Active in a wide variety of interests and charitable organizations, Dan and Lori Efroymson brought dramatic change to The Indianapolis Foundation – and the landscape of philanthropy in central Indiana. Like the Efroymsons who came before, Lori and Dan had a strategic vision for their philanthropy and how it might better serve the community. By encouraging “donor-advised” funds made by living people, they would dramatically increase the number of those who gave their money to help not-for-profit organizations. They oversaw the beginnings of a regional community foundation, Central Indiana Community Foundation.
A couple who prefer to remain anonymous started the Lotus Fund in 2005 after they sold their business. In naming their fund, they noted that the Lotus flower symbolizes a vital force that can withstand extremely adverse conditions and not only persevere, but create beauty in its environment. This philosophy drives their giving to disaster relief, animals and the environment, grief and healing, and giving people tools to be self-sufficient.
“What can be more logical, in whatever you want done, than finding someone better equipped than you are to do it? Who wouldn’t want Tiger Woods to take his place in a high-stakes golf game? That’s how I feel about this decision about my money.”
So said Warren Buffett in June 2006 when announcing he would donate the vast majority of his fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Jim and Gina Bremner established the Bremner Family Fund in 2006. CICF asked the Bremners to share why they started the fund and what they hope to accomplish with their philanthropy.
Our community lost a gentle and generous soul on August 15, 2006. Frank C. Springer, Jr., spent over 50 years contributing to, volunteering in, and enriching dozens of arts and charitable organizations in central Indiana.
Through his will, F.R. "Bob" Hensel established a trust fund to benefit his wife. After her death in 1992, the trust created the "F.R. Hensel Fund for Fine Arts, Music and Education" at The Indianapolis Foundation. CICF's highly-regarded investment performance has grown Mr. Hensel's fund from the original gift of $907,000 to almost $1.8 million!
Frances supported her church with love and commitment while she was living. Now, her estate gift will impact the place and people she cared so deeply about beyond her lifetime.
During all of her adult life, Gertrude Appel cared deeply about education; its quality and its availability to all who wanted to achieve. Through her will, she had the foresight to leave money to charity to help fund college education.
The Indianapolis Foundation Community Endowment’s largest gift in 2005 was more than $500,000 from the estate of Ms. Betty Jane Boettcher. Behind this generous spirit was a story of a woman who experienced hard times earlier in her life.
Karen and I wanted to support this community, one that has given us so much. We had worked with CICF previously and found their expertise and administrative capabilities to be of significant benefit to us and those that we serve.
Minnie Vandivier grew up in the early 1900s surrounded by fertile farmland just a short distance from Franklin, Indiana. As an adult, she moved to the south side of Indianapolis and worked for the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, but never married. When her parents died in the early 1970’s, she inherited the family farm. The 194 acres contained rented farmland and two rental houses.
"My mother was chair of the March of Dimes in Hamilton County for many years. I can remember going door-to-door with her collecting dimes when I was five or six years old."
Delavan Smith was a notable Indianapolis businessman who spent most of his career as publisher of The Indianapolis News for 24 years, beginning in 1892 until his death in 1922. His dominant interest in the paper’s direction was its influence for good in public affairs and its intellectual side. At the paper, he was known to refer to employees as his "newspaper family" and cordially chatted with many of them as he walked the halls, calling most of them by name.
Jesse and his wife, the late Beulah Cox, left a legacy that central Indiana will enjoy for years to come. In July 1999, Jesse and Beulah donated 125 acres and three homes on their property to the Hamilton County Parks Department. This donation fulfilled Jessie and Beulah’s dream to give back to the community in which they lived.
"I think it is important to give back to the community. We have been fortunate to have had talents and a good education. I believe being philanthropic is the morally responsible thing to do if you have been blessed with resources," said Barbara.
Ramon and Karen Figueira grew up on opposite sides of the ocean yet share a deep desire to contribute to philanthropic causes. Their CICF Fund, the Figueira Family Foundation, benefits various charities in their areas of interest.
"It would be nice if my parents were here," said Stan, who retired from Eli Lilly and Company in 1989 after 32½ years of service. "But, if I can’t do something for my parents at least I can do something in their honor."
Lisa Stone grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Harry E. Wood High School in 1972. She received a $400 scholarship from The Indianapolis Foundation, in addition to other scholarships, to attend Indiana University in Bloomington.
Going to college can seem daunting when you’re the first person in your family to attend. Except for guidance counselors and friends, there’s no one to help you navigate through a foreign system of tuition, scholarships, class schedules, dorms, or roommates. Yet, that first step towards higher education can change one life and lives for generations to come.
The Indianapolis Retirement Home, a 137-year-old community institution, has entrusted CICF with its $10 million endowment. The Home’s board of directors will continue to work with CICF on how the Fund will support elderly care needs in our community forever.
When Tom and Livia Harford had to face the reality that their 20-year-old son, Karl, had been robbed and fatally shot March 7, 2004, in Muncie, they wanted to remember him in a special way.
Created in 1892, Summer Mission for Sick Children was a private foundation with a long history of serving the Indianapolis community. Impressed by CICF's extensive knowledge about their favorite organizations and strong investment portfolio, the directors transfered their private foundation and created a donor-advised endowment fund with CICF.
As one of nearly 600 funds at CICF, the O’Bannon Foundation is a donor-advised fund that will allow the O’Bannon family to support their favorite charitable organizations and causes without having to worry about accounting, tax, or legal administration.
When his father left him at three with his invalid mother in a roach-and-rat-infested, one-room apartment in the Irish Hill area, near Fountain Square, the Boys’ Club on English Avenue (now one of five Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis) was the only place Jim East could find adult mentors who gave him the confidence he needed to succeed.
Time is money. How often have you heard that? But in the case of the Meyer Family Endowment Fund, it proved true.
Active in a wide variety of interests and charitable organizations, Dan and Lori Efroymson brought dramatic change to The Indianapolis Foundation – and the landscape of philanthropy in central Indiana. Like the Efroymsons who came before, Lori and Dan had a strategic vision for their philanthropy and how it might better serve the community. By encouraging “donor-advised” funds made by living people, they would dramatically increase the number of those who gave their money to help not-for-profit organizations. They oversaw the beginnings of a regional community foundation, Central Indiana Community Foundation.
A couple who prefer to remain anonymous started the Lotus Fund in 2005 after they sold their business. In naming their fund, they noted that the Lotus flower symbolizes a vital force that can withstand extremely adverse conditions and not only persevere, but create beauty in its environment. This philosophy drives their giving to disaster relief, animals and the environment, grief and healing, and giving people tools to be self-sufficient.
Jim and Gina Bremner established the Bremner Family Fund in 2006. CICF asked the Bremners to share why they started the fund and what they hope to accomplish with their philanthropy.
Our community lost a gentle and generous soul on August 15, 2006. Frank C. Springer, Jr., spent over 50 years contributing to, volunteering in, and enriching dozens of arts and charitable organizations in central
Through his will, F.R. "Bob" Hensel established a trust fund to benefit his wife. After her death in 1992, the trust created the "F.R. Hensel Fund for Fine Arts, Music and Education" at The Indianapolis Foundation. CICF's highly-regarded investment performance has grown Mr. Hensel's fund from the original gift of $907,000 to almost $1.8 million! 
Frances supported her church with love and commitment while she was living. Now, her estate gift will impact the place and people she cared so deeply about beyond her lifetime.
During all of her adult life, Gertrude Appel cared deeply about education; its quality and its availability to all who wanted to achieve. Through her will, she had the foresight to leave money to charity to help fund college education.
The Indianapolis Foundation Community Endowment’s largest gift in 2005 was more than $500,000 from the estate of Ms. Betty Jane Boettcher. Behind this generous spirit was a story of a woman who experienced hard times earlier in her life.
Karen and I wanted to support this community, one that has given us so much. We had worked with CICF previously and found their expertise and administrative capabilities to be of significant benefit to us and those that we serve.
Minnie Vandivier grew up in the early 1900s surrounded by fertile farmland just a short distance from Franklin, Indiana. As an adult, she moved to the south side of Indianapolis and worked for the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, but never married. When her parents died in the early 1970’s, she inherited the family farm. The 194 acres contained rented farmland and two rental houses.
"My mother was chair of the March of Dimes in Hamilton County for many years. I can remember going door-to-door with her collecting dimes when I was five or six years old."
A story by Peggy Monson, Barnabas Fund advisor, Legacy Fund board member, presented at "Giving Back, Going Forward 2005."
"I like to see things bloom," said Virginia Melin. "It motivates me to give back to the community."
Delavan Smith was a notable Indianapolis businessman who spent most of his career as publisher of The Indianapolis News for 24 years, beginning in 1892 until his death in 1922. His dominant interest in the paper’s direction was its influence for good in public affairs and its intellectual side. At the paper, he was known to refer to employees as his "newspaper family" and cordially chatted with many of them as he walked the halls, calling most of them by name.
Jesse and his wife, the late Beulah Cox, left a legacy that central Indiana will enjoy for years to come. In July 1999, Jesse and Beulah donated 125 acres and three homes on their property to the Hamilton County Parks Department. This donation fulfilled Jessie and Beulah’s dream to give back to the community in which they lived.
"I think it is important to give back to the community. We have been fortunate to have had talents and a good education. I believe being philanthropic is the morally responsible thing to do if you have been blessed with resources," said Barbara.
Ramon and Karen Figueira grew up on opposite sides of the ocean yet share a deep desire to contribute to philanthropic causes. Their CICF Fund, the Figueira Family Foundation, benefits various charities in their areas of interest.
"It would be nice if my parents were here," said Stan, who retired from Eli Lilly and Company in 1989 after 32½ years of service. "But, if I can’t do something for my parents at least I can do something in their honor."
Lisa Stone grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Harry E. Wood High School in 1972. She received a $400 scholarship from The Indianapolis Foundation, in addition to other scholarships, to attend Indiana University in Bloomington.
Alphonso Perceval Pettis was a businessman, world traveler, philanthropist, and the first benefactor of The Indianapolis Foundation.
Going to college can seem daunting when you’re the first person in your family to attend. Except for guidance counselors and friends, there’s no one to help you navigate through a foreign system of tuition, scholarships, class schedules, dorms, or roommates. Yet, that first step towards higher education can change one life and lives for generations to come.
The Indianapolis Retirement Home, a 137-year-old community institution, has entrusted CICF with its $10 million endowment. The Home’s board of directors will continue to work with CICF on how the Fund will support elderly care needs in our community forever.
When Tom and Livia Harford had to face the reality that their 20-year-old son, Karl, had been robbed and fatally shot March 7, 2004, in Muncie, they wanted to remember him in a special way.
As one of nearly 600 funds at CICF, the O’Bannon Foundation is a donor-advised fund that will allow the O’Bannon family to support their favorite charitable organizations and causes without having to worry about accounting, tax, or legal administration.
When his father left him at three with his invalid mother in a roach-and-rat-infested, one-room apartment in the Irish Hill area, near Fountain Square, the Boys’ Club on English Avenue (now one of five Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis) was the only place Jim East could find adult mentors who gave him the confidence he needed to succeed.
