The Community Foundation

Cora Mathews Horn Fund for Families

Corn Horn, who was born in 1902 and later widowed at age 24 with two children, seemed an unlikely survivor of economic hardship. At the time of her husband’s death during the Depression era in Nashville, Cora had no job training or experience, but what she lacked in workforce skills, she made up for in great personal resourcefulness. With a quiet persistence and assertiveness at times, Cora went to work to support her family. She also focused on directing her children toward self-sufficiency, making sure on the daily walk to school with her son that their path went through Vanderbilt University’s campus, where he later completed two degrees in chemistry.

However tireless in her own efforts, it was in combination with the generosity of others that Cora pulled herself up. When investors began targeting the boarding house she was running, they made certain their purchase price was enough for Cora to put a down payment on a house where she raised her family. Although she was never dependent on aid, this well-timed hand up helped Cora on her path, which led her to see her children and grandchildren succeed far beyond her means.

So that other families might experience the same compassion and helping hands, which Cora strongly believed in returning to others, her grandchildren – Linda Rainey, Kim Jackson, David Jackson and Mike and Dick Horn – established this Fund to endow The Angel Fund of The Community Foundation. In the spirit of Cora’s legacy, this Fund supports its work to do what others did for Cora – give people a hand during critical times of need to help them surpass life's hurdles.