The name of the Fund is intended as an expression of appreciation to Dr. John Hilborn, his wife, Elisabeth Van Wagner and Robert French, who approached the Foundation with the original concept for the Fund and, together they have provided the first donations to it.

The purpose of the Fund is to enable Community Service organizations that support communities served by the Foundation to respond to significant events and/or emergencies  which are outside of the scope of established insurance and/or social safety nets. The fund is to help respond to both Major and Minor crisis events. 

Major events would be large, significant, urgent, unexpected emergencies/disruptions due to crisis events including, but not limited to, medical, fire, flood, and loss of infrastructure that affect a large portion of the population within our community. Minor events would be smaller, urgent, unanticipated emergencies or needs that significantly affect a smaller portion of the community, families or individuals (even a single individual or family). 

Such events are impossible to predict and are expected to occur infrequently. However, when they do arise, they require  financial support and a ready apparatus for community appeal, which may be provided at least in part through this Fund. 

Such disruptions typically require significant levels of funding, and the Fund is intended to provide a mechanism through which Community Services Organizations can obtain such funding in a simple and timely manner to help those affected individuals, families, and organizations.