Foundation Profile: Philip and Elizabeth Filmer Charitable Memorial Trust
Gifts from foundations and charitable trusts are critical to the philanthropic goals of Leader Dogs for the Blind. Often, we are not able to meet the incredible people who created a foundation or trust but sometimes through trust officers, friends or family, we are able to learn a little bit about their incredible stories.
The Philip and Elizabeth Filmer Charitable Memorial Trust has generously supported Leader Dog for the past two years, making gifts to the deaf-blind program and the GPS Breeze initiative.
Philip and Elizabeth Filmer met when they both worked for General Motors. “Philip rose through the ranks to a management position at GM, where he worked until his retirement,” said Filmer Trust Officer Mary Paquin. “Elizabeth stayed home and raised their son.” Enjoying life and spending time entertaining friends at their home in Pleasant Ridge, the Filmers never expected the turn of events their lives were about to take. A flu epidemic struck Michigan in the early 1940’s and their son died at the age of 13. Philip Filmer, born in July, 1894, died at age 85 in 1979.
Elizabeth continued to live in Pleasant Ridge where she loved feeding the birds at her kitchen window, “It was Elizabeth’s love of birds and animals that made a gift to Leader Dogs for the Blind so appropriate,” said Paquin. Elizabeth lived until age 101, remaining very alert and enjoying the birds that would flock outside her window at St. Anne Mead. “She was relatively happy there,” said Paquin, “but never failed to mention the loss of her son on each visit I made to her through the years.”
Upon Elizabeth’s death in 2005, she left her estate to the Filmer Trust and empowered the board to select worthy causes to support in Oakland County, Michigan. “Leader Dog is a great fit for the Filmer Trust,” said Paquin. “They help so many people and I know Elizabeth would be touched by the bond that people form with these beautiful dogs.”
Connect with Leader Dog