Nicholas William Genematas immigrated to the United States from Greece in the early 1900’s.
Like many immigrants, he came to this country to escape starvation and poverty.
After many years of struggle, he was able to build a successful linen service company in the Detroit metro area.
Eventually, Nicholas and his wife Marie, moved to Tucson, Arizona to treat his chronic asthma.
While in Tucson, Nicholas be came a successful developer. Nicholas & Marie fell in love with the desert climate, and the Tucson community.
Genematas created the foundation in 1963 to give back to the communities that had given him so much; Tucson, AZ & Detroit, MI.
Nicholas William Genematas immigrated to the United States from Greece in the early 1900’s.
Like many immigrants, he came to this country to escape starvation and poverty.
After many years of struggle, he was able to build a successful linen service company in the Detroit metro area.
Eventually, Nicholas and his wife Marie, moved to Tucson, Arizona to treat his chronic asthma.
While in Tucson, he became a successful developer. Nicholas & Marie fell in love with the desert climate, and the Tucson community.
Nicholas created the foundation in 1963 to give back to the communities that had given him so much in both Tucson, AZ & Detroit, MI.
NWG I’s son, William Genematas stepped in as president after his father’s passing.
William and his wife Nina maintained the health of the foundation for several years.
In the late 1990’s William and Nina’s son, Nicholas Genematas II became president. He remained president until his passing in 2002.
The foundation was renamed The Nicholas Genematas II Foundation in Nicholas’ honor.
Today, the foundation is led by president Mariann Genematas Ernst, Nicholas’ sister and daughter of William and Nina. The board is comprised of Mariann’s husband Dr. Brett Ernst, their daughters Alex & Tori Ernst, and Nicholas W Genematas II’s children, William & Sarah Genematas.
Though the foundation began by serving Tucson & Detroit, today NWGII Foundation supports nonprofits regardless of their location.
