Jean Varat was a private person from a humble background who worked in administrative jobs until her retirement. She fought a long battle with cancer, and when she became aware that further treatment would not be beneficial, she made thoughtful plans for her last years and for the savings of a lifetime that she would not need. Included in those plans was a gift of $2.6 million to the Community Foundation of Greenville. Thanks to her care and generosity, others in her community will benefit from more opportunities to thrive.
“She was very generous and was passionate about caring for women and children,” says her daughter-in-law, Gina Varat, adding that advocacy for women and children runs in the family. Jean Varat’s son, Danny Varat, has served on the state board of education, as board chair of Greenville First Steps, and was COO of A Child’s Haven. He is currently CEO of Safe Harbor, a shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children.
Jean Varat was born in Greenville and raised by a single mother with her sister and brothers, who later served in the United States military. She graduated from Mauldin High School and was a member of Monaghan United Methodist Church. Her greatest joy was spending time with her granddaughter, Mary Earl Varat, who was the apple of her eye. Gina Varat says even near the end of her life, her mother-in-law was “just as feisty and fun as ever.”
In November 2014, while undergoing radiation treatment following a cancer diagnosis, Jean Varat met with Bob Morris, CFG president, and Gina Blohm, director of development, to gather information about how she could create a lasting legacy. In February 2015, she decided to leave a large portion of her estate to the Community Foundation, which received the gift after she passed away in August 2021.
“It is gratifying to see how unrestricted gifts like Ms. Varat’s make it possible to respond to needs in the community at a time when it is needed most,” Morris says. “We saw how impactful responsive grants can be during COVID.”
The assistance of individuals like Jean Varat is one of three ways CFG works to achieve its mission of inspiring giving by bridging philanthropy and purpose, making Greenville County an inclusive and vibrant community. CFG staff members work with donors and their financial advisors and estate-planning attorneys to arrange bequests that extend their charitable commitments beyond their lifetimes. They also help people establish donor-advised funds to support charities they care about in a tax-efficient and cost-effective way.
CFG’s second main function is to help local nonprofits build endowments to provide permanent support and sustain their work into the future. The third action is to make grants from its unrestricted assets to fund important projects in the local community. These assets include contributions to its annual campaign, fee income earned from the funds it administers, and bequests — like Jean Varat’s — left to the Community Foundation for the benefit of Greenville.
The Community Foundation is proud to make the first gift from the Jean Varat Fund to the Cancer Society of Greenville County. Since 1964, the local nonprofit has focused on improving the quality of life for all those affected by cancer. Its services include free patient, caregiver, and bereavement support groups, medical supplies, and financial support.
“This gift of $100,000 will go towards the Cancer Society’s capital campaign, which will expand their current footprint and accommodate the growing needs of clients and cancer survivors,” says Morris.
For more information about how to make giving more impactful, visit https://www.cfgreenville.org/
