For couples like Kevin and Beth Theile and Amanda and John Burnham, family philanthropy didn’t begin with a financial milestone—it began with simply showing up for their children, their friends, their neighbors, and the community that has shaped their families across generations.
What started as volunteering and friendship eventually grew into something deeper: a shared commitment to giving locally and intentionally.
Though the two couples arrived in Bloomington by different paths, each found meaningful reasons to stay. John and Beth were born and raised in Bloomington, each of their families having long-standing local businesses, and their fathers were friends. Amanda grew up in Whiting, Indiana, and her path led her to attend Indiana University, where she met John. Bloomington became her home after she and John married. Kevin, a Cincinnati native, met Beth at Butler University in Indianapolis. Graduating a year before Beth, he began work at T.I.S., Inc., with Beth’s father, Ray Tichenor. The two married two years later in 1992, as did John and Amanda later that same year. Beyond the Burnham and Tichenor families’ deep ties to Monroe County, they also had deep commitments to helping others in need.
The Tichenor family founded T.I.S. Inc., a Midwestern educational conglomerate company that operated for over five decades as one of IU’s main campus bookstores. “My parents always gave back to the community and instilled that in us,” Beth shared. “The community supported our family, our children, and our business for many years, so it was a given that you should do all you can to give back.”
John recalls similar lessons passed down through generations of his family’s local business history. “My grandparents owned a grocery store in Harrodsburg during the Depression,” he said. “Many people couldn’t afford to buy food. My grandparents often offered credit to their customers so their families wouldn’t starve and told them to pay it back when they could. Every family that took that offer eventually settled their debt with my grandparents. Years later, people would come up to us and tell us that because of my grandparents’ generosity, they didn’t go hungry.”
Today, both families continue generational businesses – now focused on real estate – and build upon their parents’ and grandparents’ examples. Those examples shaped how the Theiles and the Burnhams approached their commitment to giving back.
Friendship Through Service
Beth and Amanda’s friendship began while volunteering with Tri Kappa – Bloomington Alpha Chapter, a women’s philanthropic organization that provides scholarships to local students and grants for local nonprofits.
Amanda was helping coordinate a collection of donated baked goods for the Tri Kappa Craft Show when she came across a special coffee cake. “It was beautiful and delicious. The presentation and the detail caught my attention,” Amanda recalled. “I asked who donated it, and someone told me it was Beth Theile, a new member. I made it my mission to not only get the recipe, but to also get to know her!”
Soon, the two women were partnering on a variety of volunteer projects with Tri Kappa and through the Sounds of South choir at Bloomington High School South, where both had children actively involved.
“When Amanda takes something on, she’s going with it, and she’ll be amazing at it,” said Beth. “We really work well together,” and Amanda is quick to add that “the feeling is mutual!”
In addition to the joy of volunteering, Beth and Amanda formed strong friendships with others and eventually introduced their husbands to their growing friend group. “A lot of our core friends had kids who went through the Sounds of South program together,” Beth said. “It brought together parents who were willing to show up.”
Amanda agreed. “One of the things that was so important to all of us was that we wanted everyone’s kid to have the best experience they could. Whatever was needed—we were there.”
The two couples’ teamwork extended beyond formal volunteering, from organizing meal trains for families in crisis to cooking for friends and supporting one another through life’s milestones. As Amanda put it, “Service is not always through an organization. It’s nurturing people where they need it.”
That volunteer connection would become foundational—not only to their friendship, but to how philanthropy became woven into their family lives.
Choosing the Community Foundation
As their capacity to give back grew, both families began looking for thoughtful, sustainable ways to support the community.
For Kevin and Beth, philanthropy at the Community Foundation began with legacy. Beth’s parents established three funds during their lifetime that continue today: the Ray and Marcie Tichenor Fund for Education and Health, the Tichenor Endowment for Stone Belt, and the Tichenor and Theile Family Fund, a donor advised fund that Kevin and Beth, alongside her siblings, Tim, Terri, Jon, and Marta, use to create impact through annual grant recommendations. Later, Kevin and Beth created another donor advised fund for their own family. These endowments will all continue in perpetuity to support the quality of life in Monroe County.
“The power of endowment means these funds and the good they can do keep on growing,” said Kevin. “The Community Foundation is a proven conduit for channeling our support to just about anything, whether it’s a direct support for a nonprofit or benefiting a charitable field of interest.”
For Amanda and John, learning about the Community Foundation started with a conversation with their friends, the Theiles. Those conversations became especially intriguing when a Lilly Endowment matching opportunity came along to establish an unrestricted endowment.
“Kevin had served on the board at the Community Foundation and explained how unrestricted funds are used,” Amanda shared.
Unrestricted funds allow the Community Foundation to respond to Monroe County’s evolving needs through strategic grantmaking. By leaving spending decisions undesignated, donors trust the Foundation and its Board of Directors to determine the most effective ways to seize our community’s most compelling opportunities or respond to the most pressing needs.
“There’s a thoughtful process. Local people are making grant decisions. That gave us a lot of confidence,” added Amanda.
The Burnhams chose to establish an unrestricted endowment, trusting the Community Foundation to steward the funds wisely and direct resources where they’re most needed, both now and in the future.
“It was a no-brainer,” John shared. “We were in a position to give, we like giving, and in this case, with a match, everyone benefits even more.”
Giving Locally, Thinking Long-Term
Both families emphasized that local giving through the Community Foundation allows them to balance control, impact, and trust.
“With a donor advised fund, we get to decide with our family how to support what we care about,” said Beth. I love that we can change our focus year to year while still knowing the fund is endowed and growing.”
Amanda echoed that sentiment. “There are so many places you can give, but this is an easy one because I have confidence the Community Foundation will be here forever, long after we are gone.”
Seeing their fund names alongside others—past and present—also carries meaning.
“If you look at that list of funds, it’s astonishing,” Kevin said. “So many of the individuals and families who helped make this community what it is today are listed there. It’s remarkable to be part of that combined philanthropic effort.”
For the Theiles and the Burnhams, philanthropy isn’t about dollar amounts—it’s about starting somewhere. Their advice is simple: get involved, give your time, and let generosity grow from there.
“It starts with a conversation,” Kevin said. “Every one of our funds started with a conversation over the last 35 years. Giving your time may come first, and the financial giving may come later.”
And together, the Burnhams and the Theiles hope others will see what’s possible—when friendship, giving, and community all come together.
