Foundation’s origin story begins with women of intention and men of vision

When you step into the Community Foundation lobby, the first thing you see are four portraits: Don Wickham, Oakley Seaver, Mike Conley, and George Hovis. These leaders planted seeds of generosity that continue to grow today.

Our story begins not with a ribbon-cutting, but rather during a season of uncertainty, when community leaders chose long-term stewardship over short-term resolution. The Foundation’s origins are closely tied to the evolution of healthcare, far different from what is known today.

In the late 1930s, a group of community-minded women (one of whom was Sarah Jane (Baker) Seaver, wife of Oakley Seaver) created a small clinic to care for their neighbors. It was a single room above City Hall and the only local access to medical care.

Their vision expanded when the Clermont Welfare Clinic was built in 1941. It provided essential services until South Lake Memorial Hospital officially opened in 1947.

By the early 1990s the healthcare landscape was shifting dramatically. Independent hospitals nationwide faced rising costs, reimbursement changes, new regulations, and major technology needs. South Lake County was growing rapidly, but its hospital was struggling to remain independent in an increasingly complex environment.

Into this moment stepped Shannon Elswick, who relocated from the Midwest to serve as the hospital’s CEO. Soon after arriving, he recognized the severity of the hospital’s financial challenges. The choice was clear: preserve local access to care through partnership, or risk losing it altogether.

After careful deliberation, community leaders entered into a partnership with Orlando Health in 1995.

“Orlando Health assumed day-to-day management, and the community kept 50 percent ownership,” Elswick recalls. “Don, Oakley, Mike, and George urged us to invest that back into the community.”

For 23 years, the hospital operated under this shared model until Orlando Health assumed full ownership in 2018.

Some viewed the agreement as a loss of independence. But local leaders saw opportunity. Rather than allowing financial strain to erode services, they chose stability, expertise, and growth. The partnership strengthened operations and positioned the hospital to expand alongside a rapidly growing South Lake County.

Most importantly, proceeds from the agreement were directed back into the community. Those funds became the literal foundation for what would become the Community Foundation, established in 1995. What began as an effort to strengthen local healthcare gradually grew into a lasting commitment to community philanthropy.

Elswick later served as a founding board member, helping guide the vision that emerged from that pivotal time.

Reflecting on that period, Elswick often speaks about the weight of responsibility people carried. “The leaders at the time were determined to ensure every decision served the community’s long-term wellbeing. The transition wasn’t easy.” It required trust, collaboration, and a willingness to look beyond immediate pressures toward what would matter for generations.

He notes that Oakley, Mike, Don, and George were not focused on personal recognition. They were not seeking to have their names on streets or buildings. Ironically, today the Foundation stands at the corner of Oakley Seaver Drive and Don Wickham Drive, and spaces inside the building bear the names of Mike Conley and George Hovis.

The decisions made in the early 1990s did more than stabilize a hospital. They laid the groundwork for a philanthropic vision rooted in stewardship and ensured that community resources remain dedicated to community health and wellbeing for generations to come.

For our donors, this chapter serves as a reminder of what is possible when leadership and generosity align. The Foundation’s story was not accidental. It grew from courageous decisions, thoughtful governance, and a deep belief that South Lake County’s future was worth protecting.

As we share this history, we do so with gratitude for those who led during uncertain times, and for you, whose continued investment carries that legacy forward.

We will continue to share our origin story in upcoming newsletters, including reflections from friends and family members of Seaver, Wickham, Conley, and Hovis.