TROY, OH (November 24, 2015)—Recent months have seen several major developments for The Paul G. Duke Foundation, including the election of a new president of the board of trustees and announcement of several new grants to benefit nonprofit organizations in the Miami County area. The trustees look forward to announcing further changes during the coming year.
Under the auspices of Patricia Duke Robinson, president emerita, the Duke Foundation’s trustees have been engaged in a lengthy process of discussion of the Foundation’s role in the community and plans for the future. This process has been undertaken as part of Mrs. Robinson’s plan to turn over the governance of the Duke Foundation to trustees selected from the community.
“Being able to make this change in a proactive, collaborative process at this time is very good for the future stability of the Duke Foundation and for the children, families and communities impacted,” said Mrs. Robinson. “I thank the current dedicated Duke board members who are from the community and want to make a difference.”
“Speaking for all the Duke Foundation board members,” said Linda A. Daniel, recently elected president of the board, “we accept the responsibility and privilege of governing and leading this organization. The opportunity for continued community grantmaking support which Pat Robinson has created with this transition process is a testament to her vision and for her understanding of what is needed for the future. We will look to Pat for continued guidance and support as the Duke Foundation moves ahead.”
Ms. Daniel joined Mrs. Robinson; Paul A. Hanke, Esq.; B. Mark Hess, M.D.; William J. McGraw, III, Esq.; and Ronald B. Scott on the Duke Foundation’s board of trustees in 2013. Her current business, Daniel Consulting LLC, provides business development/strategic planning services. Previously during her career, she has served in vice-president roles at UVMC and at Peoples/Mainsource Bank and also has served as executive director for Hospice of Miami County. She has a long history of involvement in Miami Valley nonprofits and is a leader within the community as well as a 2012 YWCA Woman of Excellence.
Mrs. Robinson, Ms. Daniel, and the trustees are pleased to share that among the results of their conversations about the Duke Foundation and its future role in the region was their adoption of a formal mission statement: to be a catalyst to enhance the quality of life in the Miami County area.
As one component of the discussion process, Mrs. Robinson has encouraged the trustees to increase their involvement with area nonprofit organizations. At one recent gathering with representatives of 23 groups serving the Miami County area, the trustees were interested to learn that among the most pressing issues facing the community are problems related to substance abuse or to substandard housing and the need for jobs. The trustees look forward to taking information from the gathering into account as they consider the Duke Foundation’s future grantmaking.
“With this transition from a family foundation to more of a community foundation, I am pleased that the Duke Foundation will be well-positioned into the future for continued support of the wonderful non-profit organizations in Miami County and the surrounding area. I know that my father, Paul Duke, who started this foundation, would feel the same way.”
The Duke Foundation’s trustees are pleased to announce several grants to benefit the Miami County area. One grant has assisted the City of Troy with the expansion of Paul G. Duke Park. The City is adding on to the 154-acre park, which opened in 1995, through the purchase of almost 118 acres of adjacent farmland. The Foundation is part of a public-private funding coalition that enabled the purchase. Plans for new recreational facilities to be developed on the land are already in progress. The Duke Foundation has supported a wide variety of recreational opportunities for Troy area residents and visitors, from skateboarding to live dramatic performances.
Additional organizations receiving grants are:
Partners In Hope Inc.
To support technology/telephone upgrades and staff software training to enhance organizational capacity.
Troy Lions Charities
To support the Sight Conservation Program in Troy, Piqua, and other areas of Miami County.
Troy Recreation Association, Inc.
To support the Summer Lunch Buddy program to provide Troy students in grades K-6 with a free lunch and literacy program.
As the Duke Foundation trustees are considering developments related to the Foundation’s grantmaking activities, information about eligibility, guidelines for submitting proposals, and submission deadlines will be available at paulgdukefoundation.org in 2016.
The Paul G. Duke Foundation, a Supporting Foundation of The Columbus Foundation, was established in 1983. It has a long history of philanthropic support for nonprofit organizations. Paul Duke, businessman and philanthropist, evolved his local Duke Garden Centers into a national lawn and garden service, Chem-Lawn. The proceeds from the sale of that business enabled Mr. Duke to generously support many community projects and charitable programs and to found the Duke Foundation. The trustees thank Patricia Duke Robinson for over thirty years of outstanding leadership and for the thoughtful planning that will enable the community to build on the tradition of philanthropy she and her father began.