History

MaryAnn and Clayton Mathile (pronounced [Muh-til]) were born into hard-working families on rural farms in northern Ohio. Married soon after graduating from college, MaryAnn and Clay initially struggled to make ends meet, but they have always shared a strong belief in serving God by helping others. This lifelong philosophy is both a gift from their parents and a legacy that they are working to sustain for generations to come.

MaryAnn and Clayton established the Mathile Family Foundation as a vehicle for sharing the many blessings of their business success. It strives to foster hope, inspire change, and impact children in need. Mary is the Foundation's CEO, board chair, and treasurer; Clay and other family members are represented on the board of trustees. In 1999, their sale of Iams to The Procter and Gamble Company allowed the Mathiles to focus on the Foundation and greatly increase their philanthropic efforts. To date, the Foundation has provided more than $230 million to support nonprofit organizations serving families and children in need, primarily within the Dayton, Ohio region.

The Mathile Community Awards provide $5 million annually to large-scale projects consistent with the Foundation's mission: To create opportunities for children in need by focusing support to children and their families who have already exhibited the motivation to succeed.

The Mathile family has also shown considerable commitment to the Dayton region by supporting two other endeavors. First is the construction of The Glen at St. Joseph (glenatstjoseph.org) in the historic Twin Towers neighborhood. This life-changing campus will eventually be home to 36 single mothers and their children while the mothers participate in job training or complete college degrees. In addition, the family has committed $50 million toward developing the Aileron (aileron.org) campus for entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. Aileron seeks to nurture entrepreneurship by providing ongoing education and development to those who seek to start or grow their respective businesses.

As servants of God's work, the Mathile Family Foundation works to strengthen the Dayton region and strives to ensure a better future for everyone. Reflecting on the work that so many great organizations have undertaken with the Foundation's support brings great satisfaction and a telling reminder of how much remains to be done.