Mitch and Elizabeth McCarthy (Rob Gardiner’s son-in-law and daughter), Carolyn Saxton (President of Legacy Foundation), Ryan Smiley (President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana), Leslie Gardiner (Rob Gardiner’s wife), Craig Dwight (CEO of Horizon Bank), Kate Gillan (Rob Gardiner’s daughter), Drew Gardiner (Rob Gardiner’s son), Steve Dahlkamp (Executive of Horizon Bank)[/caption] Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s community foundation, announced its partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana and Horizon Bank on the establishment of the Rob Gardiner Legacy Fund for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. The fund will be held at Legacy Foundation and provide annual income for the youth-serving organization.
“Rob Gardiner was a dedicated employee of Horizon Bank and served as a Board member for both the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana and Legacy Foundation. The fund established in his memory honors his commitment to all of our organizations and memorializes his legacy of giving back,” said Legacy Foundation President Carolyn Saxton.
Robert Gardiner passed away on February 27, 2019, shortly after his cancer diagnosis. In addition to serving on the boards of Legacy Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, Gardiner was an active member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
“Rob Gardiner was a long-time Board member for our Boys & Girls Clubs – and he made his volunteer work with our organization very much a family affair, as his son Drew was part of our Hammond Club Advisory Board. Rob was instrumental in helping our organization in our merger process. But more than this, Rob had such a passion for youth and their success. He pushed us to continue providing top quality programming for children. Both he and his wife understood that children are the most precious assets of our communities. While we miss his earthly presence, his memory lives on in every single accomplishment achieved by our Club members. For this, we are eternally grateful,” stated Ryan Smiley, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana.
The partnership with Legacy Foundation is designed to provide the best advantages for long-term financial support of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. Gifts endowed with Legacy Foundation are pooled to achieve maximum investment efficiency and return. They grow and benefit the community with guidance from experienced local leaders and expert investment managers.
Online giving is available to make supporting the fund easy, and a wide array of contributions can be accepted, including cash, marketable securities, retirement accounts, real estate and other assets thanks to this partnership. Where desired, donor anonymity can be assured.
For more information on the Rob Gardiner Legacy Fund for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, contact Carolyn Saxton at (219) 736-1880. You can also visit www.legacyfdn.org to learn more about how Legacy Foundation invests in Lake County, Indiana.
