BY PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A trust fund started nine decades ago by a Cincinnati banker to memorialize his daughter handed out about $1.2 million in grants Wednesday to groups and programs aiding girls and women.
Jacob G. Schmidlapp, founder of Fifth Third Bank predecessor Union Savings and Trust, started the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund to honor his daughter, who died at age 19. Fifth Third officials gathered Wednesday to recall the generosity of Mr. Schmidlapp and the programs that the fund has since helped.
His initial investment of $250,000 was the seed for what has become the country's largest charitable fund solely dedicated to female-centered programs and initiatives, said Fifth Third President George A. Schaefer Jr. The trust's assets total about $40 million.
"Girls as young as 7, 8 and 9 need to have greater access to positive programming that would enhance their self-esteem, identify opportunities for education and careers, and encourage exploration of their intellect and capabilities," said Lawra J. Baumann, Fifth Third Foundation officer."
The grants include $672,726 to various schools, Scouting programs and other agencies preparing girls for the future; $70,000 to programs providing support and recognition of working women; and $490,000 to the research and awareness on trends, needs and issues facing females.
Some of the agencies receiving money include Children's Hospital, which received $250,000, the second payment toward a $500,000 commitment for a female scientist program; and $50,000 for the Women's Research & Development Center for its training program. Healthy Moms & Babes received a $37,282 grant from the trust fund to expand its girls group program. It uses mobile units to go into low-income neighborhoods and reaches out to girls ages 9-18 to join programs on health and nutrition as well as drug and alcohol avoidance.
The funding "will be a big help toward building self-esteem in young girls," said Sister Kathleen Brogle, executive director of Healthy Moms & Babes.
That was the intention of Mr. Schmidlapp years ago, Ms. Baumann said. He established the fund to assist women after the death of daughter Charlotte, who was killed in an accident while vacationing with her father in France.
