With heavy hearts, we are sad to share that Louisa McCune, the executive director of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, passed away last weekend after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Louisa and the staff at the Kirkpatrick Foundation worked closely with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to develop and award strategic and impactful grants to programs supporting arts & culture, animal welfare, education, historic preservation and environmental conservation.
Kind, elegant, witty, intelligent, fierce, and compassionate were words her friends and allies used frequently to describe Louisa McCune. She was a force. Louisa has been a steadfast advocate for the arts and animal welfare in Oklahoma, leading the Kirkpatrick Foundation since 2011. Most recently, Louisa and the staff at the Kirkpatrick Foundation and Kirkpatrick Family Fund achieved one of their greatest accomplishments – creating Kirkpatrick Philanthropies to purchase and transform 133 acres in Oklahoma City into Red Ridge Study Center and Nature Preserve.
Her tireless efforts for humane living conditions for animals in Oklahoma and around the world left a lasting impact. She ensured that organizations like the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals (OAA) had the necessary funding to assist chained dogs and abandoned animals. Louisa dedicated her life to making the world a better place for both animals and people.
Our thoughts are with Louisa’s family, friends and everyone at the Kirkpatrick Foundation during this time.
Our History Together: The Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation are closely linked. John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick, prominent citizens of Oklahoma City, saw a need and felt compelled to help develop the cultural and civic structures of their hometown. On May 17, 1955, Kirkpatrick Foundation was officially established with an initial contribution of $10,000 to serve as a vehicle for personal philanthropic endeavors. When private foundation laws changed in 1969, and the Kirkpatrick’s saw an opportunity to continue their charitable efforts and help individuals, families, companies and organizations invest in Oklahoma City, they helped create the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
You may find Louisa’s obituary and information on the Aug. 17 services, here.