Foellinger Foundation was founded in 1958 by Helene Foellinger and her mother, Esther—and it exists due to their family’s philanthropic interest and tradition.

The Foellingers were more than philanthropists, though. First, they were a family, and cared deeply for one another in all they did. This passion for family extended beyond the walls of their own homes, though—they embraced their entire community as family, as well. 

Whatever may be said about human beings, they are, as a whole, a family.”

– Helene Foellinger

Always in the spirit of family, the Foellingers were passionate about animals, nature, art, and travel. 

Animals and Nature 

Helene, and her entire family, were passionate about animals and nature. Much of their leisure time revolved around it, and many family vacations involved traveling to national parks and participating in outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. Helene was especially passionate about horses, owning several throughout her lifetime. 

Helene and her mother played a significant role in the opening of the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory in 1983. Helene directed Foellinger Foundation to help fund this project in honor of her late mother, Esther, who had initially suggested the idea decades earlier and was passionate about gardening and flowers. The Botanical Conservatory was additionally funded by the Freimann Trust.

Art

Helene’s father, Oscar, was the publisher of The News-Sentinel until his unexpected death in 1936. Upon his death, Helene became one of the youngest publishers in the country at age 25, and one of few women publishers as well. During her tenure, she attended and wrote about the arts and advocated for their importance in society. 

Helene’s father, Oscar, was particularly passionate about the performing arts and creating opportunities for the public to enjoy them together. Originally known as the New-Sentinel Outdoor Theatre, the Foellinger Theatre received a gift under the direction of Helene to honor Oscar. The News-Sentinel Theatre burned down in a fire in 1972 and reopened as Foellinger Theatre in 1976, again with the generous support of Helene.

Family

Esther and Oscar married in 1909, and in 1910, Helene was born. Four years later, Helene’s sister, Loretta, was born. Helene and Loretta both graduated from South Side High School and University of Illinois. In 1950, at age 35, Loretta and her husband, Dick Teeple, died in a plane crash.   

Their family was very close, bonded even further by the tragedies they endured together and the wonderful opportunities their family worked hard to secure. These experiences deepened Helene’s interest in supporting early childhood, youth, and families—helping them access opportunities so they could, in turn, help themselves create a life of their choosing.  

Travel 

The Foellingers were avid travelers, and Helene thoroughly and vividly documented their travels in writing, photo, and video. Through their travels, their experiences and perspectives were expanded, but they still always chose to call Fort Wayne home. Their passion for the wellbeing of their own community and the individuals in it was one of the core reasons they created the Foundation.

These interests shaped the family’s individual giving, and they still influence the Foundation’s activities today.