The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation announces with deep sadness the unexpected passing of its founder, Richard H. Driehaus, of natural causes on March 9 at the age of 78.
Mr. Driehaus established his eponymous foundation in 1983. A devoted philanthropist, he saw philanthropy as a form of inquiry, and a way of learning about the world.
Reflecting on nearly two decades in philanthropy, Richard wrote, "I have devoted my professional life to the field of financial management and have been blessed with remarkable success. I recognize, however, that the measure of one's personal holdings is of less importance than the impact of our collective aspirations made real. I have further come to understand that maximizing the impact of donated dollars can be considerably more challenging than earning those dollars in the first place."
"Richard was a dear friend, my professional mentor, and a lifelong philanthropist," said Executive Director Anne Lazar. "He spent decades making an impact in Chicago and his legacy will live on through his foundation. He was a true gentleman of grace and humility, and it is the Foundation's honor and privilege to continue Richard's legacy of support."
Philanthropy enriched Richard's life immeasurably, and he would often paraphrase Winston Churchill's quote: "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
It has been an honor for the Foundation staff to work with Richard H. Driehaus in his lifetime, and the Foundation is proud to continue his work.
