The North Carolina Baptist Foundation (NCBF) plans to celebrate its 100th anniversary this year.

The Foundation, which began in 1920, helps individuals and churches or other Baptist entities with endowments, trusts and other financial planning services.

“That’s really why the foundation was started,” said Robert Simons, central area manager for the NCBF.

A gift to the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) 100 years ago led to the creation of the NCBF and the N.C. Baptist Hospital, also known as Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

The BSC received a donation for the hospital, but leaders wanted the gift to be invested for long-term growth for the hospital’s future.

Simons said colleges and seminaries use endowments to fund chairs of departments. Churches have them for cemeteries, missions and scholarships.

“The larger it is, the more income it generates, the more money available to help,” he said.

Simons said a church near Asheboro created an endowment fund of $100,000; each year, that fund generates $5,000 income to use towards mowing and maintenance.

Since its inception, NCBF has distributed more than $200 million through endowments and trusts. Recipients include Baptist colleges, individuals, churches, Baptist entities and mission boards.

Other services provided by NCBF include trusts, as well as church fund management, church loans, college scholarships, certificates of participation similar to certificates of deposits at a regular bank, and even grants.

To celebrate this milestone, NCBF invites everyone to one of three luncheons around the state. There are three options: March 23 at Wilson’s Mill Baptist Church, Smithfield; April 20 at Rich Fork Baptist Church, Thomasville; or May 12 at Skyland First Baptist Church, Aberdeen. All luncheons begin at 11:30 a.m. To make reservations, contact Jill Stowe at [email protected] or 919-380-7334.