Throughout the following year, a small group met several times to organize the foundation. The group included Drs. Henderson and Leonard, Daniel Bier (WAPC Executive Director), Boris Frank (consultant to non-profit organizations), James Wartinbee (officer of M & I Bank) and William F. White (attorney with Michael, Best & Friedrich). On December 10, 1984, the Board of Directors held its first meeting and Dr. Leonard was elected president of the Foundation. Articles of incorporation and bylaws were filed and in early 1985 the new organization was officially launched as “The Perinatal Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc.,” subsequently amended to “The Perinatal Foundation, Inc.” in anticipation of extending operations on a national scale.

The original goal of the Perinatal Foundation was to accumulate a $30,000 endowment and utilize  the interest earned to fund research projects and scholarships for perinatal health professionals to attend educational meetings. Not even one year later, however, the goal was exceeded and the endowment increased to $168,149 as a result of a generous contribution from Amy Louise Hunter-Wilson, M.D., and other fundraising efforts. The first two research grants of $2,500 were awarded in 1986, and the Foundation continued to grow steadily, making several grants each year through 1988.

In March 1988, Dr. Leonard died at the age of 91. His wife, Myrtle, had passed away only four months earlier. The Perinatal Foundation did indeed become their legacy as this extraordinary couple had bequeathed to it the residual of their estate. With their contribution, the endowment surpassed the $1 million mark and the Foundation entered a new phase of activity.
 

Two permanent programs were established in memory of its benefactors: The Myrtle Bahm Leonard Memorial Award and the Thomas A. Leonard, M.D., Memorial Lecture Fund. The Myrtle Bahm Leonard Memorial Award provides scholarships to underwrite the cost of childcare expenses for students at three Wisconsin institutions of higher learning. 
 
The Thomas A. Leonard, M.D., Memorial Lecture fund makes possible a presentation by a nationally recognized speaker at the WAPC Statewide Perinatal Conference each year.In subsequent years, the Foundation also received additional major bequests from co-founder Dr. Amy Louise Hunter-Wilson and her husband, Frederick G. Wilson.
 
Perry A. Henderson, M.D., succeeded Dr. Leonard as president of the Board of Directors and guided the Foundation through a period of tremendous growth from 1988 to 2001. During this time, the Perinatal Foundation “came of age,” awarding annual grants for promising research, education and model projects across the continuum of perinatal care, and providing support for conferences, publications and WAPC programs. By the end of the year 2000, Foundation assets totaled more than $4.5 million and grant distributions surpassed the $1 million mark.

In March 2001, a new era began when Carol A. Browning, M.D., became the Foundation’s third president. A strategic planning session with the board in 2002 identified a goal of funding projects with high impact and high visibility, with a needs assessment to identify possible focus areas. The Grants and Awards Committee was empowered to seek areas of perinatal health care, which are not addressed or are inadequately addressed by current systems. This in turn gave the Resource Development Committee a distinct focus for fundraising efforts, and the Foundation programs new momentum.

The Perinatal Foundation has now become proactive in its grants program, targeting specific means for accomplishing its program goals. This has enabled successful solicitation of grant funds and corporate donations.
 
Today, support of WAPC remains a primary funding goal. By continuing to collaborate with WAPC, and seek new partners and donors dedicated to perinatal health, the Foundation will be able to fulfill the vision of its original founders—assuring healthy outcomes for mothers, infants and families.