Skip to main content
Plan Your Giving  >  Individuals & Families  >  Donor Impact Stories  >  Ford Lacy and Cece Smith

Donor Impact Stories

You can't take it with you!

You can't take it with you!

Ford Lacy and Cece Smith Plan Their Community Legacy

"YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU!" is the first thing Ford Lacy said when we asked what spurred him and his wife, Cece Smith, to plan in advance how they would give to charity through their wills.

As an attorney and venture capitalist, they were romanced by the idea of spending down their net worth while living, but practically, that’s pretty difficult to do.
 

“It’s a fun idea to be able to die with a negative net worth, but that’s hard to plan on,” says Ford Lacy. “Assuming there is something left, we thought working with Communities Foundation of Texas would be a good way to address that issue."

As Cece and Ford started their estate planning process, they came to Communities Foundation of Texas for assistance with their planned giving, and during the process, they decided to open a donor-advised fund to structure their giving now as well.


“You have to support your charitable interests or the groups doing the work won’t be there,” says Ford. “The things we support are the things we are interested in and are involved in—for example, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera, Dallas Museum of Art and UT Southwestern. We don’t usually give abstract gifts; usually we’ve made a real investment through participation and volunteering first.”

“Cece and Ford are incredibly intentional in their strategy,” says Susan Swan Smith, chief giving day officer at Communities Foundation of Texas. “They’re sophisticated in their questions and expectations. It’s been an honor to work actively with them now as well as to help them plan their philanthropic legacy.”

For assistance in developing a giving strategy that is consistent with your charitable goals, contact Carolyn Newham, Senior Director of Donor Relations and Services at 214-750-4146 or cnewham@cftexas.org.
Meet Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld

Meet Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld

In 2018, Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld established the Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld Charitable Fund at CFT, a donor-advised fund that they use to support their passion for the arts and equity.

Read more
A Passion for Opportunity

A Passion for Opportunity

Kristofer Robinson Scholarship Fund at CFT provides educational opportunities for paraplegic and quadriplegic students in Texas

Established after a tragic automobile accident that left the late Kristofer Robinson paralyzed from the neck down, the Kristofer Robinson Scholarship Fund at CFT was created to support the education of paraplegic or quadriplegic individuals. One recent scholarship recipient of the Kristofer Robinson Scholarship Fund is Nathan McClintock.

Read more
A Passion for Education

A Passion for Education

Om & Shanti Funds at CFT provides scholarships and opportunities to students

For the Sethis, giving back is a family affair. Parvesh and Jeet Sethi have two charitable funds at CFT: the Om & Shanti Scholarship Fund and the Om & Shanti Fund, a donor-advised fund. Both their family fund and their scholarship fund are centered around providing educational opportunities for students.

Read more
A Passion for Community

A Passion for Community

Mary Anne Sammons Cree leaves legacy of giving through CFT's Live Oak Legacy Society

Mary Anne Sammons Cree had a passion for our North Texas community. She spent her life giving back in support of the causes that mattered most to her—the performing and visual arts, museums, education, and nature.

Read more
A Passion for the Arts

A Passion for the Arts

Cece Smith Lacy and Ford Lacy fund new works from arts organizations through their fund at CFT

As Cece Smith Lacy and Ford Lacy began their estate planning process, they came to Communities Foundation of Texas for assistance with their planned giving. During their research, they learned about donor-advised funds and decided to open the Cece Smith Lacy and John Ford Lacy Fund at CFT to support their giving during their lifetime.

Read more
A Passion for Giving

A Passion for Giving

CFT’s NTX Giving Day becomes an annual celebration for the Ngo family

Joylynn Huynh-Ngo’s children haven’t quite made it out of elementary school, but they know a thing or two about whipping up batches of boba tea, cookies, and lemonade, and sharing their creations with and for the community.

Read more