VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind – The Vermillion County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the William, Johanna and Mark Wilson Charitable Community Fund at the Community Foundation.

According to Mark Wilson, the son of the late William and Johanna Wilson, “My parents were strong supporters of a variety of organizations and activities in the Vermillion County area and they instilled these values in me. That’s the reason I am so involved in organizations like the Community Foundation, Riley’s Children’s Hospital, Optimist International and others.  It’s a pleasure for me to give back to Vermillion County in memory of my parents”

“My mother was from Antwerp, Belgium and my dad was from Prairie Creek, Indiana.  I was their only child.  My dad owned the Clinton Frozen Food Locker for a number of years and then he went on to work for the Marathon Oil Bulk Plant.  My mother had an entrepreneurial spirit and in 1971 they became owners of the Signal Hill (Hilltop) Truck Stop in Hillsdale.  Later, in 1978 they opened the Green Acres Restaurant south of Cayuga on Route 63 which operated for 38 years until my retirement in 2016.”

“I had the pleasure of being raised in Clinton and attended Clinton area schools for my first eleven years and then I was a graduate of the first class from North Vermillion High School.  I attended Indiana State University and Danville Area Community College.  I majored in accounting and minored in business and economics.”

All donations to the William, Johanna and Mark Wilson Charitable Community Fund are invested and a portion of the earnings each year will be utilized to assist in supporting innovative and creative problem-solving projects that have the potential to make significant long-term impact in Vermillion County.

The projects may be in a wide-variety of areas, including, but not limited to: education, health & wellness, economic improvement, community leadership development, park & recreation ventures, child & youth activities, senior citizen endeavors, school-based initiatives, visitors & tourism promotion, and others.

Dale White, CEO of the Community Foundation states, “Every donated dollar makes a huge difference and stays right here in Vermillion County.  Because of Mark’s generosity this will