Kathy Fletcher to head Legacy Fund

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

On the eve of the annual Highland Lakes Legacy Fund Celebration of Giving Thursday, Nov. 17, it was announced that Kathy Fletcher will become the executive director of the fund, effective Jan. 1.

She will oversee donor relations, program implementation, fundraising, and community awareness from fund headquarters in Marble Falls.

The announcement came from Austin Community Foundation, the umbrella organization of which Highland Lakes Legacy Fund is a branch. The 80 different funds of Highland Lakes Legacy Fund stands now at $4 million providing scholarships and grants in the amount of $7.27 million to students pursuing educational goals and nonprofits serving the community.

Fletcher will follow former county judge Donna Klaeger, who has served as interim director since Midge Dockery left the fund last year to join the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation (MFEDC) staff.

She comes to the position with non-profit experience. A nearly lifelong resident of the Highland Lakes area, Fletcher was involved with The Seriff Foundation, which was the cornerstone of the fund, the Highland Lakes Health Partnership. Her fundraising experience includes work with Texas Mission of Mercy Dentistry Program and the Rotary Dental Suites program at First Baptist Church which followed, the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes, Camp Champions and the former Family Services Center, now the Community Resource Center of Texas Housing Foundation.

She currently serves on the boards of the Highland Lakes Health Partnership, which organized the original Elder Care Fair, and the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Services. Among organizations for which Fletcher has volunteered are the Rotary Club of Marble Falls, Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, Marble Falls Athletic Booster Club and the Back to School Blast.

“I am thrilled to have been selected as the executive director of the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund,” said Fletcher. “First and foremost, I’d like to acknowledge Marc and Carolyn Seriff. Without them, there would be no Legacy Fund. Marc and Carolyn had semi-retired to Horseshoe Bay and shortly after arriving; they say saw needs in Marble Falls and the surrounding communities. Soon, The Seriff Foundation was off and running with goals that included establishing a Boys & Girls Club, forming an organization to act as a catalyst to improve quality healthcare for Highland Lakes area residents, creating a 'one-stop shop' for non-profit and social services and helping students continue their education through scholarships.”

She said her love for the organization began at its inception.

“I was privileged, along with Donna Klaeger, Midge Dockery and Nancy Davis, to be a part of the The Seriff Foundation staff,” said Fletcher. “We enjoyed seeing the community collaborating and embracing these goals by their volunteerism and contributions to our fund-raising efforts. Soon the Boys & Girls Club was a reality as well as the Highland Lakes Health Partnership and Family Services Center. And the Legacy Fund had initial endowments for scholarships and community grants.”

Fletcher said each of those entities fostered by the foundation was able to split away and function on its own with separate boards of directors or advisors.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to help build on the vision of the Seriffs (Marc and Carolyn Seriff) and the solid footing that the previous administrators … provided,” she said. “Between the tremendous support of the Austin Community Foundation and leadership and dedication of our advisory board, the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund’s future is exciting.

Fletcher, daughter of Charlie and Susie Keiser, grew up in Marble Falls. She is married to Christian Fletcher, executive director of the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation, and they are the parents of two Marble Falls High School students, Grant, 16, and Keis, 15.

She said she would retain her mortgage license and office with Lakes & Hill Mortgage Company.

Austin Community Foundation fosters an ecosystem of philanthropy to create meaningful change in Austin and Central Texas by providing giving tools for donors, impactful grants for non-profits and collaborative leadership around the most pressing community needs. Through donors the foundation grants more than $20 million annually, mostly through donor advised funds. Founded in 1977, Austin Community Foundation is the third largest charitable foundation in Central Texas by grants distributed. The Foundation uses long-term investment strategies to create assets for tomorrow while building a community of givers today.

For more information, visit the websites Austincf.org and HighlandLakesLegacyFund.org.