Foellinger Foundation Welcomes Sam Graves as Board Chair
Michael C. Moellering, Samuel R. Graves
Foellinger Foundation welcomed Samuel R. Graves as Board Chair as of January 1, 2024.
Sam joined the Foellinger Foundation Board of Directors in 2020 and served as the Vice Chair and Secretary in 2023. Sam’s involvement with the Foundation began in 2016, and includes service on the following committees: Community Interests Grant Review Advisory, Limited Asset Improvement, Audit, Investment and Finance, Board Development, Search, Leadership, and Thrive.
“My parents were very generous and modelled good citizenship to my family by volunteering often in our community in many ways,” explained Sam. “They regularly reminded my brothers and me that we were blessed, and we had a responsibility to help others with fewer opportunities. As an adult, I got involved with our community, specifically YLNI, at a time when our community was recreating itself, and I was quickly energized and engaged in doing my small part.”
Sam’s community service began in 2009, when he joined a committee for the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI). He served YLNI in a multitude of capacities from 2009–2015, including Vice President of Community Impact, Board Vice Chair, Board Chair, and various other committee roles. He continued his involvement as a board member of the YLNI Foundation from 2015–2019, serving as Board Chair for two years. Other organizations he has served include New Haven Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, and more. His leadership has continued to grow significantly since.
Sam continued, “I first became connected to Foellinger Foundation through a YLNI mentorship program. I was honored when I was selected to serve on the Foellinger Foundation Community Interest Grant Review Advisory Committee in 2016, and I have been honored to serve in every Foellinger Foundation role since.”
He continued, “I hope to continue to grow and evolve into the Board Chair that this organization deserves. I am eager to work with the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Staff, with Sarah Strimmenos as our new President & CEO, on shaping the next evolution of the Foellinger Foundation. It is exciting and challenging, but we are ready for it.”
Sam is preceded by Michael C. Moellering, who served as Board Chair from 2019–2023. Michael joined the board as a director in 2015, and will continue as a director as Sam assumes the Board Chair role.
“I have a deep respect for Michael and his leadership,” said Sam. “Mike served as Board Chair through five transitional years for the Foundation. Through it all, he kept a steady and professional focus on the ideals of Foellinger Foundation and its family legacy. We are immensely grateful for his stewardship.”
“Michael has carried forward our founders’ legacy, committed to uplifting our community’s most vulnerable residents, especially those with the greatest economic need and least opportunity,” said Sarah Strimmenos, Foellinger Foundation President. “We are so grateful for his contributions and leadership, and are excited to welcome Sam into this role next.”
“It has been an honor to serve Foellinger Foundation in every capacity I have so far,” said Moellering. “I look forward to continuing my service as a Director, working alongside Sam as Board Chair, as we uphold the Foellinger family’s values: integrity, accountability, responsibility, and results.”