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The Legacy of Elmon Gray
A native of Waverly, Elmon Gray led his family's timber business and enjoyed serving his community as a 20-year member of the Virginia State Senate. But, as Tom Word aptly noted in his recently published book, The Price of Admission: Reflections on Some Personal Heroes, Elmon had a ‘third career to which he was passionately devoted’ – philanthropy and fundraising.
TCF has had the distinct privilege of working with the extended Gray Family for many years. The Garland and Agnes Gray Foundation became a TCF supporting organization in 1997, although the working relationship reaches further back. While Elmon ceded his foundation board seat to his daughter Kay, Elmon remained an enthusiastic mentor and discussion participant. He shared many stories with us along the way. Elmon captured his philosophy about charitable giving in a personal essay, “How Much Is Enough?”, in which he challenges us to figure out how much is enough and to influence the use of the rest of our resources by giving it away.
Today, his legacy lives on through the grantmaking conducted through the Gray Foundation. To learn more, please click here.