Donor Stories
Wilhelmina Coe
Albuquerque's history is filled with people who have made their mark in one way or another. Few people, however, have matched the passion and personality of Wilhelmina Coe who, to this day, remains one of Albuquerque's most colorful characters.
She and her husband Ralph owned and operated a successful post-war plumbing business, the profits from which Wilhelmina used to purchase real estate in her neighborhood off Carlisle and San Mateo in Albuquerque.
Wilhelmina also used the plumbing business profits to establish the 1957 Peace Foundation. She felt strongly about helping the less fortunate, and she was passionate about the rights of children and animals. It was Wilhelmina's hope that her Peace Foundation would address all these issues.
Wilhelmina's commitment to her causes led to her infamous weekly attendance at city council meetings. Councilors came to know Wilhelmina as the woman who always spoke her mind, whether or not her topics were relevant to the agenda.
After her death in 1970, Wilhelmina's assets became entangled in a lengthy court battle. Finally settled in 1992, the case concluded with a court-appointed representative distributing her remaining assets according to Wilhelmina's wishes to help the poor.
In 1999, over $7 million was distributed from Wilhelmina's trust to organizations throughout the state. $2.4 million established the nine funds bearing Wilhelmina Coe's name held within the Foundation for the benefit of local nonprofits: Catholic Charities of NM, Health and Human Services, Friends in Time, Habitat for Humanity, Health Care for the Homeless, Christian Kent Day Nursery, MANA de Albuquerque, New Mexico Conference of Churches and New Mexico Victim Assistance Organization.
