The estate of Wichitan L. Marie Haun left a gift of over $620,000 to Central Kansas Community Foundation. This gift, as requested by Haun in her estate plan, will be used to create the “Lena Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children.”
Haun, who passed away in March of 2011, had a particular interest in child welfare issues, behavioral research, teaching parenting skills, and strengthening families. Her endowment is expected to generate more than $30,000 annually. A competitive grant cycle for these funds will be available beginning in 2013 for organizations providing children’s services in Central Kansas.
Near the end of her life, Marie’s financial advisor considered her charitable wishes and expressed the value of planned giving through the foundation. Marie ultimately chose to entrust the foundation with her gift because of the flexibility her gift would have through our oversight of a competitive grant cycle that would ensure her core values for child welfare would be considered.
“Donors like Marie understand the positive impact a gift like this can have today — and for generations to come,” said Sandi Fruit, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “We appreciate the confidence she placed in our Foundation to manage this gift to the children of Central Kansas.”
Haun began her career as a teacher at Whitewater High School and clearly had a love for children. Throughout her professional life, she held several secretarial positions. After moving to Wichita with her family, she worked as Secretary to the Chief of the Wichita Police Department. Then she went on to a 26-year career as the secretary to the Dean of the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University. Retiring in 2000 at the age of 78, Haun was no stranger to hard work.
Haun was born to Homer and Marguerite (Mead) Hood in Carmen, Oklahoma, on March 8, 1922. During her childhood, Marie moved with her parents and sister Dorthy from Carmen to Missouri, Wyoming, and back to Oklahoma. Marie graduated from high school in Carmen and then earned a baccalaureate degree that prepared her for teaching. She taught business at the Whitewater High School just before she met her future husband, Paul Haun (brother of the late Howard Haun of rural Newton). They married on December 23, 1948 and had one son, Larry Kent, in 1950.
