healthcare and nutrition services to mothers, babies, and children around the globe.
Learn more about and donate to Save the Children here.
Jen Ade, Office Manager – Reef Renewal International
Did You Know?: Although coral reefs cover very little of the ocean floor, they produce approximately 50% of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere.
“If you are a fan of breathing, you should be a fan of reef restoration,” says Jen Ade. She and her husband Marty’s financial donation to Reef Renewal International’s work in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is just one of the ways they give back and fully embrace their Net Worthwhile™. As part of their partnership with Reef Renewal USA and Reef Renewal International, the couple worked on rejuvenating the reefs of Mustique for a month this summer as part of Jen’s SignatureFD sabbatical.
Reef Renewal Foundation International is working to build a global network of reef restoration projects to increase coral coverage and biodiversity worldwide. Network members have projects in Australia, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Florida Keys. Thanks to their efforts to deliver multi-species restoration techniques in combination with education and outreach programs, they have restored more than 50,000 corals.
Learn more about and donate to Reef Renewal International here.
Walter Chamblee, Partner and Chief Technology Officer – Happy Mama, Happy Mini
Did You Know?: While as many as 1 in 5 pregnant or postpartum women suffers from a maternal mental health disorder, less than 15% receive treatment.
Walter’s close friend, Nichelle Marie Wilson, founded the organization in 2019 to offer a community-based environment that empowers mothers to be mentally, spiritually, and emotionally stronger. In addition to an annual financial contribution, Walter volunteers at each of the foundation’s fundraisers and events.
Happy Mama, Happy Mini provides mothers and children with support and education on mental health awareness. The organization advocates bringing awareness to the adversities many mothers face that impact their mental health. It offers in-house professional counseling, consultation and mediation services, and scholarships.
Learn more about and donate to Happy Mama, Happy Mini here.
These are just a few of the SignatureFD staff members who gave back to their communities over the past year. In total, our team supported more than 40 organizations locally, in the US, and worldwide.
At SignatureFD, we believe that making contributions to the causes closest to our hearts helps us on our journey to discovering our Net Worthwhile™. Our Advisors are committed to assisting clients in using their wealth to enrich the people and things that are important to them.
Our SignatureGENEROSITY™ community provides resources, guidance, and expertise to support your unique charitable efforts. If you are ready to explore your Net Worthwhile™ and create a personalized Generosity Blueprint, please contact Elizabeth Burdette, Director of Giving.
