As fires burned in Baltimore last week and thousands of the city's residents expressed anger at police treatment of blacks, foundation executives meeting in San Francisco renewed their commitment to fighting racial inequality.

The unrest in Baltimore and last year's standoff between police and protesters in Ferguson, Mo., laid bare for many the chasm between police treatment of blacks and whites. Foundations have responded with pledges to channel more support to programs designed to reduce racial disparities in America.

Rather than target specific issues, such as how police treat minorities in a single jurisdiction, much of the effort is geared toward solving broad systemic issues across the country, like health care, economic opportunity, and the treatment of blacks throughout the criminal-justice system.

"Every month a black boy is going to get shot by police," Robert Ross, president of the California Endowment, told a crowd at the Council on Foundations annual meeting. "The prize for us is not that police departments handcuff our kids more politely when they take them away. The prize is a more hopeful future for our kids."

As a service to our faithful board, donors, and friends, the Community Foundation offers information on the subject of leaving a legacy.

Visit our website to see how others are supporting our community. We would be happy to consult with you and your financial advisor as a resource for your philanthropy.

On behalf of your friends at the Community Foundation, I thank you for your generosity, as together we seek to improve the quality of life in Tompkins County by inspiring and supporting enduring philanthropy.