In 1948, Earl Bane began his career in the Dairy Queen business by building his first store on North 9th Street in Salina, Kansas. A true entrepreneur, he eventually became one of the largest territory operators for Dairy Queen, overseeing the development of 148 stores across seven states.

After retiring from the Dairy Queen business in 1994, Earl established the Earl Bane Foundation as a way to give back to the Salina community. His philanthropic vision focused on two key areas:

• Community improvement through grants to area nonprofit organizations and local governments
• Education support through scholarships for Saline County high school graduates attending Kansas colleges

Earl was deeply passionate about Salina. It was of great importance for him to give back to the community, and the Foundation continues this legacy today. Grants are awarded primarily to nonprofit organizations and local governments in Saline County working to strengthen their communities. A limited number of grants are also made to organizations outside the area that reflect Mr. Bane’s personal philanthropic interests during his lifetime. 

See more information on community improvement grants and how to apply.

Education was also important to Earl. He created a scholarship program through the Foundation for select high school seniors from Saline County attending Kansas colleges. The scholarship criteria reflect the values Earl held most dear: a strong work ethic, initiative, and resourcefulness. 

See more information on the Earl Bane Scholarship. 

Since its founding in 1994, the Earl Bane Foundation has awarded more than $18 million in grants and scholarships.

In 2019, Earl Bane was inducted posthumously into the Salina Business Hall of Fame in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit and enduring contributions to the community.  Read more about Earl.