George & Mariwyn Smith Fund
This donor advised fund provides flexible, ongoing support for charitable causes aligned with the values of George and Mariwyn Smith, including journalism, community revitalization, and local heritage.
TYPE OF FUND: Donor Advised
DATE ESTABLISHED: Initiated November 4, 2004; Established December 8, 2004
PURPOSE: Charitable purposes per recommendation of the donors.
DISTRIBUTION: On the recommendation of the donors and final approval by the Grants Committee and Board of Directors of TCF.
VARIANCE POWER: If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.
FUNDING: A donation of $10,000 was made by George and Mariwyn Smith on November 4, 2004. (At that time, $10,000 was the minimum fund requirement. Shortly thereafter, the board of directors increased the minimum fund requirement to $20,000 and grandfathered this fund in since it met the minimum standard at the time it was initiated.)
BACKGROUND: George A. Smith Jr., a native of Catskill, NY and graduate of Davis & Elkins College, met Mariwyn Faith McClain in Elkins. Mariwyn, originally from Parsons, WV, is the daughter of R. Kenneth and C. Faith Reynolds McClain. Following their marriage in 1960, George ran The Preston County News for ten years. The couple returned to Parsons in 1971 to take over McClain Printing Company and The Parsons Advocate when her father became ill.
The Smiths led the newspaper and printing businesses for over three decades until George’s retirement in 2000 and Mariwyn’s in 2003. The family sold The Parsons Advocate in 2004 after it had been in Mariwyn’s family since 1943.
They are the parents of three children: Kenneth E. Smith (current president of McClain Printing), Barbara Plumley, and Faith Robinson. They have several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Both George and Mariwyn are active in the Parsons Presbyterian Church and many civic organizations. George has served as president of Parsons Kiwanis, the Board of Mt. Valley Bank, and the St. George Medical Clinic Board, among others. Mariwyn was a founding board member of the Tucker Community Endowment Foundation, a Tuckineer awardee, and recognized by the WV Commission on Women. She has authored several publications tied to local history and culture.
They created this donor advised fund to allow flexibility in supporting multiple charitable projects during their lifetimes and to ensure continued community benefit thereafter.
