OCEANSIDE — The late George Wynhoff, a successful local entrepreneur, left a generous donation of $4.5 million to the Interfaith Community Services.
Wynhoff was a longstanding supporter of Interfaith Community Services. He personally visited the organization after reading a newspaper article about its programs and has been a substantial contributor for more than 10 years.
“He is a faithful supporter and has a longtime, close relationship with the agency,” Jason Coker, Interfaith Community Services director of development, said.
Coker said Wynhoff told Interfaith staff that he had set up a trust, but no one expected it to be so much money.
The $4.5 million will be put in an endowment and generate an estimated $200,000 a year in interest.
Coker said the gift of the donation could not have come at a better time. The need for assistance has grown since the economic recession began. Coker said in recent years he has seen former middle class families now finding themselves unable to make ends meet.
Interfaith is funded solely by donations and grant funds and provides its services free of charge to those in need.
“We run our programs on $2.5 million a year,” Coker said. “Every program is in danger of being cut every year.”
Wynhoff specified that he would like the endowment proceeds to be used to fund children and family services.
Interfaith staff and its board of directors will determine which of its children and family programs the funds will go to within the next few months.
Programs range from providing food and housing to families who are getting back on their feet, to running an after school youth academy that provides counseling and support services for at-risk youth. All Interfaith programs are designed to promote life skills and self-sufficiency.
Coker said Wynhoff’s donation would make a significance difference for years to come.
