Steve and Becky Skillman
“Steve and I are pleased and proud to have established the Steve and Becky Skillman Community Fund,” shared Becky. “No matter where life’s journey takes us, Lawrence County will always be home.”
Steve and Becky Skillman’s story is deeply rooted in Lawrence County, where they both grew up as “rural kids.” Steve graduated from Fayetteville High School, and Becky from Tunnelton High School. Their paths first crossed when Steve was 16 and Becky just 12. Steve worked after school carrying out groceries at Louden’s Supermarket, often helping Becky’s mother with her groceries while Becky tagged along. Years later, their friendship blossomed into romance, and they married in 1969. Their son, Aaron Burke Skillman, was born one day before their tenth anniversary.
Steve built a career in management at General Motors, retiring in 2006. A natural athlete, he played high school basketball and spent two decades playing slo-pitch softball. His true passion, however, is golf—he’s been “shooting his age” since turning 66.
Becky’s early involvement in 4-H sparked a lifelong interest in community service, politics, and government. At just 25, she won her first election and went on to serve Lawrence County for 16 years, followed by 12 years in the Indiana Senate and eight years as Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor. Becky broke multiple barriers, becoming the first woman elected as State Senator for District 44, the first woman in Senate Majority Leadership, and the first woman elected as Indiana’s Lt. Governor. Today, she continues her public service through board leadership and volunteer work, including with the Lawrence County Museum of History.
“We want to give back to the community that has been so supportive of our family. It was the wonderful and constant support of the people of Lawrence County that allowed me to pursue my passion for helping our smaller cities and towns and rural communities thrive and grow,” explained Becky. “We want the best quality of life for our friends, family, and all residents of Lawrence County. We know no better way to provide a lasting contribution than partnering with the Community Foundation. Although we may know the needs of the community today, we trust the Community Foundation to understand and address the needs of tomorrow.”
Maurice "Jack" & Maxine Zollman
The Zollman Family Fund is dedicated to helping abused and neglected children, a cause close to Maxine Zollman's heart. As a trained volunteer with the Guardian Ad Litem program, which provides court appointed special advocates for children in the courtroom, Maxine has seen 'so many children in need." Maxine explains that the children need support and affection as well as the material basics that we often take for granted.
The first grant was made from the fund in November 2001. It supported a project by Domestic Violence Intervention Network for teens of DVIN clients. To ensure that these vulnerable teens were not overlooked during the season of giving, DVIN provided holiday gift baskets for the youth. In addition to the grant from the Zollman Family Fund for Abused and Neglected Children, local businesses provided in-kind donations to help fill up the baskets.
Maxine Zollman learned about the Community Foundation's mission and the lasting power of endowment funds in part through a neighbor, Maribelle Dyer, a previous executive director of the Foundation. The Zollman family started their endowment fund in 1996. Julia Zollman Wickes and her husband, Jack, made the founding gift to the fund. The Wickes have helped build the fund over time, as have Maxine and Maurice "Jack" Zollman.
Since Jack's death in May 2001, many gifts have also been made to the fund in his honor by friends and family. Jack and his father, Maurice J. Zollman Sr., owned the Cadillac-Oldsmobile dealership Bedford Auto Co. for more than 50 years. Jack ran the business after his father’s death in 1973 until it was sold in 1988.
Individuals interested in contributing to the fund for abused and neglected children can make checks payable to the Lawrence County Community Foundation and designate it to the Zollman family fund.