As we celebrate the Community Foundation of Broward's 40th anniversary, it's important to remember that we wouldn't be where we are today without "The Founders Club."
During our first decade, the Community Foundation launched The Founders Club to give special recognition to the philanthropists who helped us build momentum for growing Broward’s endowed resources.
The Founders Club included the “Founding Donors” – who created endowed charitable funds of $25,000 or more – and the “Founding Benefactors” – who created endowed charitable funds of $100,000 or more.
Early members of The Founders Club include civic leader Blanche Buck, who created an endowed charitable fund to provide ongoing support for seniors and the disabled. Frederick and Mary Ruffner created an endowed fund that today still supports after-school programs, the Museum of Discovery and Science and more. Leonard and Sally Robbins created an endowed fund that supports arts programs, education, cancer patients and more. And in addition to jump-starting Broward’s movement to grow endowed resources, Libby and Jack Deinhardt led by example and created endowed charitable funds ensuring they would forever be a part of The Founders Club.
In 1989, prominent philanthropists Wayne and Marti Huizenga showed their belief in the Community Foundation by becoming our first Founding Benefactors. Today, one of the charitable funds they created – the endowed Huizenga Fund For Children – provides grants to support Junior Achievement of South Florida, Do Good 4-1, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, local schools and more. “It’s just a great way to give,” Marti Huizenga said in 2014, while hosting the Community Foundation’s 30th anniversary at her home.
The Founders Club grew to more than 50 members and served as the precursor to our “Community Builders” – philanthropists who partner with us to create endowed funds of $1 million or more.
We are so thankful to the generous and dedicated members of The Founders Club who helped build the firm foundation that launched the Community Foundation you know today. Thanks to their commitment to endowment, the impact of the Community Foundation and The Founders Club will never end.
Founding Benefactors
- Ann Adams
- Blockbuster Entertainment Corp.
- Elizabeth C. and John B. Deinhardt
- Jacqueline and Michael Egan
- Geraldine and Robert Elmore
- Wilson B. Greaton Jr.
- Steven Halmos Family Foundation
- Marti and H. Wayne Huizenga
- JM Family Enterprises
- Elaine and Jon Krupnick
- Law Offices of Krupnick Campbell Malone Rosselli Buser Slama & Hancock
- Everett H. Metcalf, Jr.
- Janice and James M. Moran
- Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
- Museum of Discovery and Science
- NationsBank Florida
- Sally and Leonard Robbins
- Sun-Sentinel Company
- Jane and Norman Tripp
- The Edee Green Women in Distress Endowment Fund
- Youth Automotive Training Center
Founding Donors
- Suzanne Y. and Edward R. Allen
- Anna K. Bloeser
- Nancy and James J. Blosser
- Blanche Buck
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County
- Catholic Broward Schools
- Citizens and Southern National Bank
- Gilbert Corwin
- Antje and Leonard L. Farber
- Harriett Friedly
- HIP Health Plan of Florida
- JoAnn Hoffman
- Norma and William D. Horvitz
- Patricia R. Kearns
- Ethel L. and Stephen A. Keller
- John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
- Evelyn and William Krueger
- Lynn and James LaBate
- David W. Leonard
- Loren R. Lyons
- Judith and H. Kent Mergler
- Virginia and Tom Miller/Susan and Harley Miller
- Lorraine and John Morris/Bethany Christian School
- Sharron and Nick Navarro
- Outreach Broward
- Ann and Robert O. Powell
- David E. Ratcliffe
- Edward Rudner
- Mary and Frederick G. Ruffner
- Joseph Rumbaugh
- Patricia A. Shub
- Tripp, Scott, Conklin & Smith
- United Way of Broward County
- Melba and August Urbanek
- Runette L. Williams
Let's talk about how partnering with the Community Foundation of Broward can help you be more strategic and impactful with your philanthropy. Contact Vice President Kelly Marmol at kmarmol@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503
