The Oakley Foundation

When the words “Oakley” and “Terre Haute” are paired in a Google search, one result shows up- dollar signs. Known for awarding large grants, Oakley search results are filled with extraordinary amounts of money being given to organizations.

The Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation, created in 1954, is a philanthropic organization based in Terre Haute. A seven member Board of Trustees manage the foundation’s funds, properties, grant making, and business affairs. Since four of the seven trustees have the last name of Perry, I believe some of the trusties are Oakley family descendants.

The only Oakley name I could link to Terre Haute was Fredrick D. Oakley. A wealthy man, he was vice-president of the lower Vein Coal Company and secretary for the National Drain Tile Company. Born in 1870, it is very possible that Hallie and Anna were his daughters or granddaughters. The extensive wealth of the Oakley Family could have been used to create the trust fund in 1954. (These are only my musings and cannot be factually confirmed.)

The Oakley Foundation is known for giving large grants to non-for-profit organizations. In 2000, the Oakley Foundation provided a $500,000 observatory for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. They donated a substantial sum to the Deming Park’s Oakley Playground which was honored with an IPRA Park Development award in 2004. In 2006, Rose-Hulman was granted $141,634 to operate a telescope based in Australia.

While researching this organization, I stumbled across a fascinating piece of information. The Oakley foundation paid for “Hometown with Tom Roznowski.” The 26 hour audio series allowed Roznowski to recreate Terre Haute during the summer of 1926. Recorded in 2002, the audio story served as prelude his book, An American Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana, 1927.

However they formed, and whichever family they belong to, the Oakley Foundation has been aiding Terre Haute for over fifty years. Through their continued support and generosity, Terre Haute can flourish.