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YSU professor Rick Shale gives $6 million back to local organizations in community

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

Updated October 10, 2023 1:59 PM

Dr. Rick Shale gave $6 million back to local organizations after death The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley

During his lifetime, Rick Shale was an English professor at Youngstown State University.

He was also a history enthusiast and philanthropist in the Youngstown community, using his assets to help many organizations and initiatives.

Shale died in 2022 but left behind a blueprint where several organizations would receive future gifts from his estate, which totaled more than $6 million.

“Rick began planning for future gifts long before most of us do,” said Shari Harrell, president of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. “He knew that he wanted to continue supporting the many organizations and initiatives that impacted his daily life and saw having a plan as a necessity to ensure that would happen.”

The Butler Institute of American Art, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Mahoning Valley Historical Society and Youngstown State University Foundation are all recipients.

The Rick Shale Fund

From the $6 million, $3.7 million went to the Rick Shale Fund, established at the end of June at the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.

Shale laid out five broad areas of interest for the fund – local history, the arts, parks, education and social services.

The Rick Shale Fund will start making grants in the first quarter of 2024, with open applications being accepted through CFMV’s General Grant Cycle.

“We worked with Rick for many years, making sure that we understood what his vision was for the fund here at CFMV and how that fund could support the community he valued so dearly,” said Harrell.

YSU Foundation, The Butler Institute of American Art

Paul McFadden, president of the Youngstown State University Foundation, said the gift from Shale will be used for scholarships and funding for The English Festival, The YSU Theater Department and WYSU-FM

“Dr. Shale touched the lives of countless students at YSU. During his career he was recognized with three distinguished Professor awards and upon retirement received the university’s Heritage Award,” said McFadden.

Dr. Louis Zona, executive director and chief curator of The Butler Institute of American Art, thanked Shale and said “no project was ever too small for Rick’s guiding hand.”

“Rick Shale was a remarkable man. Generous and proud of his Youngstown associations, Rick’s good work can be revealed in so many community projects,” said Zona. “He loved the Butler and was a member of the Butler Docent program, an organization that he loved so much. But most of all he was a friend to so many of us. We miss him greatly.”

Mahoning Valley Historical Society

“Rick Shale was a longtime MVHS member and friend, and after his retirement from teaching became a dedicated and engaged Board member and trustee of the B.F. Wirt Trust,” said Bill Lawson, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society. “He was extraordinary in that he was able to give generously of his time, talents and treasure consistently and in equal measures. Everyone at MVHS misses Rick, and we’re honored and touched to receive his continued generosity through an estate bequest.”

Shale was selected as the 2023 recipient of the Legacy Award presented by the Mahoning-Shenango Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

A group of representatives from the local recipient organizations gathered with friends of Shale to reminisce about the philanthropist and his many contributions to the local community.

(Left to right) Paul McFadden, president of the YSU Foundation; Scott Schulick, senior vice president of investments at Stifel, friend and advisor to Rick; Janice Elias, B.F. Wirt Trust trustee with Rick; Casey Krell, incoming president of Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley; Suzanne Fleming, B.F. Wirt Trust trustee with Rick; Bill Lawson, executive director of Mahoning Valley Historical Society; Elayne Bozick, B.F. Wirt Trust trustee with Rick; Gary Dyer, former colleague at YSU and good friend of Rick; Rebecca Davis, development director at The Butler Institute of American Art.