Mission
The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Merrillville, Indiana. The Foundation was established in 1998 and exists to carry on the philanthropic legacy and values of Dean, Barbara, and the White family.
Driven by our founder's vision, we support catalytic community projects and self-sustaining initiatives that cultivate a strong quality of life in northwest Indiana and state-wide. With the support of partners, including Legacy Foundation, Porter County Community Foundation, and Crown Point Community Foundation, we are committed to creating long-term positive change and economic impact for all to enjoy.
Our Core Principles
Educate
We Contribute to the social well-being of its community through accessible, quality education.
Enhance
We are committed to improving the quality of life in Indiana through long-term, transformative projects.
Enjoy
We find fulfillment in promoting education, health, wellness, and economic sustainability to create vibrant communities for all to enjoy.
About Dean White
Dean White was a humble visionary and passionate philanthropist whose legacy began when he inherited his father's billboard company in 1946. His decision to shift the company's business focus to real estate and hotel development changed not only the trajectory of his life forever, but also transformed the economic landscape of countless towns and cities in northwest Indiana and across the state. He lived a full, long life and died peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 93 in Crown Point, Indiana. The impact of his profound investments continues to be felt to this day through the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation.
The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that exists to carry on the philanthropic legacy and values of Dean, Barbara, and the White family. The Foundation works with partners and communities to support catalytic projects and initiatives that cultivate a strong quality of life in northwest Indiana and across the state.
Dean's Legacy
- 1923 - Born in Norfolk, Nebraska
- 1945 - Graduates from Merchant Marine Academy
- 1946 - Marries the love of his life, Barbara, and Inherits his father's billboard company, White Advertising Company in Shelby, Indiana; he shifts the business' focus to real estate and hotel development
- 1969 - Opens the Holiday Inn, Star Plaza concert venue, and Radisson Hotel in Merrillville, Indiana off Interstate 65 and U.S. 30
- 1972 - Builds the Twin Towers in Merrillville, Indiana off Interstate 65 and U.S. 30
- 1973 - Helps save the Historic Crown Point, Indiana Courthouse, nicknamed the "Grand Old Lady"
- 1998 - Sells his billboard company to Chancellor Media Group for $960 million, and 100 hotels to BET founder Robert Johnson for $1.7billion
- 2007 - Builds Crown Point's Morningside Subdivision
- 2009 - Opens the nautical-themed restaurant, Lighthouse, in Cedar Lake, Indiana
- 2011 - Unveils the $450 million JW Marriott Indianapolis, which helped the city land Super Bowl XLVI and raised its profile nationally
- 2012 - Launches hospitality program at Purdue University Northwest
- 2014 - Becomes the first recipient of the Crown Point Patriot of the Year Award
- 2017 - The Dean and Barbara White Foundation funds Crown Point's new Sportsplex
- 2016 - Dies peacefully in Crown Point, Indiana; Forbes 400 names Dean No. 260 in the U.S. with a net worth of $2.5 billion
- 2018 - The Foundation, along with Dean's son, Bruce White, and his wife, Beth, donate $30 million to Purdue University to renovate the Union Club Hotel. The investment elevates campus hospitality, offering training and internship opportunities for Purdue students through three food and beverage outlets
- 2019 - The Dean and Barbara White Southlake YMCA Opens, as does Bulldog Park off of the Crown Point Square
- 2020 - The renovated Union Club Hotel, 8Eleven Modern Bistro, Boiler Up Bar, and Leaps Coffee opens on Purdue University's campus
- 2021 - Dean's Italian Steakhouse opens in Charlotte, North Carolina, paying homage to the late Dean White
About William Hanna
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