Awards

Bicentennial Medal - 2019

IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award - 2014

IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award - 2001

About Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation

Established in 1986, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation has sought to fund initiatives and organizations delivering impactful solutions that address key challenges facing the Indianapolis community. Four generations of the Richard M. Fairbanks Family have remained devoted to the well being of Indianapolis. Their support, through the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, Inc., fosters progress in aging research and the Medical Ethics Leadership Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine. These efforts have culminated in the establishment of the Richard M. Fairbanks Chair in Aging Research. Mr. Fairbanks was president of Fairbanks Communications for 50 years and owned and operated numerous radio stations and a television station. He was active on the boards of the United Way, the Better Business Bureau and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Furthermore, as a result of a generous gift from the foundation, the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI was established. Envisioned to support IU's efforts to address the critical public health problems that affect the quality of life of many Hoosiers, the school complements the resources of other health sciences' schools on the IUPUI campus. Through its support, the foundation has positioned IU to develop a variety of innovative research and educational programs that are helping to build a statewide collaborative approach to improved public health.