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Ernie and Ellen Stevens:
Giving for Joy and Gratitude

When Ernie and Ellen Stevens arrived in the Tri-State in 1963, they had a few rooms of furniture, a pet guinea pig named Willie Ellen had "rescued" at her job at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Washington, and a 1961 Corvair. They also had their first child on the way, Ernie's recently won MBA from American University and hopes of a good life to come.

"We didn't come from 'money' backgrounds," says Ellen. "We have worked hard for everything we have."

"Ashland has been very good to us," explains Ernie. "Within six years of moving here, we had three children, lots of good friends and were building a house."

Ernie, with MBA in hand, had written to the former Ashland Oil & Refining Company looking for a job. Ashland, in turn, shared Ernie's name with The Putnam Agency and S. P. Hager & Sons, two firms that provided insurance to Ashland Oil. After interviewing with Elmer Leachman of Hager & Sons and Donald Putnam of The Putnam Agency, he was hired to work on the combined companies' projects with Ashland Oil.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Stevens would rise through the ranks at Putnam Agency, helping it grow, and growing along with it to become its senior vice president. "Ernie is a very generous person," says long time friend and colleague Thomas C. Phipps, current president of Putnam Agency. "Whenever it comes to support of the community, Ernie always does his share and more."

Along the way, both Ernie and Ellen would become very active in church and community endeavors, serving on numerous boards, always willing to lend a hand for a good cause. One of those causes was the Foundation for the Tri-State Community. Not only did both serve on its board, they became firm believers in its objectives and capabilities.

More than that, the Stevens' found the Foundation to be a convenient, professional service for their own giving plans.

"The Foundation is set up to administer our gifts. We give our appreciated assets and the Foundation is able to handle these easily. We may request that the Foundation make donations to 15 or more organizations over the course of a year churches, colleges, community groups like United Way and Boy Scouts of America. We get one receipt from the Foundation, which makes our tax preparation much easier," explains Ernie.

"It is definitely a winning situation for everyone. Any donation over $250 requires receipts and by giving through the Foundation, it greatly simplifies things for us," he says.

"I like it because our gifts can make a difference here in our area," says Ellen. "In a smaller area like ours, you can see results."

Ellen says Ernie gives, because of the "joy" he receives from giving. "I give from gratitude," she says, "because of what this area has done for me and my family."

The two share a common philosophy about their many gifts: "if you help educate someone, no one can ever take away that education. If you send someone to camp, no one can ever take away that experience."

Their love of and commitment to the area goes well beyond financial gifts. In a recent month, Ernie could be found helping with refurbishing an area home for battered women, while Ellen was a volunteer picking up trash beside a local highway.

"Our area is a wonderful area," Ernie says. "Many people 'retire' here, even those who come here from other areas of the country. It's home and that's been another motivation for us to make contributions that touch the people of this area."

The Stevens family now consists of three children and four grandchildren with another expected in just a few days. "We've set up another fund at the Foundation that will utilize money from our insurance after we've passed away," Ernie says. "Our children will help manage that. It will be good for them to be involved and share in the 'giving experience,' as we have."

Their advice about contributing to the area: "try it; you'll like it." About using the Foundation: "try it, you'll like it, too! It's the perfect vehicle!"