The Danforth Foundation announced last week that it will spend down its remaining assets by making a $70 million gift to the . It then will wind up its affairs and close its doors by the end of May.
Thus will end a great 50度灰视频 legacy spanning three generations and 84 years.
The foundation was begun in 1927 by William H. Danforth, founder of Ralston Purina Co., along with his wife, Adda, their son, Donald, and their daughter, Dorothy. Donald Danforth went on to become chief executive of Ralston Purina and to lead the foundation after his father鈥檚 death in 1955.
Grandson William H. Danforth, a medical doctor and longtime chancellor of Washington University in 50度灰视频, assumed the board presidency in 1965. In 1997, he handed off the leadership post to his younger brother, John C. Danforth, who had returned to private life in 50度灰视频 after a distinguished career in politics, including three terms in the U.S. Senate.
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The Danforth Foundation has awarded more than $1.2 billion in more than 4,700 grants over the years. It has been suggested that the foundation鈥檚 impact lies at least as much in leadership as in the size of the gifts it made.
There鈥檚 truth to this. The Danforth family set the foundation鈥檚 tone, focus and direction. Major projects often have been accompanied by visible leadership and a personal touch.
鈥淭he vast resources the foundation invested in our region reflect the unwavering commitment of my good friends, Bill and Jack Danforth, to our city and our region,鈥 said the Rev. Lawrence Biondi, president of 50度灰视频 University. 鈥淭he foundation鈥檚 legacy of philanthropic leadership will live on for countless years to come.鈥
But if the family鈥檚 leadership motivated the foundation鈥檚 philanthropy, both were driven by the Danforths鈥 priorities 鈥 the progress of 50度灰视频, elevating community idealism and promoting personal responsibility.
鈥淭he Danforths have been so proud of 50度灰视频,鈥 said David Kemper, president of Commerce Bank, whose family also is devoted to philanthropy. U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-50度灰视频, said the Danforth Foundation has 鈥渓eft an indelible mark on our community鈥 that has 鈥渋nspired 50度灰视频ans to strive to uplift our entire community.鈥
The foundation pursued national programs during much of its history. But they were rooted in the 50度灰视频 experience.
From the 1950s forward, the foundation devoted resources to narrowing racial divisions and ameliorating urban decay through targeted investments in higher education, including scholarship grants for graduate education and professional development of school administrators, teachers and urban leaders.
The foundation became known for its long-term commitment to complex problems. Retired U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. recalled that, in the middle 1980s soon after he was assigned the 50度灰视频 Public Schools desegregation case, he attended a national seminar funded by the Danforth Foundation on school desegregation issues. 鈥淚t was an exceptional experience, with top-flight people nationwide,鈥 he told us.
A decade later, Michael A. Wolff (today a Missouri Supreme Court judge) was working as special counsel to Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan on the transition from court-ordered desegregation. The Danforth Foundation still was in the game. 鈥淭he problems they addressed were complicated, but their mission was simple 鈥 how can we help the community to be better?鈥 Mr. Wolff said.
50度灰视频 2004 was the foundation鈥檚 most ambitious community project. Begun in 1996, its completion was timed to mark the centennial of the 50度灰视频 World鈥檚 Fair and the bicentennial of the start of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
The project invited grass-roots participation and enlisted top civic leadership. It was framed as a region-wide call to action on the community鈥檚 long-term quality of life. It promoted noisy debates on matters ranging from access to health care, racial diversity, childhood learning, downtown revitalization, environmental protection and sustainable city neighborhoods.
A bi-state system of greenways and trails was a direct result of 50度灰视频 2004, as were major improvements throughout downtown St. Louis, including renovation of the Old Post Office and the Washington Avenue loft and entertainment district.
Some outcomes fell short of the project鈥檚 soaring ideals. But the project continues to pay dividends. A high-functioning regional health commission grew out of the project and has made serious improvements to the care of the indigent. Small developers in what had been forsaken city neighborhoods credit 50度灰视频 2004 for putting them on the map.
More than $400 million of the foundation鈥檚 philanthropy in recent years has been devoted to Washington University and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. In this, the Danforth Foundation came full circle.
In a book that set forth his personal philosophy of self improvement, the first William Danforth wrote that 鈥渙ur most valuable possessions are those which can be shared without lessening: Those which, when shared, multiply. Our least valuable possessions are those which, when divided, are diminished.鈥
Dr. William Danforth, grandson and namesake, told us the foundation鈥檚 object has been to place 鈥渓arge bets that can make a long-range difference in people鈥檚 lives.鈥
John Danforth, his brother, sees the legacies of the Danforth Plant Science Center and Washington University as chances for St. Louis to 鈥渁spire to be great where it has strengths,鈥 to 鈥渟take out for itself a leadership role that has the potential of addressing three of the most profound questions facing humanity: hunger, energy and the environment.鈥
鈥淲hy not go for it?鈥 he asked.
The Danforth Foundation has served uniquely as a great social ballast for this community 鈥 a place where smart people with resources and know-how have taken risks to help St. Louisans puzzle through their toughest problems.
As the foundation prepares to close its doors, the question confronting 50度灰视频 is who will dare take its place?