Leverage

Even a phone call to learn about Peggy and Charles McCreight’s story as generous givers includes some of “the crew” — a son, daughter, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. But they are only a small part of the more than 25 members of the four generations of McCreights, all who reflect the heart of the patriarch and matriarch, Charles and Peggy. They’re spread from South Carolina to Texas to Colorado and range in age from infant (the 13th great-grandchild) to 89 (Charles). 

The short story on the McCreights is that they have given away well over half of their net worth over the years, quietly giving to causes and charities and, as important, giving their time, expertise, and energy as mentors to hundreds of
people — on life, raising children, and marriage — and to their community in Sumter, South Carolina. But in the beginning, giving away money was a difficult challenge, especially for Charles.

Charles came from humble beginnings. His father had a stroke as a young adult, so Charles had to learn the gift of hard work as a teenager. By the age of 17, he was managing four Piggly Wiggly grocery stores, then served in the Army Air Corps for two years during World War II, and went on to college and became an architect. With a successful practice underway, Charles and Peggy sought financial counsel. His reaction to words of advice from his financial advisor was skeptical: “I told Peggy, ‘That man is going to take all of the money we have and just give it away.’ I admit I had a bad attitude at first.”

Peggy had a different reaction. An only child, Peggy’s father worked incessantly to climb the corporate ladder and was financially successful. After her father passed away, she inherited a sizeable concentration of stock in the company where her father had worked for many years. When Peggy became a Christian and began reading the Bible, she realized that God owns it all — it’s His. “I saw the ‘blessing’ of money in a different way — it wasn’t about success, hard work, and pushing yourself,” says Peggy. “I had experienced a family life where money did not necessarily make people happy, even though it’s what many people believe and are looking for. So I was more ready and very open to giving money away.” 

Charles came around to Peggy’s thinking and the more they gave away, the more their net worth actually grew. “It was,” says Peggy, “proof that you can’t out give God.” Over the years, the McCreights became faithful supporters of Focus on
the Family, Compassion International, Sumter Crisis Pregnancy Center, and Walk Through the Bible, as well as missionaries affiliated with their church.  Charles volunteered extensively in the community, at one point being named South Carolina Volunteer of the Year, and contributed pro bono architectural work to several new buildings in Sumter County. Peggy says, “Our hearts desire to give is all by the grace of God.” But it’s their personal touch over the years that so many recount when they talk about the generous hearts of the McCreights.

Daughter-in-law Karen McCreight says that Peggy and Charles invest heavily in the people of their community. “Peggy has counseled an endless number of women, inviting them into her home and sharing wisdom on how to apply biblical principles to life and marriage,” says Karen. “Peggy and Charles also did that for many couples. They would have young couples over to talk about how to give freely from your heart. They have influenced families in this community in ways it’s hard to describe.” 

The McCreights’ biggest gift to their children and grandchildren is not financial, says daughter Nancy. “Certainly they’ve been very generous to us, but they’ve truly modeled giving and how it has to come from the heart,” she says. “They
never used money to manipulate us; they always gave with no strings attached and no expectations. As believers, we know that God calls us to give and that’s our heart’s desire. We clearly saw that in our parents.”

Son Bobby offers an additional perspective on his parents’ generosity. “We were taught it could be taken away at any moment — from disaster, a business downturn, the stock market — and that we shouldn’t put our value and trust in money because God truly does own it all, and we know He doesn’t need our money. Our parents did stress making wise decisions and being accountable for decisions. That’s something we’ve passed down to our own children.”  

The McCreights’ generous hearts can now be seen in the third generation of the family. Many of the grandchildren have been active in organizations such as Young Life, including helping to raise funds for those less fortunate to be able to participate in Young Life programs. One granddaughter and her husband, who were married their senior year in college, were active in hosting dinners at their home for the Clemson University football team, and ministering to many of the team members. They continue that today as the grandson-in-law is a graduate assistant coach for Clemson’s football team. Another grandson helped start a non-profit program to assist war veterans in need.

One way that the family legacy continues to be passed on is at their annual summer week at the beach. In fact, “beach week” is almost legendary among the family members and friends who have gone. For over 50 years, Charles and Peggy have hosted all of the extended family that can come. The week has certainly grown from just Charles and Peggy and their four children, now requiring four houses for about 40 people in four generations. It is a cherished time of fun, fellowship, and instilling family values. Charles gets choked up when he recalls moments such as the adults playing volleyball on the beach and the young people in the house having a Bible study. Son Bobby recalls friends in Sumter who joined the McCreight family at the beach remarking that it was the first time in their lives they experienced a daily devotional around the breakfast table — “My parents were always planting seeds in young people’s hearts,” Bobby says. 

One year recently, the great-grandchildren set up a lemonade stand during beach week. Working in the summer heat they raised more than $60 at their lemonade stand, with the money designated to help someone less fortunate go to a summer camp. Granddaughter Ann Elizabeth holds these memories close in her heart — for her, they are symbolic of everything her grandparents stand for. “When I think of the word generosity, I automatically think of my grandparents. For them, it’s not about the money; it’s about the important things like investing in your family and instilling values. Giving is just the constant condition of their hearts.”