The Foellinger name is synonymous with newspapers, giving, and the 46807. Jacob, the family patriarch, built the family home on Wildwood, which still stands today. From there, his children would continue to expand their own families throughout the neighborhoods, including a son named Martin. Martin’s child, Oscar, would help fuel this life of giving, which extended to his daughter Helene. In the season of giving, today is that story.
Oscar Foellinger, a prominent figure in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was a man of vision and determination. Born in the late 19th century, he rose to prominence as the publisher of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. Under his leadership, the newspaper thrived, becoming a cornerstone of the community. Oscar was not just a newspaperman; he was a civic-minded leader who believed in the power of journalism to strengthen democracy and improve lives. His untimely death in 1936 left the family legacy in the hands of his only child, Helene.
Helene Foellinger, just 25 years old and a South Side High School graduate, stepped into her father’s role as publisher. In an era when women in leadership were rare, she demonstrated remarkable tenacity and skill. Helene upheld the newspaper’s standards and expanded its reach and influence. Yet, her greatest contributions to Fort Wayne came through her philanthropic endeavors.
In 1958, Helene, along with her mother Esther, founded the Foellinger Foundation. The foundation was born from a shared belief that the community supporting their family deserved investment in return. Helene’s vision was clear: she wanted to enhance the quality of life for Fort Wayne residents, with a focus on children, families, and the elderly.
One of Helene's most enduring gifts to the city was supporting Fort Wayne's parks and recreational spaces. She believed that accessible green spaces were essential for community well-being. The Foellinger Outdoor Theatre in Franke Park, a venue that hosts concerts and cultural events, is a testament to her commitment to enriching community life.
Helene’s legacy also includes contributions to education and arts. The foundation funded scholarships, youth programs, and cultural institutions, fostering opportunities for learning and creativity. She understood that building a better Fort Wayne meant investing in its people.
In 1980, Helene sold the newspaper for almost $70 million ($260 million today). While Helene Foellinger passed away in 1987, her legacy continues to thrive as the foundation was the sole recipient of the family wealth. The Foellinger Foundation remains a pillar of support for Fort Wayne, perpetuating her vision of a vibrant, inclusive community. Helene’s story is one of leadership, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to giving back—a reflection of her father’s values and her own deep love for her hometown.
Foellinger Foundation - Credit for Pictures
Foellinger, Helene
Publisher of The News-Sentinel newspaper, was born on December 12, 1910, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a daughter of Oscar G. and Esther Anna (Deuter) Foellinger. She died March 25, 1987, mother Esther Deuter died July 24, 1969, and father Oscar Foellinger, died October 8, 1936, was publisher of the The News-Sentinel newspaper. Esther Deuter Foellinger and her daughter Helene Foellinger established the Foellinger Foundation which has a video about three generations of Foellinger's. Helene established the Foellinger Theatre in 1949 at Franke Park in honor of her father Oscar. In 1979 she funded the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory to honor her mother, and at Helene's death in 1987 a very generous gift was given to the Foellinger Auditorium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where Helene was in the Class of 1932. See our Foellinger Foundation section.
Honoring Helene Follinger Primetime 39 Season 2023 Episode 3120
Guests: Cheryl Taylor & Sarah Strimmenos. This area’s only in-depth, live, weekly news, analysis and cultural update forum, PrimeTime airs Fridays at 7:30pm. This program is hosted by PBS Fort Wayne’s President/General Manager Bruce Haines. Aired; 05/19/2023
Photo with the statement: The Foellinger family's home on Old Mill Road was designed by prominent local architect Guy Mahurin in the late 1920s. Mahurin also designed Fort Wayne’s Scottish Rite Auditorium, Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth Congregational Church, and other iconic structures. Copied from a November 10, 2022 post by the Foellinger Foundation on Facebook.
Helene Foellinger graduated valedictorian at South Side High School in 1928. She was the editor of The South Side Times during her junior and senior years, during which the paper won four national awards, including Best High School Newspaper in the United States by the National Scholastic Press Association.
A March 17, 2023 post by the Foellinger Foundation on Facebook announced the video that tells the life story of Helene Foellinger and the three generations of Foellingers who preceded her: 'An Influence for Good' is now available to watch online!
The History Center proudly contributed video segments from our collection and footage of our displays for the Foellinger Foundation documentary, "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". Use the link below to watch the documentary on the Foellinger Foundation's website.
Fort Wayne’s history has been comprised of extraordinary people from all walks of life. One of these was Helene Foellinger. In 1936 after the sudden death of her father, the owner and publisher of the News-Sentinel, she became the youngest newspaper publisher and one of the only female owners in the nation. Foellinger owned the paper until 1980 and retired from it in 1981. Along the way she, along with her mother, founded the Foellinger Foundation to serve the people of Allen County and continue the family’s tradition of civic involvement. The Foellinger Foundation recently released a documentary, "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story," in celebration of this extraordinary woman. The History Center proudly contributed video segments from our collection and footage of our displays for it. Today we share those video segments in a set of three posts. The first video is of the announcement of the construction of the Botanical Conservatory. The video is from our collection of WANE-TV videotapes and is from March 20, 1979. #sociallyhistory
Here is the second video segment from the History Center's collection that was provided for "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". It is from our collection of WANE-TV videotapes and is from groundbreaking of the Botanical Conservatory on October 9, 1981. #sociallyhistory
Here is the final video segment from the History Center's collection that was provided for "An Influence for Good: The Helene Foellinger Story". It is from our collection of WANE-TV videotapes and is from Helene Foellinger’s retirement on October 30, 1981. #sociallyhistory
Foellinger Foundation exists today because of the generosity of the Foellinger family. But how did the Foellinger family generate their wealth? Their family values of integrity, accountability, responsibility, and results—plus a commitment to civic involvement—led to successes for both the family, and all of Allen County.
OSCAR G. FOELLINGER, president and general manager of the News Publishing Company of Fort Wayne, deserves a large share of credit for the making of the News-Sentinel, one of the outstanding examples of Indiana journalism. The community of Fort Wayne has reason to esteem him for many other activities, leadership in matters vital to the city and to the welfare of its inhabitants.
Mr. Foellinger was born at Fort Wayne, April 11, 1885, son of Martin C. and Christina (Stellhorn) Foellinger. He was educated in the parochial schools of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and began life without any particular advantages, social or financial, except a resolute purpose, an unwavering ambition and ability to work, and with experience to direct the work of others.
He was working even while in school, and in 1901, at the age of sixteen, he became an employee of the Citizens Trust Company of Fort Wayne, with which he remained about five years, reaching the post of assistant cashier. His time has been fully taken up with newspaper work since 1905. He was business manager for the Journal Gazette Company until1910, and in the latter year joined the News Publishing Company, was made general manager in 1912, and since 1919 has been both president and general manager. He is also a director of the Lincoln National Bank & Trust Company. Outside of his own business the activities that have perhaps made him best known in the community has been his leadership in the fight against tuberculosis. He has for some years been a director of both the Fort Wayne and Indiana State Anti-Tuberculosis League. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Fort Wayne League, has acted as camp general of the Camp Christmas Seal Health Camp for under-par children and has devoted not only time but his personal means to the success of this charitable progress. He has attended many state conferences of the Indiana Anti-Tuberculosis League and has taken part in the formulation of its policies and in the direction of its interests. Mr. Foellinger individually and through his newspaper has constantly worked for improved highways. During the World war he was a local leader in the first, second and fourth Liberty Loan drives and War Savings Stamp campaigns, in the campaign for clothing for the destitute victims of the war, and in the Red Cross Auction. He was in the original Y. M. C. A. building campaign of 1916; has taken part in the annual Community Chest campaigns, and in those for the Day Nursery and the Red Cross membership drives. He has served as president of the Quest Club and chairman of its civic interest committee, and is a director of the Fort Wayne Boy Scouts Council. He is a member of the Fort Wayne Industrial Commission, the Clinton Street Association, the Rotary Club, Fort Wayne Country Club, Hamilton Club of Chicago, Columbia Club and the Trinity English Lutheran Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with Home Lodge No. 342, A. F. and A. M., the thirty-second degree Scottish Rite bodies and Mizpah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Foellinger as a young man was a first lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard with the Fort Wayne Battery from 1903 to 1906. He is a member of the National Press Club, the American Newspaper Publishers Association. Without official aspirations he has done a great deal of substantial work for the Republican party in Indiana. He was delegate at large from the state to the Republican national convention of 1924, when Calvin Coolidge was nominated. In 1928 he was state manager for Hoover in the primary campaign and state manager for the Hoover for President Clubs.
Mr. Foellinger married, November 16, 1909, Miss Esther Anna Deuter, daughter of Michael and Hannah Deuter, of Fort Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Foellinger have two daughters, Helene Ruth and Loretta Esther.
Esther Deuter (1890-1969) and Oscar Foellinger (1885-1936) were born and raised in Fort Wayne, descendants of German families that immigrated to the area in the mid-1800s. They married in 1909 in a ceremony at Oscar’s home. They had two children, Helene Foellinger (1910-1987) and Loretta Foellinger Teeple (1914-1950) who grew up on Indiana Avenue. Both daughters were outstanding students at South Side High School and returned to Fort Wayne after graduating from the University of Illinois. Oscar Foellinger left school at a young age, but developed practical skills by working at several banks and newspapers. In 1918, he became a partner in The News Publishing Company, owner of The News-Sentinel, and in 1920 he purchased the newspaper. Under his leadership, it became a strong publication in the region with high circulation, continual innovations in content and photography and a “Building Fort Wayne” column promoting civic improvements. From an early age, the newspaper business was Helene’s predominant interest. At South Side High School, she was the valedictorian, excelling in journalism and mathematics and serving as the editor of the newspaper. She was also the newspaper editor at University of Illinois. Following her graduation in 1932, Helene began her career as a reporter and features writer for The News-Sentinel. Soon after, she became editor and columnist for the new women’s section. When Oscar died unexpectedly in 1936, Helene decided she was up to the challenge of running the newspaper. At age 25, she became the youngest publisher in the country and one of its few female publishers at the time. In her 49-year tenure with the newspaper, Helene worked hard to earn the respect of her employees, her profession and her community. She received national attention for her achievements and work ethic. Before her retirement, Helene became the first woman inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, and she received numerous other awards recognizing her outstanding contributions to journalism, philanthropy and her community. Esther and Helene Foellinger decided to focus their resources on the creation of a Foundation to carry forward their family’s tradition of civic involvement and private philanthropy for community betterment. Investments came from their personal assets and estates and contributions from The News-Sentinel. Copied from What’s in a Name? at the Foellinger Foundation.
