The Hendricks Family Foundation’s hometown of Beloit, Wisconsin is a truly unique City – loyalty to this community abounds and you will not find a more collaborative City anywhere. That said, you may also be hard pressed to find a group of individuals more passionately committed to using their resources – time, talent and treasure – to enhance and strengthen Beloit than the Hendricks family members who make up the Foundation Board.

The Foundation story is interwoven with that of ABC Supply and it is really that story that breeds the deep loyalty to this City. Ken and Diane Hendricks together founded ABC Supply here in 1982, bringing to life their dream of creating a company that would support their customers and their associates in every possible way. Built on a cornerstone of hard work, ABC Supply has since flourished and grown to become the largest distributor of exterior building materials in the nation. The ABC Supply National Service Center (NSC) – the corporate hub – still sits high upon the hill, overlooking the Rock River.

“Giving Back” is one of ABC Supply’s 7 core values and so, with an initial gift of $1 million in 2004 the Foundation story officially began. ABC Supply continues to contribute to the Foundation and over the years has supported our work in this community with donations to date in excess of $65 million. Though ABC Supply has a national footprint and other Hendricks family businesses are increasing their work in cities like Indianapolis, Boise and closer to home in Delafield, Wisconsin, Beloit remains the focus of the Foundation’s philanthropic work.

The reason is two-fold. First, the Foundation will always prioritize serving the city that embraced the ABC dream. It’s about commitment and loyalty. It’s about home. Second, there is still much work to do here to live up to the vision that we embrace for Beloit. Simply, while we have made great strides, there is still a lot left to do.

The vision statement for the Foundation captures the core of what we hope the Foundation will help to achieve here in this lovely midwestern city. A strong civil society – institutions like churches and schools and voluntary organizations that help care for our community and our neighbors. Children who are cared for by loving adults, well-educated and who grow up to contribute their inherent potential to the world around them. And citizens committed to the ideals of freedom and to the responsibilities of self-government.

Until we achieve that vision we will continue to focus our work here at home, working among our neighbors, helping to build Beloit into the city those who live and work here know it to be.