When a person talks about something they care about, you can see it on their face and in their eyes. It is a look of happiness and possibilities. Some might call it a “twinkle” in the eye. That is the look you see in the eyes of Heather and Doug Nigbor when they talk about their giving. The joy of giving is a part of their lives and a value they have chosen to live.
The Nigbors became acquainted with the Community Foundation through involvement with Run for the Money. Katherine Sanders first recruited Heather as a volunteer then Will and Suzanne Current invited them to participate in the Next Generation Fund. Working with the Community Foundation was a perfect fit for both Heather and Doug. As many donors of their generation, they want their gifts to be community based and add the greatest impact. In 2007, the Nigbors established their own Fund at the Foundation to use as a vehicle for giving.
Living and working in her home town of Nashville, Heather and Doug, a fellow at Vanderbilt, met at a chance meeting in a local eatery. Their story reads like a screen play and should be sold to make the next romantic comedy. They exchange glances, talk about sports but do not exchange phone numbers. Only two days later, Heather turns around to the pew behind her in church to meet Doug again and share the passing of the peace. Let’s suffice to say they have been passing the peace ever since.
Doug is a practicing Nephrologist in Gastonia. When asked how they arrived in Gastonia, the answer is none other than a native, Max Fisher. Max and Doug were co-fellows at Vanderbilt and Max told Doug about his hometown. Since Doug was from a very rural part of Indiana and needed some space and Heather had always enjoyed the benefits of city life in Nashville, Gastonia offered the perfect blend.
Now settled and going about the business of family and career, Doug explains how the benefits of having a fund at the Foundation make his giving so much easier. Having online updates and tracking of annual giving, simplifies the process of the family’s personal accounting. Heather and Doug each have individual charitable causes. The Nigbors can individually recommend grants and be able to track each other’s grants. The flexibility of a fund also allows them to give to the fund during more profitable years and draw from the fund in more lean years, thus keeping a steady flow of gifting as they see fit.
The joy of giving, not out of obligation or for gratitude, is a basic philosophy for the Nigbors.
A strong faith is at the heart of their giving. In 2010, they directed gifts toward basic needs due to the state of the economy. Using the Foundation as a source to vet organizations, one such agency selected by the Nigbors was Crisis Assistance Ministry. Working through the Medical Alliance, Heather was acquainted with CAM and was impressed with the care and attention paid to clients of CAM. A CAM volunteer, Margaret McCarver has been a wonderful inspiration for the Nigbors. Crisis Assistance Ministry is a Christian charity, which very much appealed to the Nigbors. The Community Foundation manages an endowment for CAM. It is important to mention that planned gifts can be directed to this endowment for the perpetuation of the services CAM provides our community.
Intentional or not, the Nigbors are also teaching their three children about giving by example. Ben, age 5 and twins, Darby Shaw and Kirk, age 3 are welcome visitors at the Community Foundation. An active bunch, the family of Nigbors has greatly enriched Gaston County with their time, treasure and talents. We are fortunate to have them in our family of donors at the Community Foundation.
