The African-American Community Fund (AACF) has received a transformative $550,000 contribution from the estate of Ellenae Fairhurst, a pioneering figure in the U.S. automotive industry and a native of Dayton. Fairhurst, who passed away in April 2024, spent her life breaking boundaries in business and advancing opportunities for others, especially within the African-American community.
Her donation, one of the most significant in AACF’s history, will establish the Ellenae Hart Henry-Fairhurst Legacy Fund, aimed at supporting initiatives that uplift Dayton’s African-American population.
“This gift represents a milestone in the history of the African-American Community Fund, which today represents 191 funds with combined assets of $9.3 million,” said AACF President Kevin Washington. “AACF is eternally grateful to Ellenae Fairhurst for making this wonderful donation. Countless lives will be impacted by this very generous act of benevolence.”
Fairhurst was born in 1943 in Dayton and pursued higher education with distinction, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami, followed by a master’s degree in social and consumer psychology from the University of Detroit nearly two decades later.
Her professional journey began at Ford, where she rose from a secretarial role into management. Later, she joined Chrysler, completed a dealership training program, and led operations as president and general manager at a dealership in North Carolina. Her experience ultimately enabled her to acquire a Dodge dealership in Alabama. She continued breaking ground by becoming the first African-American woman to own Lexus and Infiniti dealerships, redefining the role of women and African-Americans in the automotive retail sector.
“Ellenae was fearless and didn’t take no for an answer. Her leadership, vision, philanthropy and dedication left an indelible mark,” said Jenell Ross, president of Centerville-based Bob Ross Auto Group and the first African-American woman to own a Mercedes-Benz dealership.
Fairhurst’s contribution not only celebrates her lifelong achievements but also strengthens AACF’s mission. A component fund of The Dayton Foundation, AACF was established in 1992 and has awarded over $6.1 million to nonprofits dedicated to serving the African-American community in the Dayton-Miami Valley area.
With the creation of the Ellenae Hart Henry-Fairhurst Legacy Fund, her vision of long-term, community-based impact is set to continue for generations to come.
