Premier Impacts the Future Through its Foundation

Premier’s goal is to make a difference for all eternity. In the entertainment industry, it’s easy to get caught up in the here and now. Who’s popular? Whose song has been at No.1 for weeks running? Who’s the up and coming talent?

With the Premier Group the focus is always on the eternal. So in December 1999, owners Gary Gentry and Roy Morgan formed the charitable arm of Premier - the Premier Foundation, a 501(c) (3) – a federally tax-exempt foundation that gives grants to other, nonprofit Christian organizations.

“It came about out of our desire to really impact the world around us for the Gospel of Christ,” said Gentry, “even more so than what we can do individually and beyond our own capabilities. We all have limits on our time, talents, finances and so on. But through a nonprofit foundation that raises money and gives it back to kingdom work, we can do a much more significant amount over a longer period of time.”

“Our goal is to grow this foundation so that it will continue to make a difference for Christ long after we are gone,” he said.

Although the foundation is in the building stages, the owners have seen significant contributions through the silent auctions they have sponsored on each music cruises orchestrated by Premier Christian Cruises. In previous auctions, there have been such items as a basketball signed by Jerry West, one of the top 50 NBA players in history, a ball signed by Larry Brown, coach for the world champion Detroit Pistons, a Gold Record signed by Point of Grace band members and an autographed copy of Sean Hannity and Oliver North’s book. So far, more than $1 million has been raised for the foundation since its inception and nearly $500,000 has been given away.

Every year, the foundation donates a portion of its net worth to other Christian organizations such as missions, churches, radio stations and pro-life ministries. The foundation’s trustees and board members volunteer their time to administer the fund.

“Every penny is used for ministry,” Gentry said.

If you are interested in supporting the mission of The Premier Foundation, send your tax-deductible donation to The Premier Foundation, 116 North Wynward Pointe Drive, Salem, S.C. 29676.