Foellinger Foundation’s grantmaking reflects our founders’ interest in encouraging a community of self-reliant citizens, with a commitment to the Foellinger family’s values and principles: integrity, accountability, responsibility, and results.

Foellinger Foundation was established with lifetime gifts from Helene Foellinger, proceeds from Helene and her mother Esther’s estates, and contributions from The News Publishing Company (which Helene was publisher of from 1936-1980) until The News-Sentinel was sold in 1980.

Helene became publisher at just 25 years old, making her the youngest, and one of the few female, publishers in the country at the time. She would hold herself accountable to doing the job with integrity, earning the respect of her peers and her community.

“When I first took [on the position of News-Sentinel Publisher], women were not in executive positions very much. I sensed a certain resentment, or certainly not an acceptance. I decided not to push my way in. I decided I’d earn this respect.

– Helene Foellinger

"[They gave me a chance, and I gave them] the determination to do a good job. I was perfectly willing to sacrifice a lot of things, which I'm sure I did. There were long, long hours, and I was willing to do it,” said Helene.

The founding of Foellinger Foundation ultimately ensured their legacy—that should anything ever happen to them on their travels, or after they passed away, their dollars would be stewarded in the way they intended them to be. That children and families in Allen County would be uplifted, especially those with the greatest economic need and least opportunity. The board of directors would—and still do to this day—make decisions that are true to our donor’s intent.

Helene’s commitment to accountability was also reflected in her service on nonprofit boards in our community. That’s why, in 2016, we introduced the Helene Foellinger Leadership Development Initiative—to support, strengthen, and inspire nonprofit leadership in Allen County.

Helene’s community leadership included service to the following organizations: 

• Allen County Cancer Society

• Allen County Chapter National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis

• Allen County Tuberculosis Association

• Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

• Fort Wayne Better Business Bureau

• Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce (Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.)

• Fort Wayne Chapter American Red Cross

• Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

• Fort Wayne Fine Arts Foundation (Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne)

• Fort Wayne Foundation (Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne)

• Fort Wayne Museum of Art

• Fort Wayne Park Foundation (Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation)

• Fort Wayne Philharmonic

• Fort Wayne Visitors & Convention Bureau (Visit Fort Wayne)

• Junior Achievement or Northern Indiana 

• St. Joseph Hospital Foundation

• and more

Through her hard work for The News-Sentinel, financial investments, and board service to Allen County nonprofits, Helene Foellinger has created more opportunities for Fort Wayne citizens to thrive.

"I think if I had it all to do over again, I'd do the same thing. When I think back of tackling this thing—in 1936—knowing what I know now, I wonder if I'd have the courage. But I'm glad I did it. See, I had an awful lot of good people. No one ever does anything alone."

Foellinger Foundation was created in 1958 by Helene and Esther Foellinger to carry forward their family’s tradition of civic involvement and active concern for the well-being of their community. Our funding comes from lifetime gifts from Helene, proceeds from Helene and Esther’s estates, and contributions from The News Publishing Company (which Helene was publisher of from 1936-1980) until The News-Sentinel was sold in 1980.