Leighty Foundation 25th Anniversary
Ike Leighty incorporated The Leighty Foundation on September 17, 1985 in Iowa. Ike often says, "Starting a family foundation is like catching a porcupine…first you throw a wash tub over him, then you have something to sit on while you figure out what to do next." Ike has strengthened his family and community by his philanthropic modeling and mentoring. This is his and our celebration of the twenty-fifth year of Foundation service to the people and nonprofits in our communities and across the country.
Ike has served as President of The Leighty Foundation Board for all of our 25 years. He is active in his community, Waterloo, Iowa, and is no stranger to the homes of other board members in Juneau, Alaska, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. We know that many of you have met and admire this man.
This year Ike was honored as one of The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier's "8 Over 80". At the celebration, Ike was pleased to introduce his Macomb, Illinois friend of 89 years, John Moon. Ike went on to say, "Life is filled with a series of serendipitous happenings, …finding good things unsought." The neighborly friendship and loving attention that John and the Moon family gave him as a young boy taught him to both 'give back' and 'to pass on'. Ike has been a business, family, and community leader, returning to the community pot of assets that which he has been blessed to receive, and always with the thoughtfulness of a friend.
This 25th year, The Leighty Foundation welcomes three new board members from our next generation: Ryan Justis, Heidi Reifenstein, and Wayne Leighty. These young professionals and philanthropists add vigor and continuity to the Board.
We celebrate the twenty-fifth year of the Foundation, and the 95th year-of-life for our President.