Len and Mary Jo Clark

Clarks
“Giving of themselves is a reflection of the values they pass along to future generations…”

Len and Mary Jo Clark – Leading the Way

Len and Mary Jo Clark moved to Richmond in 1967 when Len joined the Earlham College faculty. Their lives changed as three children were added to the family, Len became Provost and Academic Dean at Earlham and Mary Jo, along with Pat Heiny, formed a national consulting company. In 2001, she and Pat established the Women’s Fund at the Foundation, a fund that has to date distributed over $250,000 for local causes.

In the past several years Mary Jo has focused more on local leadership and has collaborated with others to lead the Institute for Creative Leadership. Len has focused much of his time serving the Wayne County Foundation as a six-year board member and Chairman of the Board. Recently, he moved into a new leadership role, chair of the Forward Wayne County initiative. He has guided this project from a start-up program to a functioning backbone organization that is regionally recognized.

It was during Len’s time on the Foundation board that he and Mary Jo established an endowment at the Foundation. Their fund supports the Foundation’s grant-making process and, because it is unrestricted, allows the board to address the community’s most pressing needs as they arise each year.

In establishing the fund and later, in growing the fund, the Clarks took advantage of the matching GIFT programs offered by Lilly Endowment, Inc. In doing so, they were able to match their gifts into the fund, essentially tripling their giving.

The generosity they have shown by giving of themselves and their resources is a reflection of the family values they hold dear and just a small part of the legacy they are passing on to their children and grandchildren.