Dorothy Thiele Wright and her husband Rodney were longtime residents of DeKalb. Rodney was an attorney and Dorothy was a teacher. Rodney passed way in 1985. Before Dorothy’s passing in 1995, she directed an estate gift consisting of a 173-acre farm in the subdivisions known today as ‘The Knolls’ and ‘Devonaire Farm’.  The Community Foundation finalized the sale of the land between September and December of 1998. The dollars generated as a result of the sale of the property totaled $1,896,109.  This created a Community Impact Fund at the DeKalb County Community Foundation. The Rodney A. and Dorothy Thiele Wright Fund provides an annual distribution that allows the Foundation’s Board to respond to needs and opportunities throughout DeKalb County. 

In 2018, the Community Foundation made a request to the change the name of a community park built in a subdivision on this land. The request was for Devonaire Farms Park to be re-named to Wright Park in honor of the Wright’s, their legacy, and their significant gift to the community. The park re-naming ceremony was held on September 29, 2018.

Dorothy Thiele Wright and her husband Rodney were longtime residents of DeKalb. Rodney was an attorney and Dorothy was a teacher. Rodney passed way in 1985. Before Dorothy’s passing in 1995, she directed an estate gift consisting of a 173-acre farm in the subdivisions known today as ‘The Knolls’ and ‘Devonaire Farm’.  The Community Foundation finalized the sale of the land between September and December of 1998. The dollars generated as a result of the sale of the property totaled $1,896,109.  This created a Community Impact Fund at the DeKalb County Community Foundation. The Rodney A. and Dorothy Thiele Wright Fund provides an annual distribution that allows the Foundation’s Board to respond to needs and opportunities throughout DeKalb County.