Pressing On
Foellinger Foundation exists today because of the generosity of the Foellinger family. But how did the Foellinger family generate their wealth? Their family values of integrity, accountability, responsibility, and results—plus a commitment to civic involvement—led to successes for both the family, and all of Allen County.
Honest, Hard Work
Oscar Foellinger, born in 1885, chose to forgo high school in favor of entering the workforce and joining the Indiana National Guard. Soon, his business prowess led him to become the Journal Gazette’s business manager at twenty-one years old.
After exploring other opportunities, Oscar would return to the newspaper business in 1912, guiding business operations of the News Publishing Company (publisher of Fort Wayne Daily News). Under Oscar’s leadership, they would acquire the Sentinel newspaper. News Publishing Company then merged the Daily News and the Sentinel, creating The News-Sentinel.
When one of the company’s two partners died in 1920, the News Publishing Company was sold to Oscar Foellinger, and it became the most popular newspaper in Fort Wayne, growing its reach, influence, and financial standing. The News-Sentinel grew to have one of the highest per capita circulations in the country.
Molding the Next Generation
Oscar’s oldest daughter, Helene, held a predominant interest in the newspaper business at a young age—serving as the editor of the newspaper at South Side High School and the University of Illinois.
“I grew up listening to the presses. My sister and I always played in the plant as kids. Working in a newspaper is always what I wanted to do.”
– Helene Foellinger
Following her college graduation in 1932, Helene began her career as a reporter and features writer for The News-Sentinel. Soon after, she became editor and columnist for the new women’s section. She also became a director of the News Publishing Company in 1935.
Helene Takes Over the Business
In 1936, while on a hunting trip in the Canadian Rockies, Oscar suffered a heart attack and died at age 51.
“His town, the state and the country loses a real leader of unfailing service. His lifetime was given to the upbuilding of everything for which American ideals must stand.”
– President Herbert Hoover on the loss of Oscar Foellinger
Upon his death, Helene assumed the role as Publisher of The News-Sentinel at age 25—making her the youngest publisher and one of the few women publishers in the country at the time. In the first five years under Helene’s watch, the newspaper’s circulation grew dramatically.
Innovating the Industry
Helene Foellinger created a groundbreaking Joint Operating Agreement in 1950 that consolidated operations of The News-Sentinel and the Journal Gazette. The newly created corporation was named Fort Wayne Newspapers, Inc. Helene was 40 years old at the time, and was nationally lauded for her business acumen, innovation, and achievement.
“When I first took this on, 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. And I wanted them to respect me.”
– Helene Foellinger
Several years later, Helene and Esther created Foellinger Foundation.
“We felt, very frankly, when we were going to Europe in 1958, that anything could happen to us. We started the foundation so if anything should happen to us, we wanted the foundation to carry on the newspaper, and also have a vehicle in which we could make gifts. It would be easier than as individuals.”
– Helene Foellinger
Helene Sells the Business and Retires
In 1980, Helene sold the newspaper to Knight-Ridder for nearly 70 million dollars.
"Things change, and you have to change with them. In 1969, the tax laws were changed, and it was going to make it impossible for the Foellinger Foundation to run the newspaper indefinitely. I chose Knight-Ridder because I've known the Knights—and the Ridders—down through the years and always thought they did a good job of running newspapers."
– Helene Foellinger
Following its sale, Helene retired in 1981 after serving The News-Sentinel for 49 years. She celebrated countless accolades throughout her career, including being the first woman to be inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.
Upon Helene’s passing, Foellinger Foundation was the recipient of the family’s accumulated wealth. The Foellingers believed that the residents of Allen County were the primary source of their success, and should be the ones to benefit from it.
To date, Foellinger Foundation has invested more than 250 million dollars in Allen County nonprofit organizations.