Uhrick gives gift to foundation

A major gift has been made toward the cause of literacy.

The Portland Foundation announced Thursday that it received a gift of nearly $100,000 from the estate of Timothy Joe Uhrick to establish the Herman C. Uhrick, Dorothy Uhrick and Timothy Joe Uhrick Literacy Fund.

Timothy Uhrick dropped out of school when he turned 16 in the late 1950s, his uncle Rich Frank explained. He never learned to read.

“And so he regretted that,” Frank said.

The fund that is named for Timothy Uhrick, who died June 19, 2020, and his parents will provide support for programs for the advancement of literacy for Jay County residents.

“We are honored that Tim Uhrick entrusted The Portland Foundation to fulfill his philanthropic legacy for the community,” said The Portland Foundation executive director Doug Inman said in a press release. “We are humbled by the fact that since Tim could not read, he left a gift so that other people would not have to face the same challenges he did.”

Uhrick served in the National Guard and was a member of the American Legion. He had worked at J&P Custom Plating in Portland.

A decade ago, The Portland Foundation’s assets stood at just over $20 million. At its 2011 annual meeting Inman noted that the board had set a goal of having a total endowment of $35 million by this year.

It has far surpassed that, as Uhrick’s gift pushed the foundation’s total assets to more than $43 million.

“Oh wow,” said Inman when reminded of the decade-old target. “I’m in awe of our community and its generosity.

“Per capita, the endowment for 20,000 Jay County residents is over $2,000 per person, which is unprecedented. It allows the foundation to make a significant impact on a daily basis in Jay County.”