SALEM — As the Salem Community Foundations officially reaches its 60th anniversary today, it is inviting the community to join in celebrating six decades of giving in the community.

In 1964, Industrialist Walter Deming and attorneys, Al Fitch and George Bowman, recognized the tremendous work being done by community foundations across the country. The question arose, “Why not set up such a foundation for Salem?” The Salem Community Foundation was officially incorporated on Jan. 13, 1966, with an initial endowment of $2,000 and the simple yet enduring mission to improve the quality of life in Salem and the surrounding area by connecting charitable donors with the causes they care about most.

Six months later the Foundation had grown that initial sum to $17,000 and was able to make its first small grant to the Salem Public Library, a $200 grant to purchase “cultural books.” That grant marked the start of the foundation’s relationship within the community. A relationship which has seen the foundation support countless local organizations, students, and projects from parks and public spaces to education, health, arts, and civic initiatives through scholarships, grants, and donor advised funds.

“Every grant awarded and every fund established reflects the generosity of people who love this community. This 60-year milestone is a celebration not just of the Foundation, but of the donors, volunteers, nonprofit partners, and community leaders who have made our work possible,” said Salem Community Foundation President John Tonti.

For 60 years, the Salem Community Foundation has shaped the future of the Salem area, turning generosity into lasting impact and community dreams into reality, and six decades later its mission is as relevant and as vital as ever. The foundation has evolved with the changing needs of the community over the years while remaining rooted in responsible stewardship and local decision-making and now manages a growing portfolio of 168 charitable funds designed to provide immediate support and long-term stability for Salem-area nonprofits.

Among those funds is the Ruth Harkins McKeown Fund, which was born in 1977, when the Foundation was designated the recipient of the interest income from the Ruth Harkins McKeown estate, for which PNC Bank is trustee and executor. At that time, the trust was held over $3 million, and since then, approximately $35.7 million has been

generated and received from the trust. Dollars from the McKeown Fund are distributed quarterly for the benefit of Salem’s citizens, according to Ruth Harkins McKeown’s will. In 2025, the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors approved over $235,000 in grants to 11 local nonprofits that are meeting community needs and making a difference.

Among the Foundation’s most enduring impacts are its investment in future generations. Through scholarship programs and youth-focused initiatives, the Salem Community Foundation has helped Salem students pursue higher education and career opportunities which will strengthen the Salem community for years to come. In August 2023, the Foundation made a major investment in the future of Salem’s younger students when its Board of Directors unanimously voted to award the Salem City School District a gift of $10 million toward the bond issue for the construction of a new K-8 school building, exemplifying its commitment to advance education and prosperity in the Salem community.

As the Foundation marks its 60th anniversary, it is also looking ahead, continuing to address emerging needs within the community.

“This anniversary is both reflection and a recommitment. We honor our past while looking forward to the next 60 years of building a stronger, more vibrant Salem,” said Tonti.

The Community Foundation invites members of the community to join in celebrating this milestone and learn more about how philanthropy, large or small, can make a lasting difference close to home.

For information about the Salem Community Foundation and its 60th anniversary, visit www.salemcommunityfoundation.org or call 330-332-4021. Follow the Foundation’s Facebook page for updates throughout the year on how the Foundation is planning to celebrate this important milestone.