Margaret Foster’s Legacy Lives On

Margaret Foster was a long-time friend and supporter of the community through The Community Foundation.

A retired Findlay City School teacher, Margaret believed strongly in the power of education. 

Before her death in 2005, she established several funds at TCF with a focus on education. Through her estate plan, she established five additional funds in her name after her death.

Born in Findlay in 1913 to Marion G. and Mary M. Foster, Margaret graduated from Findlay High School and Bowling Green State University. After she received her education degree in 1935, Margaret taught at Arcadia Schools, Wellington Exempt Village Schools and Donnell Junior High School where she taught English, written communication, Latin and foreign language. According to her students, “Miss Foster was one of those teachers that really taught and we really learned.”

Margaret’s father, Marion G. Foster, was a practicing attorney in Findlay who encouraged education. Not only did Margaret attend college, but her brother Bud (William C.) Foster did, as well. He followed in his father’s footsteps to become an attorney; father and son practiced law together until the death of the senior Foster. William continued to practice in Findlay until 1997.

Margaret wanted to make a difference in our community and knew she could do so through TCF by providing opportunities for students to attend college. In 1999, Margaret established the William Clark Foster Scholarship for students entering law school, in honor of her brother, and the M. Margaret Foster Scholarship because she loved teaching and wanted students to have opportunities to do what she loved. Also in 1999, Margaret established the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Scholarship at TCF as a gift to the women of Hancock County.

In 2000, Margaret established the M. Margaret Foster Local History Fund at TCF. Margaret started this Fund to support the Little Red School House, the MacArthur Train and the Mae Huston Local History Resource Center on Sandusky Street.

Knowing TCF would follow her wishes, Margaret used her estate plan to establish five additional funds detailed in the New Funds section of this Report. 

Margaret chose to give to the community through TCF because she had specific charitable interests:

• M. Margaret Foster Education Fund
• M. Margaret Foster Health Fund
• M. Margaret Foster Voices for Children/CASA of Hancock County Fund
• M. Margaret Foster Women and Children’s Fund

TCF provided Margaret with peace of mind that her gifts would be used just as she intended, even after her death.

Just as she touched many lives during her teaching career, Margaret will continue to touch many more lives as her gifts provide opportunities to improve lives. Margaret’s legacy will support specific agencies and the causes that she cared about in perpetuity