Chad Hershner and Jeff Amstutz don’t sit on the sidelines when needs arise for their favorite causes – giving of their time, their money and their considerable talent. Only in their early 40s, they have already outlined in their estate plan how their philanthropy will live on after them.

Those plans include a gift to the Community Foundation. We celebrate that by offering membership in the Himebaugh Legacy Circle. The listing of people who have arranged planned gifts to the Foundation is named for Donald and Violet Himebaugh, an Appleton couple who lived simply but gave a $16 million gift to the community by leaving most of their estate to their fund at the Community Foundation.

Jeff and Chad have a range of interests, including LGBT initiatives, the arts, youth programs and preventing child abuse. They established the AH-HA Fund within the Community Foundation to be able to easily help meet the needs of a variety of nonprofits immediately and for the long-term. They describe their fund’s focus as “igniting brilliance and supporting a variety of organizations that do great work in our community.”

Chad was raised by foster parents who instilled in him the importance of giving back. He works as senior director of philanthropy at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Jeff is owner and creative director of A2Z Design in Appleton, which offers graphic design and marketing services to a wide variety of clients, including the Community Foundation and other area nonprofits.

They said that when they came to the Fox Valley in 2007, they found a remarkable place that inspires volunteerism, philanthropy and a commitment to making a difference. They have agreed to be listed among the Himebaugh Legacy Circle members at the Foundation as a way to encourage giving back.

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