In 2019, Pittsburgh Foundation donor Robert Heaton extended his charitable legacy of supporting education in Butler County by establishing the Robert R. Heaton Scholarship Fund. The fund will help eligible Butler County residents afford higher education, whether through traditional or non-traditional means.
Inspired by the difficulty he faced when paying for his own schooling, Heaton wanted to ensure that as many people as possible have access to an affordable education.
After graduating from Butler High School in 1947, Heaton studied in a mortuary training program in Cleveland and worked as a funeral director for many years. Upon retirement, Heaton entered the real estate business with his daughter, Leanne Heaton, establishing RHGL Inc., which operates in Lyndora, Pa.
His philanthropy also includes the Robert R. Heaton Butler County Assistance Fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation. Before establishing his Pittsburgh Foundation funds, Heaton made a 2014 donation of $1 million to the Butler County Community College, which used the funds to renovate its former library. The library on the college’s main campus is now known as The Heaton Family Learning Commons. Triblive quoted him saying, “If we don’t educate some of these kids, then who will?”
Type of Fund
- Scholarship