After the passing of beloved community leader and former Foellinger board member David Bobilya, the Foundation created an award in his honor. This award recognizes the importance of individual board members of nonprofit organizations in the areas of governance, leadership, financial sustainability and program impact.

Foellinger Foundation presented the 2019 David A. Bobilya Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award to Thomas (Tom) M. Kimbrough at the Foundation’s Leadership Luncheon held on October 30 for his work with YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne.

“Mr. Kimbrough has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the best interests of the YMCA, and the community as a whole,” said Michael Moellering, Foellinger Foundation Board Chair.

Tom has led the organization through strategic planning, board policy changes, membership policy changes, capital campaigns and countless other governance issues, all while helping the Y’s massive growth in our community. 

For more than 25 years, Mr. Kimbrough’s leadership has been a steady guiding force for the YMCA. He has been a part of the committees to hire a new CEO and build new branches. His peers recognize the consideration and dedication to the entire community that goes in to Tom’s leadership style. The national YMCA also recognized this by naming Mr. Kimbrough the recipient of the 2005 Red Triangle Award for volunteer leadership.

The YMCA has been greatly impacted by Tom’s dedication to financial sustainability. He was among the first board members to actively participate in fundraising and connect major donors to several capital projects. Mr. Kimbrough has also helped the organization diversify its income streams while continuing its mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

During Tom Kimbrough’s leadership, the YMCA budget has grown from $4,000,000 in 1997 to $20,000,000 in 2019, serving more than 90,000 people.

“David Bobilya embodied the principles of accountability, responsibility, integrity and results that drive the work of Foellinger Foundation. We are pleased to present this award to Mr. Thomas Kimbrough and celebrate strong leadership in our community,” said Cheryl Taylor, Foellinger Foundation President.

Mr. Kimbrough remarked, “I am very honored to win this award as David was a very good friend for many years and I was able to observe first hand David’s great leadership and impact in this community. David possessed the uncanny ability to motivate and inspire leadership through his gentle and thoughtful comments and deeds. Everyone who dealt with David understood that he truly had everyone’s best interest in mind at all times during any decision-making process. I am very humbled to receive the first award named in his honor and truly thank the Foellinger Foundation which every day makes a meaningful difference to everyone in our community. We sometimes take for granted how blessed we all are to have the Foellinger Foundation which provides such great leadership, stewardship and resources to our entire community.”

Thomas Kimbrough, 2019 David A. Bobilya Award Recipient, Cheryl K. Taylor, Foellinger Foundation President and CEO