Rochester Area Community Foundation kicked off its 40th anniversary celebration at the 2012 Philanthropy Awards and Annual Report to the Community luncheon today.
During the luncheon, a well-kept secret was revealed: Ronald Fielding of Pittsford and his late
wife, Donna, were the anonymous donors who gave $14 million to the Community Foundation
in December 2001 — the largest gift in the foundation’s history. The announcement was made
when Fielding was introduced as one of the three Philanthropy Award recipients.
“At the time the Fieldings made this incredible gift, they asked that it remain anonymous and
we agreed to keep their names a secret,” says Jennifer Leonard, president and CEO of the
Community Foundation.
The Fielding’s gift created a fund at the Community Foundation for their personal charitable
giving. Other contributions were added in later years, and many local nonprofit organizations
have benefitted. As of this week, the fund has awarded 165 grants totaling more than $17
million, which for the most part has gone to enhance our cultural landscape, provide critical
services, help deserving nonprofits remain vital and safeguard much-needed programs for
children.
When Donna passed away in October 2010, her husband established an endowment fund for
Geva Theatre Center in Donna’s name at the Community Foundation in order to support and
preserve a place that meant a great deal to her.
Fielding, a retired senior vice president of OppenheimerFunds, was recently in the news for
making a $1 million surprise donation to the Pluta Cancer Center during its Emerald Ball. The
center is where Donna received treatment during her illness.
Rochester Area Community Foundation kicked off its 40th anniversary celebration at the 2012 Philanthropy Awards and Annual Report to the Community luncheon today.
During the luncheon, a well-kept secret was revealed: Ronald Fielding of Pittsford and his late
wife, Donna, were the anonymous donors who gave $14 million to the Community Foundation
in December 2001 — the largest gift in the foundation’s history. The announcement was made
when Fielding was introduced as one of the three Philanthropy Award recipients.
“At the time the Fieldings made this incredible gift, they asked that it remain anonymous and
we agreed to keep their names a secret,” says Jennifer Leonard, president and CEO of the
Community Foundation.
The Fielding’s gift created a fund at the Community Foundation for their personal charitable
giving. Other contributions were added in later years, and many local nonprofit organizations
have benefitted. As of this week, the fund has awarded 165 grants totaling more than $17
million, which for the most part has gone to enhance our cultural landscape, provide critical
services, help deserving nonprofits remain vital and safeguard much-needed programs for
children.
When Donna passed away in October 2010, her husband established an endowment fund for
Geva Theatre Center in Donna’s name at the Community Foundation in order to support and
preserve a place that meant a great deal to her.
Fielding, a retired senior vice president of OppenheimerFunds, was recently in the news for
making a $1 million surprise donation to the Pluta Cancer Center during its Emerald Ball. The
center is where Donna received treatment during her illness.
