The Soule Foundation
Dwight Johnson, father of Vinoble Group CEO and founding Partner Brian Johnson, was a remarkable man. He raised seven children (that’s right - Brian has an abundance of siblings), each of whom are now remarkable in their own right. Dwight’s passion for his family, fun, art, and golf were infectious, and an inspiration to those around him. “My dad was just fun,” Brian has told us. “He was the kind of dad who would spontaneously announce over breakfast on a random Friday that we weren’t going to school today – we were going to race go-karts, or skydive, or some other hair-brained idea that would end up bringing us all closer together.” Later in life, Dwight lost both his legs in separate instances, one to accident and one to illness, but prosthetics allowed him to continue pursuing his passions and brought him new purpose. He founded Soule Innovations, a business in which he used his artistic prowess to hand-paint shoes, creating wearable works of art to share with fellow amputees, helping them reclaim their confidence and step out in style. His efforts were immortalized when local author Simon Calcavecchia included Dwight’s story in The Colorful Shoes, a book in his popular children’s series, The Adventures of Frank & Mustard.
After Dwight’s passing in 2017, the Johnson family established The Soule Foundation in his honor. The Foundation raises money for charities focused on providing clothing, school supplies, meals, and other supportive services for local families. Fittingly, The Soule Foundation holds an annual charity golf tournament to honor Dwight’s favorite pastime. What began as an intimate event with his family and close friends has, seven years later, grown into a major gathering of supporters, sponsors, and partner charities, with many participants traveling across the country to attend. Brian said, “The outpouring of support and warmth this day brings to my family and the causes we try to support leaves us somewhat speechless. Ultimately, we’re just trying to reflect my dad’s spirit and generosity.” The event has become a favorite gathering for those of us at Vinoble as well, with many from our team having become repeat attendees and volunteers. It’s an honor and a privilege for all of us to participate, and we’re proud to recognize Dwight’s legacy.