REMEMBERING FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO LOUISE MARKEL
1947 – 2022
The Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County (CFMJC) is saddened to hear about the passing of former President & CEO Louise Markel.
Louise was hired as the second employee of CFMJC in 1992. She was hired as the bookkeeper and to assist the late Ann Grahn, who was the Foundation’s first President & CEO. Louise was promoted to President & CEO in 1996 and remained in that position until her retirement in March 2010.
In her 18 year tenure, Louise helped to grow the Foundation as a local and regional leader. She saw the Foundation award its first grants and scholarships, navigated the organization through its first adoption and accreditation of National Standards, saw the creation of the Legacy Society, and led the Foundation through additional matching and grant opportunities from Lilly Endowment Inc. During her tenure, CFMJC also launched affiliate community foundations for Dearborn, Ripley, and Switzerland Counties, which are now their own stand alone organizations. Louise also had a passion to help convene the Hispanic/Latino Commission which led to the creation of La Casa Amiga in 2003. Even though the market decline in 2008 cancelled the annual competitive grant cycle, the Foundation offered the Help Your Neighbor grant program to help those charitable organizations that provided basic needs to area residents.
Following her retirement, Louise moved away from Jefferson County to be closer to family, but she held the community in high esteem in her memories. Because of that, her family decided to hold a Celebration of Life for her here in Madison and have designated that memorial contributions come to the Community Foundation. In honoring Louise, all memorial contributions will be placed into our largest Flexible Community Fund, the Jefferson County Enrichment Fund, to help address the greatest needs when they are needed most. To give an online memorial contribution, click HERE.
Thank you, Louise, for your dedicated service to the Community Foundation and the residents of Jefferson County. You will be greatly missed.
More information on Louise and her Celebration of Life: https://www.morgan-nay.com/obituary/louise-markel
