After 20 years and millions in donations toward worthy causes, the John Alfred and Oscar Johnson Memorial Trust, also known as the Johnson Foundation, will close this year.

John Sellstrom, Johnson Foundation individual trustee, said the foundation is closing after 20 years because of a prerequisite that was included in John Alfred Johnson’s will.

”We will be closing the first half of 2016 by the terms and conditions of John’s will. He set it up that way. He didn’t want it to be a public entity. After 20 years, he wanted it to come to a conclusion,” Sellstrom said.

John Alfred Johnson, years after his brother Oscar had passed away, walked into Sellstrom’s law office in 1995 wanting a way to donate money toward community organizations. The Johnsons had worked hard, invested wisely and created a fortune. After that initial meeting, the Johnson Foundation was created as an organization to support the charitable needs of community organizations in the Jamestown area and Chautauqua County. Johnson’s love for his community and his Swedish heritage led to him entering Sellstrom’s law office. Sellstrom was a Swedish Consulate in Jamestown.

”They (John Alfred and Oscar Johnson) came from nothing from Sweden. Oscar came first then John and they were able to live in Jamestown, and loved it,” Sellstrom said. ”They participated in Swedish organizations. John was very proud of his Swedish heritage, but he was an American through and through. He was very proud to be an American.”

With the Johnson Foundation coming to a close, Sellstrom and his wife, Carole, who is the executive director for the foundation, went to work donating millions of dollars to several local organizations last year. It was publicized that the Johnson Foundation donated to at least 15 organizations granting more than $2,770,000 in 2015. These grants included a $1 million investment for the nursing and health-related scholarships at Jamestown Community College. Another included $500,000 to the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation for its Renaissance Block Challenge which assists neighborhoods with exterior home improvements. The Johnson Foundation invested $250,000 in the Chautauqua Lake Association for replacement, repair and reconditioning of equipment.

Other organizations receiving donations in 2015 from the Johnson Foundation included Hospice & Palliative Care of Chautauqua County; United Way of Southern Chautauqua County; YMCA Camp Onyahsa; Jamestown Police Department; Jamestown Board of Public Utilities; WCA Hospital; Lawson Boating Heritage Center; Community Connections at Findley Lake; Chautauqua Lake Community Sailing Foundation; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; The Robert H. Jackson Center; and Starflight.

”Well I think probably the ability to step in where needed with funds and investments. We call them investments,” Sellstrom said about what he enjoyed most about being the Johnson Foundation’s trustee. ”To see the good work that has been accomplished to the organizations we have given to over the years. The benefits to the community have been enormous. A tremendous amount of good work has been done through the millions and millions of dollars that have been distributed.”

Over 20 years, Sellstrom said the foundation has donated to several organizations in Jamestown and Chautauqua County several times, including the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts and YMCA.

”Many organizations of these types have benefited. Over the last 20 years, we have virtually touched every area in Jamestown that met the criteria John set out in his will,” Sellstrom said. ”This past year we have given several millions of dollars and we look forward to winding it up the first half of 2016. We have identified many organizations that will benefit some in large amounts and some in small amounts to facilitate that finalization (of the Johnson Foundation).”