The first grant was made to the YWCA for $2,500 to pay for additions and improvements to the grounds of the Blue Triangle YWCA at 301 Cherry Street.

McLennan County Medical Society donated $37,000, bringing total Foundation assets to $400,000.

Waco Foundation began a more robust annual grantmaking strategy as it entered the 80s, making distributions to multiple organizations each year.

Waco Foundation hired new Executive Director Jerry Burks.

Local philanthropists Paul and Jane Meyer established Passport to Success to fund scholarships for local students through Waco Foundation’s MAC College Money Program.

Miss Margaret Horsfull arranged for the majority of her estate to be held in trust in honor of her brother, John F. Horsfull, Jr., for “public, charitable and benevolent” purposes to better the city of Waco and its citizens. Funds from the John F. Horsfull, Jr. Fund at Waco Foundation have been used to support many local nonprofits, including the Humane Society of Central Texas, World Hunger Relief Farm, Cameron Park Zoological and Botanical Society and Waco Symphony Orchestra.

The J. Carroll and Doris W. Wood Fund was established at Waco Foundation nearly 20 years ago by the generous Wood family to support several local charities. The Woods' fund was created to facilitate the charitable goals of many family members. Mrs. Doris Wood has been known to tell folks, “We could have lived anywhere, but Waco is a great place to raise a family.” The J. Carroll & Doris W. Wood Fund continues to support Waco nonprofits that represent the heart of the community.

Waco Foundation was named the beneficiary of a $6.5 million charitable remainder trust from Lyle Kay Masterson in memory of her mother, Lyle Seley Masterson.

Waco Foundation was awarded the Council on Foundations' National Standards of Excellence designation.

Barbara LeBar bequeathed a $650,000 estate gift to provide ongoing support for local libraries, of which she had always been an avid supporter.

The Jerry and Patsy Cartwright Family Fund was established in 2012 to honor Jerome Cartwright (pictured at center), the executive director of Waco Foundation from 1958 – 1993. The fund supports initiatives that aid children and improve education and poverty.

Waco Foundation launched the Pie Society, a community-wide legacy society comprised of generous donors who have promised to leave a portion of their estate — or a piece of their pie — to charity.

Dr. George Jurek, retired dentist and local philanthropist, is passionate about access to dental health resources, especially for those who have behavioral health needs. Dr. Jurek’s vision is to replace fragmented dental care with an inclusive model that encompasses dentistry as part of primary care for patients with behavioral health needs or developmental disabilities. To further realize his vision, Dr. Jurek generously established the Dr. George Jurek Dental Services Fund at Waco Foundation that provides funding to help patients with behavioral health needs attain access to dental healthcare. Dr. Jurek has made a planned gift provision and will leave a portion of his estate to provide for future dental health needs in perpetuity.

Mart, Texas native James Lee Davis, JL established two funds at Waco Foundation: the Dorothy Schneider Davis Endowed Scholarship Fund with a $1 million gift in honor of his late wife, and a fund for Mart road projects, to which he gave $850,000 in matching funds to assist the City of Mart as its citizens invest in local road and infrastructure improvements.