WMU Foundation receives largest gift to date--$1.7 million
Printer-friendly versionCharlie had a passion for the Bible, supporting foreign missions, and sharing the gospel at home and around the world. Although he passed away on Sept. 26, 2009, his desire to share Jesus with those who have not heard will live on
thanks to another interest of his—investing in the financial market.
Charles N. Burch left approximately $1.7 million from his estate to the WMU Foundation, making it the largest single gift received to date by national WMU or its foundation according to David George, president of the WMU Foundation. Established this year, the Charles N. Burch International Missions Endowment will be used by WMU to fund international missions efforts.
“This generous gift will enable us to accomplish so many of the desires we have to connect more effectively with our WMU sisters around the world, as well as in our microbusiness, poverty initiatives, and other overseas efforts to share the gospel,” said Wanda S. Lee, executive director of national WMU. “What a great legacy this gentleman has left us to help others around the world who so desperately need eternal hope found in Christ.”
“As an endowment, only the growth from the original gift may be used,” George explained. “The WMU Foundation will work in cooperation with national WMU to determine the exact use of these funds each year, but the majority of these funds will support the international missions efforts of WMU and its international sister organizations or international partners. These efforts have the ultimate goal of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to people living in foreign countries.”
Burch was born on Aug. 25, 1910, in Memphis, Tenn. After graduating from Memphis University School in 1927 and Davidson College in 1931, Burch married Catherine Gifford in 1952. Through a charitable organization they founded and operated, know as the Christian Fellowship for the Visually Impaired, the couple taught Bible classes for the visually challenged for many years at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, where the couple attended their entire adult life.
The Burches also taught Bible classes in city and county jails, and supported numerous charitable organizations with monthly contributions.
“Reading and sharing the Bible was truly Charlie’s passion,” said Allen Malone, Burch’s attorney, during the WMU Foundation board meeting on March 15. “He read it every day, and was really a Bible scholar.”
Malone shared that Burch kept to himself a little more after his wife’s death in 1997.
“He remained at their residence, which was a small rented apartment, took daily walks until he was 98, and read his Bible for hours each day until the day he died,” Malone reflected. “The couple had no children, and Charlie was predeceased by his sister, Chloe Burch, who was his only close relative.”
Malone added, “Charlie was pleased to direct funds from his estate to WMU. He said, ‘I know I can trust them.’”
The WMU Foundation is guided by a 17-member board of trustees and was created in 1995 to support the mission and ministry of WMU. Through more than 120 funds and endowments, the WMU Foundation provides grants, awards and scholarships to further the work of WMU at every level—church, associational, state, and national—as well as overseas.
For more information about the WMU Foundation, visit www.wmufoundation.com.
