Few things nowadays are built to last — except maybe a fund at a community foundation. If he were still living, Patrick Cudahy certainly could attest to that.
The Irish immigrant and Milwaukee industrialist, who literally put the city of Cudahy on the map back in 1892, built a charitable legacy that is still going strong more than 100 years later.
On Nov. 16, 1915, in a letter addressed to Oliver C. Fuller at the Wisconsin Trust Company, Cudahy gave a gift of $25,000 to support efforts in launching the country’s second community foundation, the Milwaukee Foundation. Cudahy specified four local agencies — Associated Charities, Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Rose's Catholic Orphan Asylum and St. Vincent's Catholic Infant Asylum — as agencies to receive annual income generated by the fund.
Surprisingly, with his generosity came an apology: “I wish to apologize for expressing a wish as to what disposition is to be made of the proceeds, as I believe that charity should be as broad as the ocean, yet I am familiar with the workings of those four institutions and know them to be well and economically managed. I also know them to be deserving, and I think they are somewhat neglected by the general public.”
In 1917, Cudahy gave an additional $50,000, specifying that it provide additional support for St. Vincent’s. He also requested that the Foundation redirect support previously designated from Associated Charities to the Milwaukee Children’s Free Hospital (now Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin).
He “preferred not to make any splash about the gift,” but intended the largesse to “awaken some interest in the Foundation.” Cudahy didn’t live long to see his gift’s impact. He died two years later at age 70. For the next 17 years, his contributions were the Foundation’s principal assets. Since its inception, the fund has paid more than $700,000 in grants.
His designated agencies have experienced changes, as one might expect over a century. But the Foundation has continued to honor his original charitable intent while making sure his fund has enduring community impact, thanks to his family and oversight from the Foundation’s Board.