Childhood Memory Creates Lasting Legacy

From his childhood, John Williamson vividly remembers taking an elementary school field trip to Severance Hall in Cleveland to hear the Cleveland Symphony.

"I was so impressed. It was my first experience with classical music and it was the beginning of my lifelong enjoyment of music," recalls John.

That field trip helped prompt John and his wife, Helen, to establish the John P. and Helen M. Williamson Fund, a Legacy Society fund at the Toledo Community Foundation.

In their wills, the couple has stated that the fund will be created upon the death of the last remaining spouse to support the Toledo Orchestra Association (Toledo Symphony) concerts and programming for children and young people.

John, who has been a member of the orchestra's board of trustees for nearly three decades and served as chairman, knows first hand how his life has been enriched with music. 

"We hope that the Toledo Symphony programs will give an early appreciation of culture or even ignite a career or two along the way," he adds.

"We are glad to give back to the community because this has been our home. People have been wonderful to us and this is where we raised our sons," says Helen.

The couple who met when they were students at Kent State University moved to the area in 1951 when John accepted a position with Toledo Edison. In 1985 he retired as chairman emeritus of the utility.

"My mother instilled in me that everyone is obligated to leave the world a better place than when they found it," says John.

Taking that lead the Williamsons believe in giving seed money to cultural, educational and medical projects that can grow and expand.

 "The Toledo Community Foundation is an ideal way to provide funding to organizations that are important to the community. If you have billions like the Rockefellers or Gates, you can establish your own foundation.

"But for the average person who wants to leave money and continue to help others the Foundation is perfect. It provides the expertise and investment management, plus it helps with the distribution and preserves the donor's gift for decades."

In addition to their gift to the Symphony, the Williamsons have created four future funds with the Foundation to support the Williamson Kent State University Alumni Center and a scholarship fund for Kent State University students.

With their love for the community and culture, the Williamson's gift will be music to the ears of children for many years to come.