Donor Spotlight: Beverly Matthews

Decades of Dedication to Henry County 

For some, home is just a place. For Beverly Matthews, Henry County is the heart of everything. From growing up here to her career in communications, Beverly has always stayed deeply connected and committed to serving her community.

Beverly’s passion for helping others truly began when she worked on the United Way campaign as a journalism student at Ball State. That experience opened her eyes to the amazing nonprofit work happening right here in Henry County.

Later, in her professional role at Chrysler Corporation, she met former Foundation Executive Director, Jerry Schaeffer, and that’s when her journey with the Henry County Community Foundation took off.

“I knew I could fully support their mission,” Beverly shared. “The Foundation was built on integrity and accountability—and that mattered to me.”

Eventually, Beverly stepped into the role of Executive Director and President of the Foundation, continuing its legacy of impact in the community she loves.

Even in retirement, Beverly hasn’t stopped sharing the Foundation’s story. She and her husband have a named fund that supports local nonprofits, in addition to giving to a scholarship and a fund that supports their church.

“I’m happy to share this good news with others,” she said. “Whatever someone cares about can be improved when they contribute their time and money to an existing fund—or start one of their own.”

Beverly hopes more people will discover, like she did, that one of the best ways to give back is through the Foundation. With each gift and every fund created, she sees a future where Henry County continues to grow stronger, kinder, and more connected.