By Harry McCawley, The Republic
harry@therepublic.com
Created in the waning days of 1952, the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation was first seen as a vehicle for members of one of Columbus' oldest families to make small grants to hundreds of charities each of them favored.
Those charities spanned causes around the globe and were as varied as those who chose to support them in this way.
"I think Dad (J. Irwin Miller) and (Aunt) Clementine (Tangeman) had this mutual understanding between them to support the other's causes, no matter what they were," said Elizabeth Miller, a current member of the ISMF's board of directors.
At first many of the recipients of their generosity tended to be national in scope, especially if they were affiliated with civil rights.
Over the years as other foundations became similarly involved in national issues, the directors of the Columbus-based organization decided to refocus their efforts closer to home.
"ISMF was founded by a previous generation of the family," said Will Miller, son of J. Irwin Miller and a current member of the board. "It was their philosophy that since wealth is not created by a single individual or a single generation, the best approach is to handle our assets as if we were stewards of them rather than owners."
One of the early undertakings of the foundation and individual family members was the downtown.
"In the '60s, commercial and residential development drew people to the north and east and put the health of Columbus' downtown at risk," said Margaret Miller, another child of J. Irwin and Xenia Miller. "To address this concern, a long-term strategic plan was created by the first Redevelopment Commission (which included) a civic and social center in the heart of the community."
That development was often referred to as Super Block, a futuristic structure set in the midst of 19th-century buildings. The complex included a shopping center owned by the Miller family, but added to it at the urging of architect Cesar Pelli was a social center that came to be known as The Commons.
The Millers and Tangeman donated The Commons to the city of Columbus and agreed to fund the maintenance of the facility, a commitment that would be spread over the next four decades.
There were other significant gifts to follow - brick-and-mortar projects like the renovation of Franklin Square buildings and their subsequent donation to the Heritage Fund; the original restoration of the building that would house the Visitors Center and its subsequent expansion; the creation of the Columbus gallery of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
There were also gifts of outstanding public art: Henry Moore's "Large Arch," Jean Tinguely's "Chaos" and Dale Chihuly's "Yellow Chandelier."
The family and the foundation were especially generous to arts organizations such as the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, according to Executive Director Alice Curry.
"Their attitude in supporting us was based on a pretty simple goal," Curry said. "They wanted us to be the best we possibly could be for the community."
Of special interest throughout the history of the foundation were social causes, especially as they related to the people of Columbus.
"You can't imagine the pride our dad had in some of the projects that were supported," said Elizabeth Miller, sister to Will and Margaret. "I particularly remember his joy when he talked about Bill Barton and the Joy Howe School (an alternative form of education for at-risk students) and how the students were progressing."
The generosity of the family and its foundation carried over into the foundation staff, according to Randy Allman, director of Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center, created in a significant way through grants and guidance from ISMF.
"Sarla Kalsi (executive director of ISMF) and Em Rodway (former program officer) have been mentors to us in every respect you can imagine," Allman said. "They really listened, and when I went to them with a hare-brained idea they'd hear me out and help me explore ways to get my idea accomplished."
Several recipients of support from the families also spoke of that willingness to listen rather than simply sign checks.
"Projects have not been executed in a silo or a vacuum but with a great deal of collaboration," said Sherry Stark, president of the Heritage Fund: the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. "Their support went beyond gifts to include their presence. When they got involved in projects, their mere participation brought a lot of people to the table."
The decision to close the foundation's philanthropic arm leaves a gap in resources available to the community.
"I think we have to accept that the well is running dry in some respects," said Tom Vujovich, chairman of the Redevelopment Commission. "We've been given so much by this particular group of individuals, and it's important that we build on what they have given us."
Even as the presence of the family has been reduced in recent years, its members have indicated they plan to be involved as Columbus makes a transition to a new era.
"We're having a meeting later this month to discuss where we go from here," said Sherry Stark of the Heritage Fund. "The chairman of that meeting will be Will Miller."
She also added that the president-elect of the Heritage Fund board is Lynne Maguire, the current chairman of the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation.