Stanton was the first Director of The Pittsburgh Foundation, established in 1945, a "warm and kindly man who touched the life of this city and this region in every aspect--education, philanthropy, civic affairs and history," a colleague once recalled. He died on November 29, 1969, at the age of 63.
A "dreamer and believer," Stanton loved the city of Pittsburgh and devoted his life to encouraging a local spirit of philanthropy through an organization that he believed would "enable people with far less than the Fords, Rockefellers and Mellons to express themselves as philanthropists," the Pittsburgh Press reported in 1969.
A native of Crafton, he graduated from Schenley High School and attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology and the University of Pittsburgh. He was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Stanton served in administrative positions at Pitt for 14 years before he became Director of The Pittsburgh Foundation. During his 24 years of leadership, he helped the Foundation's assets to grow from $84,490 in the first year to more than $20 million. One of his lasting contributions was the creation of a program to accept bequests from people of modest as well as considerable income for philanthropic giving.
He was actively involved in the region's civic, cultural and social life and gave generously of his time and talent to many causes. Among them he was Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society and the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education and President of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.
The fund was established in his memory for the charitable purposes of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
Type of Fund
- Unrestricted