Some people dream of success; others get up early and work to achieve it. Art and Mary Schmuckal spent their 53 years of marriage achieving success and supporting many others through their philanthropic endeavors. Their life was a balance of family, Church, work, play, public service, and, within their means, charitable giving.

Many organizations have not only been financial benefactors, but also benefactors of the volunteer time and talents of Art and Mary. The success of their business, Schmuckal Oil Company, and the value of real estate acquired during the lifetime of Art and Mary, presented the opportunity to “jump start” an organization whose purpose was solely dedicated to philanthropy. 

Art and Mary had a dream of starting a Foundation to continue their philanthropic support of multiple community organizations and to reach out to other worthy non-profit, governmental, religious or educational organizations. Following the death of Mary in 1999, Art actively began the process of seeing the dream come true. The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation was established as a Michigan non-profit, tax exempt organization on September 24, 1999 and the Federal government recognized it as a 501(c)(3) private foundation on December 30, 1999. 

A family foundation is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Michigan. The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation is administered by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of the founder’s four children, three grandsons, and two non-family, long time family friends (an attorney and a CPA). 

The Foundation Board holds two formal meetings, one in December, before the calendar year end, and the second in May or June, before the end of the “fiscal” year. At each meeting, grant applications received from 501(c) (3) organizations are reviewed and discussed and funding decisions are made. The giving record of the Foundation reveals a diversity of organizations that have benefitted from the Foundation since its inception.

As is true in every charitable organization, there has been a learning curve of how best to be good stewards of the assets entrusted to the Foundation. Wise investments help grow the funds and grants must be wisely awarded to organizations who make a difference in the lives of the community they serve. Foundation Board meetings begin and end with a prayer, with the hope that the decisions made will “bear good fruit" based on Catholic Christian values embraced by its founders

Art Schmuckal was actively involved in the Foundation for 12 years until his death in 2012. Art and Mary both had a positive impact on their local community during their lifetime. The Art and Mary Family Foundation is intended to remain in good standing in perpetuity and to be a lasting legacy to the Art and Mary Schmuckal Family. 

A few words from Art, the founder of the Art and Mary Schmuckal Foundation, about his personal history and the importance of community, faith, and family.

Board of Directors