During her years in Cincinnati, Helene met Howard Wurlitzer (1871-1928), whose family manufactured musical instruments.

Following her mother’s example, she was a member of the Germanistic Society, a supporter of the German Theater, and was a sponsor of the contemporary music series at the Cincinnati Woman’s club.

A strong supporter of the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Wurlitzer was the first woman to serve as a member of its Board of Regents.

Throughout the 40s and 50s, Helene supported and patronized artists including Ansel Adams, Earl Stroh, Andrew Dasburg, Patrociño Barela, Tom Benrimo, Ira Moskowitz, Emil Bisttram, Agnes Martin and Dorothy Brett.

In about 1950, Helene met a young academic, Henry Sauerwein III, employed for ten years by the Pentagon in Maryland.

The board of directors included community members from all three local cultures, Taos Pueblo, Hispanic and Anglo.

The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico continues as one of the oldest artist residency programs in the USA.

This is the quiet, enduring legacy of Helene Wurlitzer.”[5] For the most part, the foundation has sponsored artists with traditional residency grants, along the lines of Yaddo and McDowell colonies but it has also assisted artists in need – Andrew Dasburg when he was ill and Agnes Martin for art supplies when she was preparing for a major exhibition.

[8] In more recent years, the foundation has added four-year scholarships to Taos high school students pursuing education in visual, literary or musical arts to its efforts to "support the artist and the creative process.