Mary and John “Juan” Wilson passed many lessons to their children, including a passion for their community and the importance of thinking of others before themselves. Throughout Juan’s career in the oil and cattle industries, he was known as a true gentleman, sealing a deal or acknowledging an encounter with a genial smile and a handshake.
During their lives, the Wilsons provided generous personal and financial support to organizations that helped make Fort Worth a culturally vibrant community. They opened a donor-advised fund at the North Texas Community Foundation to structure their giving and leave a lasting impact on the city they loved.
Now that Mary and Juan have both passed away, their children continue to work with the Community Foundation to fulfill their parents’ philanthropic goals. While all three siblings have moved out of the area (although one continues to spend part of the year in Fort Worth), they honor their parents’ memory by continuing to support the venerable Fort Worth institutions that make the city a better place to live and that their parents loved.
In 2018, the Wilson Fund supported 22 organizations, including Saint Patrick Cathedral, where they attended Mass daily, the Amon Carter Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Van Cliburn Foundation, UT Southwestern Medical Center, the TCU Ranch Management Program, Historic Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Garden Club, among others.
Mary and Juan embraced the virtue of charity in all its forms. Now, the North Texas Community Foundation is honored to work with their family to enhance the community they cherished.
