Irving S. Gilmore
Irving S. Gilmore was sincerely devoted to improving the quality of life in Kalamazoo. He was a gentle, good-humored man, rich in compassion who placed a great premium on qualities such as integrity and honesty in business and one's personal life.
A true humanitarian.
Through personal acts of kindness and financial gifts both large and small, Irving S. Gilmore was a quiet and often anonymous benefactor. His concern for Kalamazoo embraced a wide range of civic,cultural and human service needs. Whether he was promoting the fine arts, or providing underprivileged children with food and clothing, he was a man of action, not merely of words. His generosity inspired some to call him a "guardian angel" for those less fortunate.
He was the quintessential art patron.
In a variety of other ways, Irving S. Gilmore helped artists and musicians develop and express their unique talents. He encouraged the gifted to strive for greater personal heights while improving their natural skills. His support of cultural and performing arts was based on his belief that the finer expressions of the human spirit need support to grow.
His legacy lives on.
In 1972, Mr. Gilmore established the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation as a way to continue his philanthropy in perpetuity. Through it, his spirit of giving addresses a wide spectrum of social concerns: cultural and performing arts, human services, education and youth, community development, and health and well-being. Since his death in 1986, the Foundation has maintained its focus on the arts in our community, while additional contributions have also gone to area agencies that provide assistance to the young, homeless, hungry and physically challenged.
He made Kalamazoo a better place to live.
Irving S. Gilmore was a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo. His commitment and approach to charitable giving were unique, and remain an inspiration to the Foundation's Trustees and Staff. Throughout this community, his spirit of caring is reflected in the many facilities and programs this foundation supports in his name.