Established 1943
The Centralia Foundation
Supporting the civic, educational, and cultural life of Centralia
About the Centralia Foundation
Established in 1943 by local publisher Verne Joy, the Centralia Foundation has served for decades as the cornerstone of community philanthropy in Centralia and its surrounding areas. Governed by a board of seven unpaid trustees, the Foundation acts as a steward of endowments, aggregate funds, and charitable bequests from individuals of all means.
Its mission is to direct resources to meet emerging civic, educational, and cultural needs — safeguarding donor gifts while ensuring that local residents experience an enriched quality of life. In addition to operating the Centralia Carillon, the Foundation supports much of the educational, recreational, and cultural life of the community.
Foundation Park, one of several places in Centralia established and maintained through gifts to the Foundation.
The Principal Programs of the Foundation
In addition to the Carillon, the Foundation established and continues to support four major parks, facilities, and programs in Centralia.
Parks and Open Space
Foundation Park
Three hundred acres of preserved natural beauty just minutes from downtown, Foundation Park originated from land donations by Verne Joy, Caroline M. Robnett, and Dr. Carl Hall. Designed to provide serene open space for all ages, the privately funded yet publicly accessible park features rustic stone shelters, peaceful woodland trails, fishing ponds, a restored prairie, and a natural wetlands. It serves as a recreational hub with a premier 27-hole disc golf complex — comprising both recreational and championship layouts — and regularly welcomes the community for signature regional sports and cultural gatherings.
300
Acres
36
Disc Golf Holes
Recreation and Fitness
Centralia Recreation Complex
Opened in October 1995, this state-of-the-art facility transformed regional recreation through generous lead gifts from Don and Penny Geary and Ralph Sprehe, many community donors and paired with an operating endowment established by John Parish. The center provides modern fitness facilities, sports courts, and an Olympic-size swimming pool serving thousands of residents annually.
1995
Opened
Olympic
Size Swimming Pool
Education
Scholarship Programs
The Foundation manages 19 distinct scholarship funds, distributing more than $1 million to over 500 area students in the last five years alone. Guided by dedicated selection committees, these awards empower local youth to pursue higher education across academics, healthcare, business, and vocational fields.
19
Scholarship Funds
$1M+
Awarded in Five Years
500+
Students
Youth Athletics
Jaycee Park and Sprehe Fields
Jaycee Park and Sprehe Fields provide high-quality athletic fields developed with the Centralia Jaycees for youth sports leagues.
1988
Land Donated
Jaycees
Maintained By
Other Major Projects of the Foundation
Select a project to learn more about it.
Civic Parks
Bicentennial Park
A downtown space home to Centralia's historic wooden railroad water tower.
The wooden railroad water tower in Bicentennial Park.
Historic Infrastructure
Locomotive 2500
A preserved historic steam locomotive, sheltered under a dedicated maintenance fund as a tribute to local rail heritage.
Locomotive 2500 and its caboose under the shelter.
Community Endowments
Community Endowments and Cultural Partnerships
The Foundation also manages endowments supporting Rotary Park, the Centralia Cultural Society, the Centralia Public Library, and local school systems. Collaborating with organizations like the Rotary Club, the Foundation ensures essential cultural and civic institutions remain sustainable for future generations.
The Foundation also manages endowments supporting Rotary Park, the Centralia Cultural Society, the Centralia Public Library, and local school systems. Collaborating with organizations like the Rotary Club, the Foundation ensures essential cultural and civic institutions remain sustainable for future generations.
The Centralia Cultural Society's Community Arts Center.
More information
Explore Links
Click on any link below to learn more about the facilities and programs supported by the Foundation