A Reflection from John Guidugli: 25 Years of Leading the Foundation

An open letter from John Guidugli, President & CEO of the Foundation, originally published in fall 2024.

I remember the first time I visited the offices of the Hamilton Community Foundation in 1999. I was so impressed with the Lane Hooven House, the home of the Foundation. I fell in love with the architecture and the history of the building.

This German Village treasure intrigued my imagination and encouraged me to learn more about this place, these people, and the work they did. And while the building drew me in, it was the mission of the Foundation that captivated me and eventually convinced me that this was the place I wanted to spend my career making a difference in this community.

The more I learned about the Foundation, the more I understood the true meaning of community. I began to learn about the generosity of the Foundation donors, the vision of the Foundation Board, the dedication of the Foundation staff and the specialness of this community. Over the ensuing years I learned that the Hamilton Community Foundation was a trusted and valued resource in this community, and that the Foundation could – and probably should – play a significant role in the future growth and development of Hamilton.

Over the last 25 years, I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of leading this amazing organization. I’ve witnessed tremendous growth both at the Foundation and in the City of Hamilton. None of this growth came without vision, dedication, collaboration, and a “can do” attitude.

Hamilton and the Hamilton Community Foundation are where we are today because we, as a community – as a people – refused to accept the notion that we were an old industrial city with a great past and a diminished future. We committed ourselves to celebrating our storied past and embracing a vibrant future.

Hamilton and the Foundation have faced our share of challenges and difficulties. We have persevered and succeeded because we saw the value of working together and supporting one another. We bought into the concept that a rising tide lifts all boats – that together we could accomplish so much more than we could as individuals.

So, as I look back at 25 years here, I wonder where the time went, but then I look around and see all the places and projects the time went to supporting. From all of the scholarships and grant awards to all of the community building and economic development efforts to all of the relationships created and nurtured, I am in awe of what we have accomplished. And I am grateful to everyone who supports the work of the Hamilton Community Foundation and embraces the success of the city of Hamilton – thank you for letting me be part of this amazing journey.