The Hamann Family Story

History

The Foundation was initially founded in memory of H. Paul Hamann who passed away at the age of 58. The concept was based on the value and importance he put on education.

H. Paul and his three siblings, Kurt, Robert and Mary, were the children of Paul and Katharina Hamann, immigrants from Germany who put down roots in Chicago Illinois. Paul was a machinist and Katharina was a homemaker. They could not afford to send their children to college, nor was it an expectation. However, all four children wished to go to college and knew that a good education gave the opportunity for success in life. Somehow that realization came at an early age.As a consequence, each child worked and saved money for college. The three boys had paper routes and various jobs in high school to pay for their schooling.Mary worked at the parochial high school to pay for her education.

H. Paul decided he wanted to be a farmer. When his grades at the University of Illinois weren't up to snuff the dean of the department wondered about his commitment to such a strange major for a "city boy." Consequently, he was told he needed to go into the service before he would be accepted back into college. After much pondering and hesitation, H. Paul did just that. Following his two years of full-time duty, plus extra time for the Berlin Crisis, he went back to school and pursued his major in agriculture. He received his bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1963.

Kurt wanted to pursue an engineering degree. The cost of going downstate to the University of Illinois was financially out of the question. He began at what was called the University of Illinois at Navy Pier in downtown Chicago and commuted from home. He worked hard at school and at other jobs so he could save the money needed to finish his degree downstate at the University of Illinois. He completed his bachelor's degree in engineering in1963.

Robert, "Bob," found himself in a little different dilemma. The Viet Nam War was in full swing and any eligible young man faced the draft. The only way not to be drafted was to be married with a child or be a teacher. He chose to go to Chicago Teachers College with a math major.Teachers College was part of the Chicago Public School system and so the tuition was minimal and he could commute from the family home. The stipulation at Teachers College was that upon graduation you would teach in the city schools for at least one year. After graduation in 1964 Bob did just that.

Mary knew early in high school that she too wanted to get a college degree. Not only were the finances an issue but there were not many choices for girls at the time - nursing, teaching, secretarial or airline stewardess (the latter two didn't need a degree). Well, nursing could be expensive and chemistry was not her thing; she was too tall to be a stewardess and a poor typist.So, she followed Robert to Teachers College (which by the time she graduated was called Chicago State University). Mary graduated with a bachelor's degree in special education in 1968.

In the years that followed both Kurt and Mary achieved Masters Degrees. Education remained of importance to each of the Hamann children. Robert was a math teacher for many years in the Chicago Public schools and then became a technical writer and trainer for AT&T/Lucent Technology. Mary taught Special Education for a number of years and then became a trainer and facilitator in the business world.

After the death of Robert at the age of 64, the Foundation name was changed from the H. Paul Hamann Memorial Scholarship Foundation to the Hamann Family Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Over the years funds have been raised at an annual picnic hosted by H. Paul's daughter, Diana. With the input (originally) by H. Paul's family members, high school graduates, particularly in Indiana, could apply for the scholarship. The target is a student with average grades, a burning desire to attend college and financial need since that typified H. Paul and his siblings. As of 2009, twelve scholarships have been awarded.Several of the recipients have completed their degree and a few have helped to select future scholarship recipients. (See testimonials below.)

What you can do to help

Through the use of technology you can purchase a teddy bear (actually two) on the Bears for Charity page of this website. One bear will go to you and one goes to a child in treatment at a Children's Miracle Network Hospital anywhere in the country; and 10% of your purchase will go to the Hamann Family Memorial Scholarship Foundation (tax deductible) which is administered by the Johnson County Community Foundation, Franklin, Indiana. Your cute bear will make a wonderful gift for yourself or someone else.

Initially, the money in the Foundation paid for books for the recipient for one year. Now the Foundation has grown so the scholarship is renewable for successive years. The more money raised, the more we can help the recipient - or maybe select more than one - and put more smiles on children's faces.

Spread the word

We ask that if you know someone who would like to help a worthy student get through college you tell them about our Foundation and MamaBearsPlace.com. You can also mention the Foundation to your local high school, so maybe a student in your area can become a recipient of this scholarship. The criteria are: a) must have a burning desire to earn a college degree (associate or bachelor) b) must have average grades of 2.5 - 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) c) Must demonstrate financial need (through the FAFSA form). An application and further information can be found on the Johnson County Community Foundation website. Click the "scholarship" tab on the left and scroll down to the Hamann Family Memorial Scholarship. When you click there you will find the application for the scholarship. 

Thanks

Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to read this story and check out the opportunity to do two wonderful things: give a worthy high school graduates help with college and put a smile on the face of a sick child. As H. Paul and his siblings believe, everyone should have the opportunity to go to college, if they wish, and get a leg up on writing their own success story.

"It's not a matter of the years a man has been around, or the route in life he chose to run. But, it's the things he does for everyone that makes the trail such fun."

If you'd like to support our Foundation, go to the Bears for Charity page.
Thank you for giving a child in the hospital a bear hug and helping to fund a young person's college dreams.