Q: Why is it important for others to perpetuate the memory of your great-granduncles, Wilbur and Orville Wright?
Steve: Their achievement was one of the great milestones in human history. They deserve recognition for having such a profound impact on the world. Their story also serves as inspiration to others. The message is this: That which seems impossible can be achieved with hard work and perseverance. It is my belief that Uncle Wil and Uncle Orv would have a page in history even if they had not been successful in their primary goal because of the methodology and technique they established for conducting scientific research. We still follow the path they paved to make new discoveries in science, technology and engineering. They advanced us by teaching us how to advance.
Amanda: The invention of the aeroplane and the advent of aviation changed our world. Flight connected us as humans to each other and, more recently, to our universe. Just as the brothers rejected the idea of "earthly" boundaries, so have the men and women who followed. Pure inspiration!
Q: Why is Dayton’s history of innovation important to maintain?
Steve: Innovation and invention are a big part of how we make our living in this region. We are home to three large institutions of higher learning, as well as the world's leading center for aerospace research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Our history is leading us into the future with inspiration from those who came before us.
Amanda: At the turn of the 20th century, Dayton was a tech town. From that spirit of invention and entrepreneurship grew many technologies and businesses that have continued into the 21st century. Ohio is known 100 years later as a state of engineers and the home of future new technologies, such as drones.
Q: How is The Dayton Foundation helping you?
Steve: We have handed The Dayton Foundation some challenges in recent years, beginning in 2006 with the acquisition of Hawthorn Hill from the NCR Corporation. In addition, the ongoing development of the Wright Brothers brand as a means of bringing income to The Wright Brothers Foundation presented a challenge to The Dayton Foundation's business model. Every step of the way, the Foundation's staff has said, "We need to make this happen. Let's figure it out." And they have, just like Uncle Wil and Uncle Orv would have done. They realized the possibilities and saw a bright future in being creative and innovative.
Amanda: From the inception of our fund, The Dayton Foundation advised our dad, and then us, on everything from growing our fund to reaching out to community partners who might be interested in our mission. The Foundation is completely committed to assuring our success.
Q: What inspires you about Greater Dayton?
Steve: The region's history of innovation has many more names and faces associated with it than just Wilbur and Orville Wright — names like Deeds, Patterson and Kettering. Every day in Dayton, a lot of people go to school or work to produce something new that might have an effect on the course of history. It's still happening here in Dayton, and I hope it never stops.
Amanda: The thing that inspires me most about Dayton is our consistent theme of being a great Midwest town. We have a strong work ethic balanced with family and leisure. We also are a town that still makes things.
With regard to the Wright brothers’ legacy, there is hardly anything that flies today that doesn’t have a component made in Dayton or the State of Ohio. When people use the negative connotation of Ohio being merely a “fly-over” state, I remind them that they wouldn’t be flying over anything if it weren’t for two Daytonians and many brilliant Ohio engineers, pilots and scientists who followed them.
Q: How would you complete this sentence, “My giving makes me feel____”?
Steve: … that my life has impact on the future in some small way.
Amanda: … great, because we contribute resources and time to both professionals and volunteers who are keeping the story of flight and the Wright brothers alive for future generations.
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