ARTHUR VINING DAVIS was president and then chairman of the board for many years of the Aluminum Company of America. During his years at Alcoa and while he also served as a director of numerous major corporations, Mr. Davis became increasingly attracted to Florida and the Bahamas and, at the age of 82, Mr. Davis moved to Florida. Instead of retiring as most people might at his age, he embarked on a new career. Mr. Davis invested substantially in land and in such varied enterprises as banks, ice cream, airlines, shipping companies, and hotels. At his death in 1962 at the age of 95, Mr. Davis was one of the best known and respected businessmen in the southeastern United States.
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation was established by Arthur Vining Davis in 1952. Two more foundations were created in 1965 in Mr. Davis’ will, and the combined organization is now known as the ARTHUR VINING DAVIS FOUNDATIONS. Its philanthropy focuses primarily on private higher education, secondary education, health care, religion, and public television.
WILLIAM H. DONNER was one of the 20th century’s most enterprising entrepreneurs. He invested in real estate, founded the National Tin Plate Company, co-founded Union Steel, and established the International Cancer Research Foundation. Mr. Donner moved to Canada in his retirement, where he died in 1953.
The WILLIAM H. DONNER FOUNDATION, first established in 1932 as the International Cancer Research Foundation, in 1945 became the Donner Foundation, located in New York City. Only applications invited by the foundation are considered for support.
CHAIRHOLDER TO BE NAMED