Awards

IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award - 2009

IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award - 2003

About Molly Swisher

Molly Cox-Swisher was born in Liverpool, England in 1925. She married Sergeant Major Joseph T. Cox in 1947 and raised her family through 35 years of her husband's military service. They were stationed in Japan and Germany before settling at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence, Indiana for her husband's final military posting. Even after they moved to Lawrence, Molly was an active member of the Fort Harrison community, which she served alongside her other community roles in Lawrence and with the American Red Cross. Her engagement earned her the honor of being named "Military Wife of the Year" in 1970. Shortly before their 50th wedding anniversary, Sergeant Major Cox died.

During the War, Molly served in the British Land Army in Devonshire, which was the same organization of which the future Queen Elizabeth II was part. In July 2008, Prime Minister Gordon Brown recognized Molly's service with a medal and personally signed proclamation. She also received the Common Council "Citizen Recognition Award".

In 2001, she married Glenn Swisher and became a partner in his philanthropic activities through The Swisher Foundation. The Foundation provided financial assistance to numerous Indiana educational institutions as well as to local and national organizations devoted to medical research, particularly the Mayo Clinic. The Swisher's generosity provided scholarship support for six students between 2007 and 2009. They also supported the school’s urban education initiatives. Higher education has been a high priority for the Swishers. Through the Swisher Foundation they supported numerous organizations and causes related to education and medical research and development.