The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro announced it had received the largest gift in its history, this week at the annual meeting.

The contribution of $50 million is a bequest from Buddy Weill, who passed away in June 2020.  His gift will create a permanent field of interest endowment for capital expansions and improvement of facilities that support eldercare and healthcare.

To put the $50 million bequest from Weill in perspective, the contributions to the Community Foundation for 2020 totaled $85.7 million, which means Weill’s contribution more than doubled the contributions from all other sources.  In 2019, contributions to the Community Foundation totaled $41.2 million.

President of the Community Foundation Walker Sanders said, “This is truly a historic moment for Greensboro.  Buddy’s generosity and vision will have a significant impact on this community for generations.”

Weill was a native of Greensboro with a career in the insurance and real estate business.  He owned and operated Weill Investment Company and was president and CEO of Robins & Weill Inc., which his father founded in 1911.

Weill was instrumental in helping to establish Well-Spring, A Life Plan Community and served as chair of the board of trustees.

Weil was also the first chair of the board of trustees of Cone Health who was not a member of the Cone family.

Sanders said, “Having served on the Foundation’s Real Estate Management Committee and as a former member of our Board of Directors, Buddy was keenly aware of how the Foundation could help him leave a legacy of supporting care for the elderly population in Greensboro.  It’s our honor to help make his dream a reality.”

The Community Foundation has assets of over $295 million with approximately 700 charitable funds under management.  In 2020 it made grants totaling $35.3 million.

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