ASHLAND — The founders of a company that sells and services heating, venting and air conditioning products will cheer on the community from retirement — and now from their checkbook.
Jeff and Joy Reep, recently retired from Comfort Control, were gifted with a donor-advised fund from the Ashland County Community Foundation on Friday during their retirement party.
“They’re in the service business,” said Joe Reep, the couple’s son.
Joe Reep took over as the company’s owner recently after joining the team seven years ago.
Jeff and Joy Reep serve on a number of boards in the Ashland area, including the Ashland Lank Bank, Ashland YMCA, the Ashland County Historical Society and others.
“We knew a gift like this would resonate … it just made sense,” Joe Reep said.
A donor-advised fund, a type of endowment fund, is similar to a private foundation. It allows the trustees to “make grants to support organizations, programs and projects. This fund type allows you to add money to your fund on one schedule and distribute dollars from your fund to another, so you can maximize tax benefits and have money available when you’re ready to give,” reads the Ashland County Community Foundation’s website.
The couple came to Comfort Control’s facility along Main Street on Friday expecting a retirement celebration. The parking lot filled with guests, two food trucks, a beer tent, games and cake.
About an hour into the celebration, Joe Reep grabbed a microphone to announce that his parents would now have their own donor-advised fund.
“He pulled a good one on me,” said Jeff Reep, 63, moments after the announcement. “It’s the most awesome gift we could imagine. It’s so cool — that we get to live on like this, and other people will benefit? I’m honored.”
Comfort Control started in 1980, shortly after Jeff and Joy married.
“Yeah — like the Monday after,” said Joy Reep, who worked as a copywriter at an ad agency at the time. She eventually left that job to work for the company.
The couple will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Aug. 30.
Joy Reep said she was overwhelmed by the gift.
“I’m proud, happy.”
She said she hopes they get to travel and spend time with grandchildren — who all live locally — in retirement.
