Tracy Family Foundation taps Teefey as president, Stamerjohn as president of board of trustees

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Tracy Family Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) private foundation funded by Dot Foods, Inc., has appointed Dan Teefey as the president of the foundation, which has been in operation for nearly 27 years.

Having served as the executive director of the foundation since 2017, Teefey will assume the title previously held by Jean Buckley, one of RT and Dorothy’s daughters and co-founder of the organization. Buckley will remain active with the foundation, continuing to serve as president emeritus and handling special projects.

Buckley was the only foundation staff for many years and was instrumental in creating the grantmaking structure, foundation programs and philanthropic processes that the foundation continues to use today. She is a former board member and past chair of Exponent Philanthropy, a membership organization serving nearly 2,000 family foundations and philanthropists across the country. She now serves as a member of the Quincy University board of trustees.

Susan Stamerjohn, another of RT and Dorothy’s daughters, will serve as the foundation board of trustees chair. She previously served as a foundation trustee and as vice president of the board. She has contributed her expertise to the Dot Foods board of directors, the Tracy Family Council and various other local boards in the West Central Illinois community for many years.

In a press release, Buckley said, “It has been my pleasure to serve as president of the Tracy Family Foundation for 26 years. We started it to honor Mom and Dad’s legacy and being able to do that every day is such a gift. We are continually looking for new ways to support our communities and families with the greatest impact, and Dan and Susan will carry on that work beautifully.”

As president, Teefey will continue to lead foundation operations, manage foundation staff and execute the foundation’s strategic plan. He provides philanthropic guidance, ensuring the foundation’s values and culture pay tribute to the legacy of Robert and Dorothy Tracy.

Teefey is a Brown County native. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, a Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law, and a master of divinity from North Park Theological Seminary.

“Jean’s legacy can be seen in every aspect of the foundation. Her contributions and impact on these communities are immeasurable, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without her leadership,” Teefey said.

Robert (RT) and Dorothy Tracy founded Dot Foods in 1960. The business remains family-owned-and-operated today and is now North America’s largest food industry redistributor. RT and Dorothy’s 12 children and their spouses honored their parents in 1997 by establishing the Tracy Family Foundation. Its vision is to see communities thrive and families flourish in partnership with organizations that uphold the principles of family, faith, education, leadership and community.

The foundation has granted close to $70 million to various organizations dedicated to serving their respective communities. The foundation focuses on the counties of Adams, Brown, Cass, Greene, Hancock, McDonough, Morgan, Pike, Scott and Schuyler in west-central Illinois, where Dot Foods was founded, but also cultivates a philanthropic spirit in RT and Dorothy’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren by encouraging them to support other communities where they live through grants to organizations throughout the United States.

The Tracy Family Foundation was established in 1997 by the Robert and Dorothy Tracy family to advance innovative, collaborative and sustainable change in Brown County and the surrounding region through organizations that share the values of family, faith, education, leadership and community.

For more information, go to www.tracyfoundation.org.