About Us
Mission, Vision and Values
The Joseph Durda Foundation [hereafter referred to as the JDF] is a private foundation established as a non-profit corporation that supports tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
The Joseph Durda Foundation was founded in 1989 by a war hero, entrepreneur and humanitarian. The primary purpose of the JDF is to carry on the many charitable causes that were important to Joseph Durda, past Chairman of Aeration Industries International, Inc., and his wife, Dody Monahan Durda.
The JDF supports nonprofit providers who provide direct services and/or research that supports the core values of the Founders and continuing Board Members.
Over the past few decades, the JDF has provided grant distributions and supported non-profit organizations that:
* Help assist those in need, including the homeless.
* Provide services to the disabled and those with debilitating health issues.
* Invest in cardiovascular and other medical research.
* Promote education to help our young people and propel future advancements.
* Assist underprivileged youth.
* Support military veterans and their families.
The very basis of the human condition - its tragedy and its triumph - can be found in the entities this Foundation will be supporting. All the poverty that is lessened by a helping hand, all the hunger that is alleviated by the gift of food, all the service that makes heroes of the most humble among us....charity is the supreme virtue, and the great channel through which the mercy of God is passed on to mankind
Our History - Meet the Founders
From humble beginnings, Joseph Durda overcame many adversities in life before achieving success as a founder and executive officer of an international company when he passed away in June, 1990.
Athlete, war hero, philanthropist and humanitarian are a few words that describe him. He hoped to give back to those who helped him as he never forgot his own journey and "where he came from".
Joseph and Dody Durda
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors are committed to keeping the Joseph Durda Foundation legacy strong and thriving to ensure the Founders' charitable intent, values and tradition in perpetuity as defined in the Bylaws through our roles within the Foundation.
Our Board of Directors is made up primarily of family members who meet at a minimum, annually, to review grant requests and to monitor Foundation operations. The Foundation Board currently awards an average of 10 grants per year and has awarded well over a half-million dollars in grants since inception.
Back Row: Chris Cohen, Miles Cohen, Peg Durda Knapp
Front Row: Cheri Durda Cohen, Lance Madson, Susan Link, Brian Cohen
Logo Design
About the design of a spinning propeller and waves. Both held significance in Joseph Durda's life. During WWII, he piloted propeller seaplanes that took off and landed in the ocean overcoming the roughest waves at sea, even during typhoons!
And, while at Aeration Industries, he invested heavily in R & D to find and perfect the most efficient propellers for his patented aeration devices that inject & circulate oxygenated air beneath the water's surface, which help clean up wastewater; restores lakes, rivers and harbors; and increases survival rates and production yields in aquaculture.