After their mother had passed away, brothers Dan and Bob Kamin decided they’d like to honor their parents.  Dan had researched the matter and suggested that The Pittsburgh Foundation was the place where they’d be best served.  And so they set up the Harry Wallace and Dorothy Kamin Fund, which gave its first grant last year.

“Their mother had been president of the National Society of Arts and Letters twice,” said Dan’s wife Carole, who has also presided over the organization. The Society was holding a watercolor competition, and with the prizes and the exhibition at Phipps Conservatory, the cost would be about $10,000. 

“And so we made this our first grant,” Carole said. “Dan and Bob approved it, and we used the money for two of their mother’s great loves – flowers and art.  She was such an artistic person – it was a perfect fit.”

Bob and his wife Vicky are also artists, so when the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts listed in the Foundation’s Wish Book that it needed two benches, it was another good fit.  The wooden benches are very artistically done, Carole said, adding that she expects the family will support the Center’s ability to build a few more as well.

Dan and Bob had set up, along with their mother, the Kamin Gallery at the University of Pennsylvania, and the family’s fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation will help support future exhibitions at the gallery as well.

Carole has been on several site visits with the Foundation to learn about agencies that are seeking support. “It’s great for us to get to know what these people are doing in the event we’re interested in making a contribution.

“And the people down at the Foundation are so nice.  It’s a well run operation, and it’s been a lot of fun.  Typically we’ve been thinking more about the arts.”

Carole and Dan have three sons, and Bob has two daughters, and it’s been a wonderful experience for the families to go to the Phipps and see the plaque there that states: “In honor of Dorothy McNally Kamin by her sons Daniel and Robert.”