When Mac Van Horn came to Arkansas in the early 1960s, he was looking to build his life and family. He fell in love with Russellville, began building his business and quickly started giving back. “My dad lived and modeled the idea that if you want a community to treat you well, you have to treat your community well—there is a back-and-forth relationship,” said Scott Van Horn, Mac’s son.
Mac understood the value of a local community foundation, and in 2001 was the founding board chair for Pope County Community Foundation. With his reputation as an effective community leader, he helped raise matching funds and rallied others to join him on the local board. As Mac slowed down in his later years, his son, Scott, stepped in to provide leadership. Now a third generation Van Horn is charting a path to serve the Foundation’s board with Scott’s son, Dalton.
“Dad was a start-up guy and could get things going and get people to help,” Scott said. “In addition to the Community Foundation, he was actively involved with the Red Coats for the Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees, and many other organizations. He liked to support local causes, and he gave to statewide efforts too. He and my mother drilled into us how we should always give back.”
Along with the Pope County affiliate, Scott and Dalton support some of the other causes that Mac started. “Dad was very active with Camp Caudle in the early years and several other local organizations that helped kids,” said Scott. “We still sponsor many organizations that help youth, including Royal Family Kids Camp for foster kids — also a grantee of the Community Foundation.”
The youngest Van Horn has been on the Pope County Community Foundation board since June of 2024. “The affiliate is growing and working to address local needs,” he said. “We just completed our fall grant cycle where we focused on food security and early literacy programs. And in the last fiscal year, we awarded nearly $125,000 in grants to area nonprofits.”
Dalton has also helped in fundraising for many local nonprofits, including MARVA Workshop, a resale store in Russellville, and grantee of the Community Foundation. “MARVA provides meaningful work and services to adults with developmental disabilities. When I walk through that facility and see the faces and hear the pride in what they do, it is a great feeling to be a part of that.
“My parents are the most generous people I’ve ever seen,” Dalton continued. “They did things that no one knew about, and they weren’t doing it for any publicity or praise. Since I stepped into the family business, I take seriously our family’s generations of service here. My grandparents and parents were deeply committed to giving back and being community leaders, through the Pope County Community Foundation or other nonprofits. I am proud to be part of that legacy.”