Trust in Philanthropy Fulfills Giving Needs

Florida natives, Ken and JoAnn Johns recently sold their multi-generation family business. They turned a bittersweet moment in their lives into opportunity when they joined Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s family.  

Scott Collins, the Johns’ financial advisor, was the first one who mentioned Gulf Coast to the couple. “I trust the Gulf Coast team implicitly to treat the Johns and all of our mutual clients with the utmost respect and to provide a level of philanthropic guidance that sets the bar for excellence. They never let me down,” Scott shares. “I am grateful that I have the opportunity to partner with Gulf Coast to deliver the highest level of service and philanthropic expertise for our clients.”  

We sat down with the couple and their sweet dog, Patches, to learn more about their philanthropic goals to make a difference for people in our community. “When we learned more about Gulf Coast, it seemed a very reputable and easy way to distribute money to support causes we care about, plus it was tax advantageous,” said Ken. “It has been very easy to make contributions out of our fund and Gulf Coast is a pleasure to work with,” added JoAnn.   

The Johns are both deeply involved with their congregation, Church of the Palms. They also spend their time and talent with Samaritan Counseling. The couple has also identified food insecurity, mental health, and helping young people reach their full potential.  

With these priorities in mind, Gulf Coast arranged a tour for the couple to see the mission firsthand at Visible Men Academy, a school that meets specific needs of at-risk elementary school boys. When they saw their dollars being put to work, Ken shared, “The tour of the school was eye opening. The need was obvious. We like to donate to those organizations that help people, children, and underserved communities. You can’t spend your time any better than trying to help young kids who are growing up without a role model learning to be men and women as they grow up.” 

At Gulf Coast, we understand how important trust is in philanthropy. That is why our donors trust professional advisors who can manage their fund. Then, donors work with trusted philanthropic advisors who guide them every step of the way. The Johns shared how trust played a large role in their decision to choose Gulf Coast as their partner in philanthropy. “I am comfortable with what Scott has done for us personally and I respect his abilities. I am grateful that our financial advisor, Scott, is able to stay involved with managing our funds. We trust him completely. If he is able to grow our fund to support even more nonprofits, that’s what we want to do. Also, we trust Sasha Pyatte, our Philanthropic Advisor at Gulf Coast. In trusting Sasha, Scott, and Gulf Coast, we know we are in good hands,” said Mr. Johns.  

The Johns are inspirational donors who use their dollars to make the greatest impact and efforts in our community. The Johns completely align with Gulf Coast’s vision of thriving communities with opportunities for all. Their graciousness and generosity are nothing short of transformational.