“New” French Oil Fund Supports Our Community

The Board of Directors of the French Oil Mill Machinery Company established a Charitable Trust in 1951, for the purpose of making contributions to educational, charitable and other worthwhile organizations, mostly in and around Piqua; Piqua National Bank was Trustee. The Directors recognized that most organizations like to receive a “steady stream” of annual contributions, which the Trust could provide, while French Oil’s business was subject to annual variations.

The Company, through its Charitable Trust, has thus been able to be a strong, dependable, corporate citizen, funding a very wide range of area organizations and causes.

In 2005, French’s Board of Directors recognized the “win-win-win” value of bringing its charitable funds into the Piqua Community Foundation, as a separate Donor Advised Fund named the French Oil Mill Machinery Company Fund. The Piqua Community Foundation benefits from having additional resources under its care and management, while French Oil benefits by having better pro-active money management and lower overhead. The community benefits from both.

Like other Donor Advised Funds of the Foundation, grants from the fund are made to charitable, not-for-profit organizations as recommended by the advisory board and ratified by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Grants from this fund are not made to individuals.

The French Oil Mill Machinery Company Fund, of the PCF, will continue its long tradition of support of community activities and organizations.

"Providing your opportunity to enrich our community"