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Bequests are common in the area, whether it be to charities or our two universities. Houghton County is working on setting up a similar program that would go towards local government. Administrator Ben Larson says the creation of an Enduring Gifts Fund has been sanctioned since before he took over at his current post, and he has double checked with the Michigan Treasury and other state level organizations to make sure it is permissible.
Having been given the go-ahead, Larson hopes to have a more detailed framework completed and ready to be brought before the Board of Commissioners for approval at June’s meeting. Larson isn’t aware of a major program of this sort being utilized currently anywhere in Michigan. Larson says the gifts can be tailored for specific purposes.
Larson says every potential little bit helps. He envisions a fund that would accept two dollars up to ten million or more. Larson says that the schools may even attract funds globally. He says it isn’t uncommon to be told by foreign students that the four years they spent at Michigan Tech or Finlandia were the best time of their life, and the Enduring Gifts Fund would provide them an opportunity to give back for causes in the area that gave them so much.
