The Perseverando Society

There is a special group of people who God has blessed as givers. They see great possibilities in others, seek goodness, act with kindness, and believe in the strength of the human spirit to persevere through love and create a better tomorrow.

The Perseverando Society recognizes the generosity of our greatest supporters. Its members are not defined by how much they give, but by their dedication. This special group is comprised of individuals and families who have elected to recognize Building for God Community Foundation (BFGCF) in their legacy giving and/or have chosen to donate to our mission on any recurring basis, including recurring employee giving program gifts. Corporations have a special place within The Perseverando Society and are recognized for their recurring donations and for matching employee gifts.

History and Meaning

Building for God Community Foundation (BFGCF) was founded on a conversation between a mother, Paula Brooks, and her son, Michael, over 45 years ago. From this conversation came a lesson on the importance of compassion, community, responsibility, how to serve God through action, and a dedication to positively affect the lives of others.

On October 10, 2003, on the 50th anniversary of their first date, Ray Brooks brought his wife, Paula, a single rose just as he had on that date for the past 50 years. Later that evening, Paula passed away. On that day, the rose became more than just a flower to Paula’s family; it came to symbolize her constant reminder to her loved ones that with great blessings come great responsibility and to persevere, no matter the situation or obstacles.

“Perseverando”, which means “persevering” in Italian, pays tribute to Paula’s Italian heritage and honors the lessons Paula instilled in others. Within Building for God Community Foundation’s family, it represents our commitment as a community of leaders, activists, and philanthropists and the called purpose of our mission and persistence to act and to inspire action among others in our community. It is our persevering mindset that makes our Foundation unique.

Today, we ask that you make the decision to join this elite group of community supporters by setting up a recurring donation of any size or by including Building for God Community Foundation in your legacy giving plans.

Learn more about The Perseverando Society, as seen through the eyes of Michael Brooks and his father, Ray. Watch our video to the right.