New Endowment Funds Fall/Winter 2022

Establishing a strong foundation for our community’s future is a vision shared by donors who have endowment funds at The Dayton Foundation. The following funds are some of the new endowments established by donors in recent months to support their special charitable causes and our region, now and in the future.

Bent Family Fund supports the charitable interests of the donors by providing funding to Glen Helen Association and Yellow Springs Community Foundation.

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Endowment Fund provides annual income for this culturally diverse contemporary dance company, which is committed to reaching the broadest audience through exceptional performance and arts-integrated education.

Mary Lynn Dorow Performing Arts Scholarship honors Mary Lynn Dorow, a devoted dance coach and survivor of ovarian cancer, who is known for her positive outlook and love for performing arts. This fund helps select seniors from Archbishop Alter High School further their education with scholarship assistance.

Jane A. Dunwoodie Funds carry out the charitable wishes of the donor by awarding grants to a variety of educational, arts and cultural organizations. Jane, a lifelong advocate for the arts who holds a degree in visual arts, finds fulfillment in knowing that her funds will continue to enrich the arts in our region for countless generations.

Amy Gerber Legacy Fund helps address human needs in Greater Dayton as determined by The Dayton Foundation’s Governing Board.

The Gerald C. and Lucille K. Helker Fund awards grants to further the impor-tant work of six nonprofit organizations that are important to the donors, including Dayton Art Institute and Hospice of Dayton. The Helkers were married for 61 years and active volunteers in the community.

Judy Hennessey I Have a Dream Scholarship provides tuition assistance for graduating Dayton Early College Academy seniors to further their educational pursuits. The fund was established in honor of this Dayton Public Schools alumna and former DECA superintendent who made it her mission to help prepare students coming from high poverty and high needs homes for college and career readiness.

James H. Hensley Legacy Fund remembers this civil engineer, University of Cincinnati graduate and longtime Wright-Patterson Air Force Base employee by supporting organizations working to improve the quality of life in Greater Dayton, as determined by The Dayton’s Foundation’s Governing Board.

Institute for Livable and Equitable Communities Fund facilitates collaborative effort and community engagement to launch programs and transform systems in the Miami Valley that contribute to a region where all people can thrive. The Institute strives to improve livability and equity across the regional community.

Dennis Johnson Scholarship Fund offers tuition and fee assistance to incoming freshmen at Purcell Marian Catholic High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Roberta Johnson and her children established this fund in memory of her husband, Dennis “Dennie” Johnson, a former Marianist brother and graduate of the University of Dayton, who served as principal of Purcell Marian.

The Laufersweiler Family Fund furthers the charitable activities of Tom and Joyce Laufersweiler. Their seven children could not be more proud, humbled and blessed to have parents who represented their community so well for more than 65 years. They feel that their parents’ positive impact will be felt for generations to come, and embody bible verse Matthew 25:21, “Well done, good and faithful servants.”

The Margaret and Paul C. Magill Fund helps support the operations of Dayton Opera Association, Denison University and the Music Fund of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Paul, known for his impeccable musicianship, was the first music department faculty member at Wright State University and created multiple choral groups at the University. He and his wife, Margaret, a former public relations professional and feature writer for the Kettering-Oakwood Times, shared a deep love of music throughout their 56-year marriage.

The Michael M. and Amy S. Parks Fund advances the charitable wishes of the donors by improving the quality of life in Greater Dayton, as determined by The Dayton Foundation’s Governing Board. Mike Parks, who has served as president of The Dayton Foundation since 2002, and his wife, Amy, have been married for 40 years and share four children and six grandchildren.

Richard N. and Billie R. Platt Fund provides operating revenue for Southminster Presbyterian Church. The fund remembers Richard “Dick” Platt and his wife, Billie, who were married for 54 years and found joy and fulfillment in serving various roles at their church.

Dr. Judy Royer Family Fund memorializes this former emergency room director and physician, who supported a myriad of causes, including women’s rights, education in native North American communities and nature conservation. This fund carries on her charitable legacy by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations focused on education, human services and environmental causes.

The Ruth Sharon Scanlan Advanced Teacher Training Seminar Scholarship awards grants to Muse Machine to send local arts teachers to participate in a five-day, immersive learning experience in New York City that helps them to create unique learning experiences for the students they serve. For many years, Sharon was a teacher at Northridge High School and enjoyed operating a baton studio after retirement while staying active with drum and bugle corps.

Harry A. and Phoebe Shaw Charitable Fund supports nonprofit organizations that help individuals experiencing hardships bridge to a new trajectory in their lives. Phoebe was a longtime volunteer and active with many charitable organizations in Dayton. Her husband, Harry, was an executive at Huffy and a community leader. Together they raised three children in Dayton.

William D. Stewart Charitable Fund distributes annual income to benefit the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, Kettering Fairmont High School and SICSA.

TCN Behavioral Health Services Fund provides support to this nonprofit organization whose mission is improving lives by providing clinically excellent and accessible behavioral health services through a vision of a strong community of healthy and productive individuals.

Louis, Margaret, Robert, Sue and Paul Turner Fund to Benefit Camp Mohaven distributes funds for capital expenses at Camp Mohaven in Danville, Ohio. The Camp offers 700 acres of lush forest bordering the Mohican River and is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Weiland Family Foundation supports the charitable interests of Carol Weiland and her late husband Robert “Jim” Weiland. Carol, a longtime community volunteer who loves UD basketball and to travel, and Jim, a longtime financial advisor who obtained a black belt in tae kwon do, have served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Associate Board of the Dayton Art Institute.