Philanthropy
Honoring a Legacy of
Service and Compassion
The Walter Paige Foundation was established to honor the memory of Walter Paige (1927-1989) and Myrtle Paige (1929-2012) who always contributed to people in need. Their generous spirit helped keep friends, relatives, and employees in their homes and their children in school, never looking for anything in return. It was this same generous attitude that inspired them to establish Paige Transportation on June 15, 1970. The company was started to help provide better transportation services for domestic workers in the Chicago area. Their goal was to help people first and then the growth and profit would come. The company grew from 6 buses to over 200 vehicles and 300 plus employees at its height, and provided employment for several generations of family and workers.
In 1970, Walter and Myrtle Paige began Paige Transportation by providing transportation services to domestic workers from the South and West sides of Chicago to their jobs located in the northern suburbs. Paige Transportation was successful in obtaining contracts to transport children with special needs for the Chicago Public Schools in 1971.
Walter Paige walked flights of stairs to assist the special needs students’ parents in getting their children to the bus via stairways when the housing project elevators were not operating. This demonstrated their motto, “The little company that was big on service.”
Over time, Paige Bus Enterprises became a medium-sized, family-run business that transported approximately 7,000 students daily and employed around 200 people. Paige Bus Enterprises grew to provide transportation for:
Walter Paige walked flights of stairs to assist the special needs students’ parents in getting their children to the bus via stairways when the housing project elevators were not operating. This demonstrated their motto, “The little company that was big on service.”
Over time, Paige Bus Enterprises became a medium-sized, family-run business that transported approximately 7,000 students daily and employed around 200 people. Paige Bus Enterprises grew to provide transportation for:
- Students in grades K–12
- Special needs transportation
- Head Start
- State-contracted adult special needs transportation
In addition to the above, Paige Bus Enterprises also provided shuttle service for professional sporting events. The company maintained a 13-acre facility located in Riverdale, Illinois. Along with the growth of the company, the Paige family remained committed to personal service. A Paige family member was regularly available to serve customer needs.
Under the leadership of Phillip S. Paige, his brother Keith and sister Erica were actively engaged in the day-to-day operations. Phil’s sons, Phillip Scott and Shaun, represented the third generation of family involvement in school bus transportation.
Under the leadership of Phillip S. Paige, his brother Keith and sister Erica were actively engaged in the day-to-day operations. Phil’s sons, Phillip Scott and Shaun, represented the third generation of family involvement in school bus transportation.