FUND PROFILE

Marjory E. & Harold B. Reichert Endowment for Health

The Marjory E. & Harold B. Reichert Endowment for Health supports Pasadena Community Foundation’s grantmaking in health care. Created by their daughter and son-in-law to honor the couple’s lifelong generosity, the fund reflects their values and provides lasting support for seniors and others in need of compassionate care.

OVERVIEW

About the Fund

As children of the Depression era, Marjory & Harold Reichert used their talents to give back to the communities in which they resided. Living humbly in Pennsylvania, Margie and Harold were known as the neighborhood cook and handyman, respectively. Whenever a family needed a home-cooked meal, Margie was there. Harold, a WWII pilot, was a metallurgist and lent a helping hand to others with their home needs. Their daughter, Carole Jones and her husband, David Jones, remember them fondly, as she explains, “They made a huge difference in our adult lives.”

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Detail shot of an Art Deco-style building showing detailed friezes and brickwork

When Margie neared the last period of her life, she moved to the Pasadena area to live with Carole and David. Both Carole’s father and mother had been so frugal throughout their lives that after their passing, there was a small sum of money left. Where would Margie and Harold have wanted that money to go? “We put some money aside for the grandchildren college funds. And, even with that, there was a nice amount left to do something special,” explained Carole. “My mother liked the idea of David being involved and active in the Pasadena community. We chose to create a fund that included their name – to honor their generosity throughout their lives.”

David explains, “At the time, while we were deciding where to put the funds, we saw that Pasadena Community Foundation was putting together their ‘Be 1 in 100’ campaign that invited individuals to build endowments with the organization. We thought it was a wonderful idea. It was settled. We built our fund with Pasadena Community Foundation.”

The Marjory E. & Harold B. Reichert Endowment for Health focuses on organizations in the healthcare space. This fund’s focus stemmed from Margie’s last period of her life. While she lived with Carole and David, she was a daily user of health care. For example, they received equipment from the Convalescent Aid Society, a PCF grantee organization, to help support Margie’s end of life care.

“I think my mother and father would be very proud of where this money is going,” says Carole. David chimes in: “This is their legacy.”

Grantmaking Impact

Through this fund, PCF has been able to

  • Provide sustained and flexible funding
  • Offer consistent financial support for our local grantmaking programs throughout Greater Pasadena
  • Enhance community programs
  • Empower organizations to expand their services and reach more individuals in need
  • Direct resources when and where they are needed most, respond quickly to emerging needs, and fill funding gaps that restricted gifts can’t cover.

Contact Us

For more information about PCF giving opportunities, please contact
Pasadena Community Foundation
301 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 810
Pasadena, CA., 91101
626.796.2097
pcfstaff@pasadenacf.org