Glenn Fischer's Decade of Impact
Ten years ago, Glenn Fischer had no idea what the Danforth Center was. Today, he's one of its most enthusiastic ambassadors: a trained docent who leads tours across our campus, introducing visitors to the science happening in their own backyard.
A native St. Louisan, Glenn spent his career in the food industry, starting with a summer job at Wetterau Foods that grew into decades of work there and at SuperValu, rising through the ranks along the way. That career shaped how he thinks about food, agriculture, and the systems that feed people, and it's part of why the Danforth Center's mission resonates so deeply with him now.
Glenn Fischer has been a Danforth Society member since 2016 and a Legacy Society member since 2024.
A Friend's Invitation
In 2016, Glenn's friend Gary Halls invited him for a tour of the Center. By the end of the visit, Glenn had joined the Danforth Society. "The mission statement is so wonderful," he says. "This is definitely the jewel in the crown."
He was impressed by what plant science could do. Global food security, the kind of challenge his industry had grappled with for decades, was being tackled here in St. Louis. And the Center wasn't just producing discoveries: it was producing opportunities for the region, such as new companies, new jobs, and new opportunities like the St. Louis Community College plant science technician program that helps people launch careers in a growing field.
Becoming a Docent
Glenn didn't stop at membership. He trained as a docent and now leads tours of the campus himself, serves on the Friends Committee, and attends events whenever he can. On his tours, he loves showing visitors the research equipment and comparing it to the science equipment he remembers from his high school days. The contrast, he says, tells you about how far plant science has come and where it's headed.
He's particularly drawn to the cassava research at the Center, the work to improve a crop that feeds hundreds of millions of people in Africa. "Amazing," is how he describes it. He also makes a point of getting to know the principal investigators whose work he supports, building relationships with the scientists behind the discoveries.
Glenn conducting a tour at the Danforth Center.
What Matters Most
Glenn's philanthropic approach changed after his wife Sue passed away from cancer in 2014. "She used to take care of all our giving," he says. Taking up that responsibility himself, he made a deliberate choice: concentrate his generosity where it could have the most impact. He narrowed his giving to three organizations: his church (Dardenne Presbyterian), the American Cancer Society, and the Danforth Center. "I thought if I were to give a larger amount, maybe it would have a little more impact," he said.
In 2024, he deepened that commitment further by joining the WHD Legacy Society, ensuring his support for plant science will continue beyond his lifetime.
An Advocate Beyond the Gates
Glenn's belief in the Center's work extends beyond his giving and his tours. When federal research funding cuts threatened institutions like the Danforth Center, he wrote to the US president and his senators to voice his concern. He also shares that he wonders why more food companies don't step up to support the research that will shape the food system they depend on.
Glenn has three children and multiple grandchildren pursuing their studies at colleges across the country. They are the generation, he notes, that will inherit whatever food future we build.
Seeing the Results
For Glenn, the Danforth Center offers something he prizes in his philanthropy: the ability to see what his support makes possible. "I would like to be able to see concrete results of the institutions that I support," he said. "At the Danforth Center, you can do that."
I would like to be able to see concrete results of the institutions that I support. At the Danforth Center, you can do that.
Glenn Fischer
Member of the WHD Legacy SocietyÂ
Creating a Legacy
During the Future Forward campaign, planned gifts can create a legacy of connection and caring for generations to come. Learn more about the benefits and convenience of planned giving here.