In 1979, as he approached retirement as the Chairman of the Board of Universal Instruments Corporation, J. Donald Ahearn, and wife Irma, thought that it was time to give something back to the community of Binghamton and Broome County. A community in which they were raised and, in turn, they had raised their family.

Prior to that time, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Instruments, he had encouraged the development of a charitable Foundation at the company.