For the kids: Jim Victor's legacy, in his own words
“We are both honored—and humbled—that Jim trusted the Quad Cities Community Foundation to carry on his legacy through the James W. Victor Scholarship at the Quad Cities Community Foundation. The scholarship—in addition to the gifts he made elsewhere, will transform our region for decades to come.”
Jim Victor’s legacy echoes in our mind—and rests deeply in our hearts. “I believe every one of us truly knows that we are blessed in our Quad Cities,” he shared with the Quad Cities Community Foundation years ago as he was making plans for his estate. “Of those to whom much is given, much is required. To go to bed at night comfortable that you helped your community, beyond helping your client, is an enormous satisfaction.”
Though a tragic race car accident unexpectantly took his life in 2018, the breadth and depth of Jim Victor’s influence continues thanks to a generous estate gift that he left to support a variety of causes he cared deeply about—including the Quad Cities Community Foundation, where he served on the board of directors and as an investment advisor.
Though he was not a man to be swept away by grand gestures, said his family, Jim Victor certainly has left an indelible imprint on his community.
Jim Victor took time during his lifetime to identify organizations and causes he wanted to support, and acted on his generosity though the giving of both his time and talent across the Quad Cities. His legacy continues on through the James W. Victor Scholarship at the Quad Cities Community Foundation. Arming students with resources to succeed is just what Jim Victor spent his life doing, and why the scholarship at the Community Foundation is so fitting, his brothers said. “I don’t think lives are changed in big moments by people,” Jim Victor’s younger brother Mick Victor said. “I think they are changed by the way Jim did it—by making every small moment a teaching moment. He sincerely loved kids.”
Mick Victor recalled his brother as a voracious reader, thriving on knowledge and then teaching others what he had learned. At the time of his death, Jim Victor served as the executive director, financial advisor and senior portfolio management director for the Victor/Volrath Group at Morgan Stanley in Davenport. “Underneath all his formal presentations and professional manners, he was just a little excited kid himself,” Mick Victor said. “Jim was so full of enthusiasm. He would call me up, so excited about something he had seen. He was all about discovery and curiosity.”
Jim Victor took seriously his desire to really engage people—duly noted by the fact that he carried a flip phone instead of a smartphone and resisted communication by email and text. “He’d rather pick up the phone and talk to someone—to hear their voice,” said his other brother Tom Victor.
Though he worked with adults, sharing financial expertise around the region, he had a special way of connecting with young people, making them feel special and noticed. “It was typical Jim to figure out ways to help kids see how exciting math or business was,” Tom Victor added. “He just wanted to share that excitement of discovering little things.”
Now, Jim Victor’s philanthropy lives on through his estate, a large part of which is being shared across the Quad Cities. In addition to the Community Foundation, he left provisions in his estate to support the United Way of the Quad Cities, Junior Achievement of the Heartland, Genesis Foundation, Genesis Philanthropy, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, and more.
“We are both honored—and humbled—that Jim trusted the Quad Cities Community Foundation to carry on his legacy through the James W. Victor Scholarship at the Quad Cities Community Foundation,” said Sherry Ristau, president and CEO. “The scholarship—in addition to the gifts he made elsewhere—will transform our region for generations to come.”
“Trust is earned over very long periods of time,” Jim Victor told us years ago. “Trust becomes a very important part of what we do to have respect for where life, or eventually death, will take that client and his resources.”
After his passing, Jim Victor’s words reflect a man on a mission to help others. It is a mission that the Community Foundation is honored to carry on.
Other organizations supported by Jim Victor’s estate reflect on his life and legacy
“Jim Victor’s generous gift to Lourdes Catholic School will ensure that future generations will receive a Catholic education, continuing in our current tradition of academic excellence. A scholarship in Jim’s name is being established to assist families with financial needs who have children demonstrating high engagement, strong leadership qualities, and remarkable curiosity. His gift will enable us to develop a solid strategy for providing for the future needs of the Bettendorf/Davenport community.”
“Everyone who knew Jim Victor knew his love for introducing young people to business. His thoughtful planned giving has strengthened our position through the Junior Achievement Free Enterprise Foundation Endowment Fund. His legacy allows for the sustainability and expansion of relevant, innovative programming focused on what mattered most to him; educating children to opportunities within our free enterprise system.”
“Jim Victor was a valued partner of the United Way of the Quad Cities for more than 30 years. His support meant thousands of kids succeeded in school, adults from every walk of life were able to achieve financial stability, and more Quad Citizens had access to resources focused on health. He was a dedicated community leader who volunteered, advocated and invested to create the conditions for every person to live their best possible life. His legacy will continue to amplify success for those who need it most. Our community is stronger thanks to Jim Victor.”
“Thanks to Jim Victor’s exemplary volunteer leadership over the past three decades and his significant bequests to both Genesis Philanthropy and the Genesis Foundation, we can achieve his bold vision for a healthier, more vibrant community and region. Jim challenged us to seek partnerships and engage more people in our mission and, ultimately, in their own health and wellness. In this way, we are all the beneficiaries of Jim’s generosity. We continue to feel his absence and are deeply grateful that he was part of our Genesis family.”