Lynne and Bob Kiley

Donor Advisors Support the Arts

Bob and Lynne Kiley recently donated $1,000 from their donor-advised fund to The Williamsburg Symphonia. The grant facilitated The Symphonia’s Meet the Musicians program, where three musicians visit elementary schools in the area with the purpose of educating children about brass instruments and giving the kids an opportunity to play. The program was one of several grant applications offered as potential funding opportunities to the foundation’s donor-advisors last fall.

Bob, Lynne and WCF’s Nancy Sullivan visited James River Elementary to witness the program in action. “It was very interesting to see the reactions of the children. The musicians seemed to be very helpful to the kids, and perhaps they will now have music as a part of their lives,” Bob commented.

Children and music have always played special roles in Bob’s life. He started mentoring elementary school students in New York City after volunteering in a soup kitchen. Currently he mentors a fourth grade boy at Matoaka Elementary School. He and his wife have established scholarships for Blair Academy in New Jersey, Bob’s high school, and Lehigh University, his alma mater. Bob is currently a cantor and choral singer at St. Bede’s in Williamsburg, just as he was at his church in New Jersey.

The Kileys moved to Williamsburg in 1996, and in 1999 Bob began his involvement with WCF after meeting founder and then chairman, John Jamison. Bob created a donor-advised fund for his organization, Men’s Charity Tennis, an annual tennis tournament that benefits Hospice House and Support Care of Williamsburg. Hospice has received $278,000 from Men’s Charity Tennis over its 11-year history. Bob is still president of Men’s Charity Tennis, and he and his wife also manage their personal donor-advised fund at the foundation, created in 1999.