Video History of the Dunham Family 

View a video history of the Dunham Family produced by the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley. This video highlights the commitment that the Dunham Family has made to the Aurora area for almost a century.   

This video is a part of a Community Foundation project to recognize and record the community leadership of Aurora area families. The Dunham Fund sincerely thanks the Community Foundation for sharing these important stories so generously.

Visit the Dunham Fund website to see the video.

The video features five members of the Dunham Family who have made a significant impact on the Aurora area through their philanthropic endeavors:

• Thomas Dunham (1876-1964), philanthropist and founder of Equipto Manufacturing Company in Aurora; 
• John C. Dunham (1910-2006), President and CEO of Equipto and founder of the Dunham Fund; 
• John S. "Jack" Dunham (1931-1979), son of John C. Dunham and President and CEO of Equipto, who left a bequest to the Community Foundation to create the John S. Dunham Endowment Fund for support of Aurora Christian School in perpetuity; 
• Martha Schingoethe (1919- 2004), sister of John C. Dunham and Chairman of the Board of Equipto, who with her husband, Herbert, founded the Schingoethe Museum of Native American Culture at Aurora University and who along with her brother was a supporter of the university's Dunham School of Business and the Dunham Scholars Program; and 
• Tom Matyas, Martha's son with first husband, George Matyas, and last President and CEO of Equipto and currently president of Grace International Educational Foundation.  

To see additional videos about other Community Foundation donors who have made a significant philanthropic impact on the Aurora area visit the Community Foundation website.

Supports Video History Projects . . .

The Dunham Fund made the first two grants of 2012 to organizations that value the importance of documenting the history of individuals and families who have left a philanthropic legacy and/or have made a significant, positive, and continuing impact on the Aurora area.  The Fund has made a $25,000 grant to the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley to produce up to fifty videos honoring the donors who have created charitable funds within the Foundation and who continue through these funds to improve the quality of life in our communities.

The Fund has also granted $25,000 to the Aurora Historical Society to produce videos highlighting individuals who have impacted the Aurora area through public service in education, local government, and nonprofit organizations.  These videos will reflect the unique contributions made by the culturally diverse population that makes up the Dunham Fund service area.  

Learn more about the Aurora Historical Society.