IECF celebrated Elaine Hill at last year’s Professional
Advisors Dinner at the Purple Room in Palm Springs.
From left: Brie Griset Smith, John Schoettler, Elaine Hill, Greg Hough, and Michelle Decker.

The power of example was surely at play when Elaine Hill (left, center) suggested Jane Lykken Hoff consider IECF as a one-stop shop to support the philanthropist’s favorite charities in perpetuity.

Hill served as an IECF Professional Advisor Champion until she retired in December 2023. She partnered with IECF on a personal level as well as supporting clients to create testamentary permanent charitable funds with the Foundation.

The combination of IECF’s longevity and regional focus and potentially Hill’s own personal commitment, won Hoff over as evidenced by the extraordinary $4.5 million gift from her estate.

PAC Champions are recognized for their commitment to the Foundation and the region. To become a Champion, an advisor establishes an endowment or a fund in their own name or in the name of their family or refers a client who then establishes an endowment or fund at Inland Empire Community Foundation. Learn more by visiting iegives.org/advisors/.

Learn more about how we can make your philanthropic goals a reality – contact our Charitable Giving Department today!

This story originally appeared in our 2024/2025 Annual Report.

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As generous donors consider organizations they’d like to support, IECF is privileged to have gained the confidence of an esteemed group of experts, including estate planning attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, bank and trust officers, wealth managers and professional fiduciaries. These Professional Advisors play a critical role in the Foundation’s success as they counsel their clients on financial, legal, and tax considerations, including charitable giving.

A Professional Advisor Champion has either established a fund in their own name or in their family’s name or referred a client who then establishes a fund at IECF. Teresa has referred many clients to IECF over the years, and she’s served as a board member, too.

“I first became acquainted with IECF when I was a partner in a local law firm. We handled legal matters for the Foundation, so I learned a lot about their role in the community,” Teresa says.

At the 2025 IEEPS meeting, Brie Griset Smith, CSPG, (L) presented Teresa (R) a framed collage of her story in our annual report.

“Now, as an estate planning attorney, I talk to most of my clients about charitable giving because I think it’s an important part of the overall picture.”

During these conversations, Teresa’s clients often want to know how they can trust a nonprofit to remain focused on its mission over time. “I tell them, ‘You can’t know that after you’re gone, but there is an organization that can,’” Rhyne says, referring to IECF.  “If a client is interested in a cause, rather than picking one nonprofit that may not be the same organization 20 years from now, they can set up a fund through the Foundation,” Rhyne says. “The Foundation can manage the fund and work with the donor and family members if they wish to be involved.”

One of Teresa’s clients created a trust for a Donor Advised Fund, which his five children now oversee. “His interests were animals and a particular disease that affected one of his family members, so every year the children get together to select organizations that support those causes,” she recalls. “I think they’ll be inclined toward charitable giving themselves, having participated in honoring their dad’s memory this way.”

Teresa feels confident when she refers a client to IECF. “What stands out about IECF is that it’s very professionally run and has a stellar board, staff and volunteers. As a former IECF board member, I know the level of commitment and the impressive amount of detail and work that goes on behind the scenes. The Foundation has been around for 80 years, so that says a lot.”

We congratulate Teresa on being named our 2021/2022 Professional Advisors Champion, with many thanks for helping us create a more equitable, just and vibrant region for everyone we serve!

Teresa is featured in our annual report. Read more here.

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Chris is a respected estate planning attorney in Riverside. He and Molly enjoyed successful careers and raised their family here. “The community has been great to us,” he says. “We wanted to give back locally rather than donating money to a national organization.”

About 20 years ago, Chris and Molly decided to focus their philanthropy on the Riverside Public Library. In addition to direct donations to the library, they established a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) in 2016 with IECF, The Molly and Chris Carpenter Family Fund.  The Fund will support public libraries both locally and across the country, and benefit early childhood learning and other programs. The Carpenters specified flexibility to distribute funds to other libraries, including school libraries if that’s where the need is indicated. Chris’ youngest daughter is involved as an advisor to the testamentary fund, which will be activated upon Chris’ passing. He believes this kind of giving has the most impact because it will benefit his community for decades to come.

Chris first became aware of IECF over 40 years ago through his work as an estate planning attorney. Although he couldn’t personally donate back then, he says IECF has always been a top recommendation to clients looking for ways to leave a legacy. He favors the idea of setting up a Donor Advised Fund because it allows each person, couple, or family to direct their money to causes near and dear to their hearts.

Chris shared the story of one of his clients, Jane Baxter, whom he assisted in setting up the Agatha J. Baxter Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, managed by IECF. Mrs. Baxter was a widow whom Chris had helped with her estate planning for quite some time. Because she had no children, she was enthusiastic about setting up a scholarship fund in her name to benefit underserved students heading to college in Riverside County. “I feel very strongly that you can earn money,” Chris says, “but there comes a time when you don’t need it, and your children don’t need all of it. Why not give where the need is? Plow it back into your local community.”

Because of the establishment of The Molly and Chris Carpenter Family Fund and the referral of his clients who established the Agatha J. Baxter Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund to IECF, Chris was named a Professional Advisor Champion. To be named a Professional Advisor Champion, an advisor must establish an endowment or a fund in their own name or in the name of their family,  or refer a client who then establishes a fund at IECF, as Chris did.

IECF is grateful to Chris Carpenter and those like him who share a passionate and robust vision for the future of our communities. If you would like more information on Donor Advised Funds or other estate planning options, please email Brie Griset Smith, CSPG, Chief Development Officer or call at 951.241.7777.

Chris passed away in 2022, shortly after this story was published. As we mourn the loss of a true philanthropist and friend of the Foundation, we’re honored to keep Chris and Molly’s legacy alive through their donor advised fund.

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When professional advisors, such as an estate planning attorney, financial advisor or CPA, partners with IECF, they are helping to grow the region’s long-term assets and philanthropic impact. Specifically, professional advisors play a vital role in referring or connecting their clients to IECF who are interested in supporting nonprofits or a cause or issue they care about. If their client establishes a fund at the Foundation, or the professional advisor themselves open a fund in their own name or in the name of their family, they become a “Champion” of philanthropy and become a member of IECF’s Professional Advisors Champions Program. Today, IECF counts 36 professional advisors as champions. This year, IECF recognizes J. Sergio Bohon. Now serving as Board Chair, Sergio has been a board member of the Inland Empire Community Foundation for over six years. He is currently Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors and has been in the financial services industry for over 30 years, managing assets for individuals, trusts, charitable organizations and businesses. Just as philanthropy is important to the clients Sergio manages, he too has a passion for creating change in our community. In 2013, Sergio and his wife, Christy, decided to open the Bohon Family Community Fund at IECF. The fund is for broad and general charitable uses and engages his young daughters in giving back together.

“Instilling the principles of humanity and kindness, and modeling that for my family are important to me,” said Sergio. Immigrating from Mexico to El Monte, he was exposed to other less fortunate families that struggled with poverty and the challenges of neighborhoods and communities that did not effectively support the opportunities for upward mobility. Annually, Sergio and Christy gift shares of appreciated stock to support and build the fund. By transferring appreciated stocks to IECF, they avoid the capital gains tax and receive a charitable tax deduction. They selected IECF to open the fund because the organization provides community leadership, understands the needs for and provides guidance in allocating resources. Over the years Sergio has volunteered his time as a pilot for Angel Flight West and rescue dog transportation. He has sat as an active board member of the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center and Riverside Philharmonic, and participates in mentorship programs benefiting Hispanic young professionals. Among his other charitable activities, Sergio and members of his extended family started a scholarship fund at Chaffey College to assist DACA students in need.  Sergio holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Pomona and a master’s from the College of Financial Planning, earning him the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).

Learn more about how we can make your philanthropic goals a reality – contact our Charitable Giving Department today!

This story originally appeared in our 2019 Annual Report

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“Champions” of The Community Foundation in 2018 are husband and wife, Frank Campbell, CLU, CLS and Marcia Campbell, CPA. Together, the Campbells were essential in the establishment of a donor-advised fund by one of their joint clients. “I was introduced to IECF early in my career as a CPA here in Riverside. I’ve continued to observe all the good being done by this exceptional organization,” said Marcia. “Talking to my clients about IECF is an easy discussion for me.” Marcia is the principal of Marcia Campbell, CPA, the most experienced CPA firm in the Inland Empire to focus on the needs of seniors. Her firm provides a wide range of services that help better the lives of her clients. Frank says, “The blessings we’ve received are not all ours to keep. It’s gratifying to be able to share some of them with our community.” Frank is the owner of Stratus Financial Partners. A licensed life and disability analyst, his primary focus is the review and certification of existing insurance portfolios. At IECF we partner with advisors like Frank and Marcia to help individuals and families achieve their charitable goals. With our expert staff, the Foundation provides advisors guidance by hosting Professional Advisors Council meetings as well as offering planned giving resources and services that can benefit their clients.

Learn more about how we can make your philanthropic goals a reality – contact our Charitable Giving Department today!

This story originally appeared in our 2018 Annual Report

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Professional Advisors play a critical role in the success of IECF.  In order to receive the distinction of a Champion, a Professional Advisor must either establish an endowment or a fund in their own name or in the name of their family, or refer a client who then establishes an endowment or fund at IECF.

In Kathleen Albrektson’s case, she was essential in the establishment of The Robert A. Dailey Scholarship Fund in 2008. In working with IECF, Kathleen has said, “I have had occasion to recommend IECF to many interested donors over the years. They have done an extraordinary job of making the benefits of a community foundation known and available to interested donors.” 

Kathleen is the founding partner of Albrektson and Shumate Law Office and has been in private practice since 1994. Prior to that she served as a corporate attorney for five years. Her practice emphasizes estate planning, trust administration, probate, elder law, planned giving, estate litigation, business law, and bankruptcy. Albrektson & Shumate recently received the Sun-Redlands Daily Facts 2017 Readers’ Choice Award as San Bernardino County’s Best Law Firm. Kathleen is a graduate of Duke University, where she was a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. She serves on several boards of organizations including Plymouth Village Continuing Care Community, Santa Claus, Inc., and the Medical Strategic Network. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, and scuba diving.  Kathleen enjoys assisting clients in implementing estate plans that reflect their hearts and the Foundation is grateful for her continued support of our work in the region.

Learn more about how we can make your philanthropic goals a reality – contact our Charitable Giving Department today!

This story originally appeared in our 2017 Annual Report

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Professional Advisors play a critical role in the success of IECF.  In order to receive the distinction of a Champion, a Professional Advisor must either establish an endowment or a fund in their own name or in the name of their family, or refer a client who then establishes an endowment or fund at IECF.

In the case of one Professional Advisor out of many, IECF has received a significant number of gifts from clients that Michael J. Cosgrove serves. Michael Cosgrove opened the Cosgrove, Cosgrove & Humphrey law firm in 1977. During his time practicing in the desert, Michael has acted as a settlement Judge Pro Tem for the Riverside County Superior Court, as a fee arbitrator for the Desert Bar Association, and as the past president of the Rotary Club of Rancho Mirage. He’s also a member of the College of the Desert Planned Giving Committee. Michael continues to stay involved in his community as a member of the Desert Bar Association and the Living Desert Planned Giving Committee. IECF is grateful for Michael’s continued support of our work in the region.

Learn more about how we can make your philanthropic goals a reality – contact our Charitable Giving Department today!

This story originally appeared in our 2016 Annual Report

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Professional Advisors play a critical role in the success of IECF. In the case of one Professional Advisor out of many, IECF has received a significant number of gifts from clients that William M. Nassar serves. William Nassar worked in the private sector from 1989-2001, primarily with Bourns, Inc., a large multinational privately held company operating in 23 countries. In 2001, William left Bourns after a two-year antitrust trial. He then opened his own practice in Century City, provided specialized services to large law firms serving high-net-worth individuals, along with medical device FDA work. In 2002, William merged his practice with another Redlands, California firm to address the needs of the local Inland Southern California. Since its inception in early 2005, the Law Offices of William M. Nassar & Associates has focused on serving clients in matters of estate planning, probate, real estate, business formation, transactional business matters, and civil and corporate litigation. IECF is grateful for William’s continued support of our work in the region.

Learn more about how we can make your philanthropic goals a reality – contact our Charitable Giving Department today!

This story originally appeared in our 2015 Annual Report

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