Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Doesn’t feel that way temperature-wise, but it’s coming for sure.
We are reminded during the Thanksgiving season to be thankful. I wrote a couple of weeks ago about an attitude of gratitude. The upcoming holiday is a great reminder of that thankful feeling.
Today’s blog is exactly that. A thankful blog talking about legacy.
I think about the idea of legacy in terms of how I want to be remembered. I am hopeful that when people remember me in the future, they think I was caring toward others, that I had an impact on the communities that I lived in and served, and that I brought people along in their careers and development. More importantly, I hope to be remembered for my family, our values, and the world in general through my involvement at church and other civic endeavors. If even a smidgeon of this happens, it will be a legacy that I can live with.
Today, we will honor two volunteers who have an impact on our communities and are creating legacies of their own. One of the individuals is being celebrated for a lifetime of service to others, and the other is just starting out but has created an impact well beyond her years. The Association of Fundraising Professionals will honor Dr. Richard Warner with the Lifetime Achievement – Legacy of Giving Award and Elie Botnen – Lanning with the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award at its annual meeting. Both are richly deserved.
Dr. Warner has been a lifelong volunteer for the YMCA. You may know Dr. Warner as the former principal of Fargo South; you may have had him as a professor in college, or you may know him as a breakfast buddy, as I do. Dick has volunteered in various capacities for the YMCA, including on our boards of directors for both the corporation and our foundation. He has served on various committees and task forces. He even helped hire me when I first interviewed for the position. And, he has served in various leadership roles over the years, helping fundraise for the YMCA.
One of the most important things that Dick does is he gives to organizations like the YMCA and then asks others to join him. It’s hard to say no when you know the person is backing up their own beliefs with their own dollars. He knows the impact; he helps support the impact, and he asks others to join him in his impact. It is powerful. And, it is legacy building!
Our other individual being recognized is 13 year old Elie. Elie is tops in my book. In her younger years she would come to the YMCA for swimming lessons with her grandparents or her mom and would ask to stop by my office to say, “Hi, President Steve!” I looked forward to those times. And when she was just six or seven years old, she would also drop off her personal Giving Hearts Day gift in my office from her own money. Amazing.
Today, Elie is busy running a business. You can see her at local craft shows selling different dog toys and gear that she has made herself. She then takes the funds that she earns and donates those funds back to nonprofits that she supports. Again, Elie is 13 years old. She is living a life of giving back to others. That’s impactful. That is legacy building as well.
I have to admit that when I listed the things at the beginning of the blog that I hope I am remembered for, they pale in comparison to these two individuals. Dick and Elie are living a life of impact on others. And, a legacy of impact is being built.
We are blessed to recognize these two volunteers with the Association of Fundraising Professionals. We hope you will too.
See you at the Y!
Steve Smith, President and CEO
Posted on: November 10, 2026