The Brinkerhoff Home Foundation was established in the 1970s to preserve and maintain the historic home donated to the Ursuline Sisters by the Brinkerhoff family in the late 1920s. The home was the original site of Springfield Junior College, founded by the Ursulines. The Ursulines later expanded the junior college to become the Springfield College of Illinois. When extensive work was needed in the 1970s, the foundation was formed to preserve the historic building and keep it open for visitors.

The college was transferred to the Benedictines in the past decade and is now known as Benedictine University. Because the home is now cared for by the university, which uses it for academic and administrative offices, the Brinkerhoff Foundation board determined the foundation was no longer needed and should dissolve and distribute its remaining funds.

"Since the Ursuline Sisters were at the beginning of it all, we thought it only fitting that they should receive much of the foundation's remaining funds," says John Bucari, foundation president.

"We are very appreciative of all the foundation has done through the years to maintain this historic home that became our first college in Springfield," says Sister Diane Fulgenzi, OSU, provincial. "We treasure the ongoing connections with the many people who have been involved with the foundation over the years, and we are honored to be remembered with this gift."