Helping Kansans Live Well

Meet Our Founders

Oscar F. and Alta (“Susie”) Belin loved their family, were proud of their small-town Kansas roots, and knew how to live life to the fullest.

Born and raised in Clay County, Kansas, Oscar and Susie graduated from Clay Center Community High School before marrying and starting a life together. Oscar served in the U.S. Navy and later established a career as a prominent attorney, CPA and farmer. Susie was a successful beautician.

The years brought prosperity, accolades, and travels that took them around the world, but Oscar and Susie remained down-to-earth people who took pleasure in simple things. They loved to dance. Oscar enjoyed a good-natured prank, and no one — but no one  — could beat Susie at cards.

Throughout their lives, Oscar and Susie dedicated their time and resources to support the communities they called home. Susie helped orchestrate the centennial celebration for their hometown of Idana, Kansas, and was instrumental in preserving the town’s historic train depot. Family members recall how Oscar brought fireworks to the small rural town every Fourth of July, putting on a display that rivaled those in the “big city.” This much-anticipated act of kindness brought excitement into the lives of people who worked tirelessly every day.

The Belins often expressed the importance of charitable giving and were well known for helping others. They wanted others to experience the same fulfillment and opportunity they did. The Belin Foundation was established after their passing (Susie in 2000, Oscar in 2003) to carry on their tradition of giving.

About the Foundation

The Belin Foundation continues Oscar and Susie’s legacy of generosity and community care. Based in Wichita, Kansas, it is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation supported by the Belin Family Trust.

Since its founding in 2003, the Foundation has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for Kansas nonprofit organizations.