Founding Donors Leave a Legacy Using Their IRA
Al and Doris Schwan were recognized business leaders of Salina, and induction into the Salina
Business Hall of Fame further acknowledged the impact of the Schwans on the life of their
adopted town of Salina. But Al and Doris were also strong community members who lived out
their philosophy of generosity to a variety of local and national charities. And when the Greater
Salina Community Foundation started in 1999, Al and Doris became founding donors, and helped
to ensure that the Foundation would grow and prosper.
Al was the oldest of three sons born to Paul & Alma Schwan in Marshall, Minnesota. His father
was a foreman for the Perfection Ice Cream Company and with a partner purchased the
company. Later, Paul bought out his partner and began selling Schwan’s Dairy products, including
Schwan’s Ice Cream. Al enlisted in the service as a Navy pilot during WWII, and met Doris
Ettabelle Gettert at a USO dance in Iowa. Their subsequent marriage produced five sons, two of
whom still live in Salina.
Building a Business
In 1952, Al’s brother Marvin started the Schwan’s Sales Company, delivering Schwan’s ice cream
and other frozen products door to door. Al joined the family business in 1964 as manufacturing
manager, and moved to Salina in 1972 when Schwan’s bought Tony’s Pizza. Al and Doris made
their home in Salina, even after Al became Schwan’s CEO in 1994, managing the family business
until his retirement in 2009. Al listed the growth of the Tony’s Pizza plant as one of his proudest
business achievements.
Al’s brother Marvin was once asked what it takes to be successful at Schwan’s. Marvin
responded, “work hard, be enthusiastic, have integrity, believe in growth—personally, spiritually,
and in business—and help one another.” This was clearly the philosophy of life that Al and Doris
followed, and Al ended nearly every presentation to Schwan’s employees with “the best is
yet to come.”
Leaving a Legacy
Al and Doris were significant donors to a wide number of charities in Salina throughout their
lives. Furthermore, they made careful plans so that even after their lives, they could continue
to support their favorite charities. With guidance from their long-time financial advisors at
Waddell & Reed, Al and Doris established a “Fund for the Future” at GSCF, indicating that they
had established a planned gift for the Foundation. The vehicle that they chose to fund their GSCF
plan was an IRA, which maximized their gift, since the Foundation does not incur any tax on the
payout of gifts. The Schwans designated their favorite local and national charities to receive
annual gifts from the Al and Doris Schwan Charitable Fund for perpetuity. In addition, under the
Foundation’s policy to maintain relationships with donor advisors, Waddell & Reed will continue
to manage the Schwan’s GSCF fund, on behalf of the Foundation, for the indefinite future.
