Vision: A world where children who have lost a parent are empowered to achieve their fullest potential, supported by a community of donors dedicated to their education and well-being.
Mission: The Bollinger Foundation provides financial support to children for their education and well-being, who have lost a parent or guardian, with a focus on families where the deceased or surviving parent or guardian has contributed to public or affordable housing, or community and economic development.
Core Values:
Compassion: We act with empathy and understanding towards the children and families we serve.
Empowerment: We are dedicated to empowering children through education and support, enabling them to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Community: We foster a strong sense of community by supporting those who contribute to public and affordable housing, and community and economic development, prioritizing fairness and inclusivity, regardless of their background or circumstances. Integrity: We conduct our work with honesty, transparency, and accountability.
Collaboration: We partner with like-minded organizations, communities, and individuals to maximize our impact and reach, fostering a network of support for our beneficiaries.
The Foundation — established in 1989 — is named after Steve Bollinger, former Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), from 1981 until his death in 1984. After his death, Steve's wife Lin and their four young children were left to cope with the emotional and financial devastation that only the loss of a spouse and parent can bring.
Before his death, Steve had created an annual golf tournament. For three years, HUD staff, business associates, friends, and families would gather for a day of golf, sunshine, and companionship. After 1984, the Bollinger Open continued. But now the tournament had an additional goal: to raise funds for the Bollinger children's education. To date, the Bollinger Foundation has given away over $1 Million in grants.
In 1989, the Labor Department awarded worker compensation benefits to the Bollinger family. This allowed the golf tournament to serve other families in need who suffered a similar loss of a parent. It was that year that the Foundation was launched, with Lin Bollinger herself providing a generous donation.
Lin Bollinger
Honorary Chair
Jeffrey Finkle
Chair (retired)
Heather Bollinger
Co-President
Vurvey, Chief Revenue Officer
Steve Bollinger
Co-President
Thrive Companies, Principal and EVP of Development
Joe Schuler
General Counsel and Secretary
Jackson Lewis PC, Principal
Kim Estep
Treasurer
NAHMA, Executive Director
Rich Lerner
Vice President
Housing & Healthcare, Director
Denise Muha
Vice President
National Leased Housing Association, Executive Director
