Every so often, an opportunity arrives that invites us to pause and imagine what is truly possible for our community. Recently, The Dayton Foundation partnered with Philanthropy Ohio and several other community foundations across the state in a research effort that offers a powerful glimpse into the future of generosity in Greater Dayton. The findings are nothing short of extraordinary.
Across our six‑county service area of Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Warren counties, $75.6 billion is expected to transfer from one generation to the next by 2035. Looking further ahead, that number grows to more than $215 billion by 2050. These aren’t simply economic projections. They are a reminder of the deep roots people have planted here, the lives they’ve built and the legacies they will one day leave behind. And within those legacies lies an incredible opportunity.
Imagine all the good our community could achieve if just 5 percent of the coming $75.6 billion wealth transfer went to charity.
Picture for a moment what our community could look like if each of us committed to leaving 5 percent of our estate to the local organizations that have helped shape our lives...more resources to help students thrive in school; expanded employment opportunities for individuals; increased financial assistance to keep families and individuals housed; stronger safety nets for individuals seeking mental health or addiction services; healthier resources for rural and underserved neighborhoods; increased support for a vibrant arts and cultural scene; and so much more.
If just 5 percent of the projected transfer of wealth was directed to charitable endowments – invested in perpetuity – our region could generate millions of dollars every year, permanently, to strengthen our nonprofits and the vital services they provide. It would mean a more resilient and thriving Greater Dayton for generations to come.
Let me share a few stories of Dayton Foundation fund holders whose generosity and legacies are shaping our community in meaningful ways.
Kay George
Centerville resident and longtime Dayton Foundation fund holder Kay George has furthered her charitable gifts through her Foundation funds while also carrying forward the legacy of her mother, Theresa, who passed in 2003. Theresa embodied a spirit of giving – from making bandages for soldiers during World War II to preparing meals for friends or family who were ill. “She was the go-to person when someone needed something,” said Kay in an article for The Dayton Foundation’s 2010-11 Report to the Community.
In addition to honoring both her mother and her father through grants awarded from her Dayton Foundation Charitable Checking Account,℠ Kay also advises the Theresa M. George Fund, which her mother established before her passing. That fund has awarded more than $1.5 million to the charitable causes most meaningful to her family.
Edythe and Lloyd E. Lewis, Jr.
The late Edythe Lewis, a former Dayton city commissioner and widow of Lloyd E. Lewis, Jr., saw many children suffering from acute health problems during her career as a public health nurse and school nurse during the 1950s and 1960s. “Many came to school so hungry that they couldn’t concentrate on their lessons,” she said in a 2003 Dayton Foundation article.
In 1989, the Lewises established the Lloyd and Edythe Lewis Fund for Black Children’s Health Care as part of the African-American Community Fund of The Dayton Foundation. While Edythe and Lloyd are no longer with us, their memory lives on through their endowed fund that has awarded grants totaling more than $97,000 to date. Their vision continues to meet the health needs of homeless and underserved children in our region – a promise they made to uphold in perpetuity 37 years ago.
Jane Scharrer
Growing up as an only child, Jane Scharrer felt that her pet dogs were an extension of her family. To celebrate her parents, who supported her lifelong devotion to animals, Jane established an endowed fund in 1997 that directs grants to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton and SICSA. “I hope that my gifts will help these organizations to continue their good work for animals in need for years to come,” Jane said in the Foundation’s 2003-04 Report to the Community.
Jane’s memory, along with those of her parents, endures today through the Albert H. and Helen N. Scharrer Fund, which has awarded more than $71,000 in grants to support animals in need.
These are just a few of the stories of individuals who have entrusted us to carry forward their charitable wishes and to share their stories for generations to come.
I encourage you to consider how you might weave your story into the fabric of Greater Dayton’s tomorrow. Whether through a fund at The Dayton Foundation or a bequest to an organization close to your heart, a planned gift, either large or small, has the power to reach far beyond a single lifetime. Michelle Lovely, senior vice president of Development and Donor Services, shares a few ideas on how you can accomplish this in our “Tips on Charitable Giving” column on page 10.
When the time is right, we are here to explore the Foundation’s charitable options with you and your advisors and help you shape a legacy that reflects your values and vision for the community you love. Together, we can ensure that the future you pass on is even brighter than the one you inherited.
– Michael M. Parks, CFRE, President