PRESS RELEASE April 14, 2005

One of the beautiful assets in Black River Falls is the scenic 4.3-mile Foundation Trail that circles the city. Many people have used the trail for walking, running and biking since it was completed in 2000. The trail winds along the Black River, the Town Creek, near the Golf Course, through the Lunda Community Park, near other parks, past the high school, fair grounds, Pine View Care Center, and in the downtown area. The paved trail has two underpasses, lights, a bridge, benches, and picnic tables and is, as many people say, a breathtakingly beautiful journey around the city.

However, like anything else, funds are needed to maintain the trail. To help generate funds, the Black River Falls Area Foundation is sponsoring the second annual Foundation Trail Maintenance Fund Walk called “The Trail to Better Health.” The walk will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2005 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a Children’s Parade Walk to begin at 9 a.m. Businesses, individuals and families are encouraged to participate. Proceeds from the walk will be used toward this year’s $8,500 cost for resealing and repairing the trail.

Participants can choose to walk all or part of the trail, or not walk at all, but to make a donation. Checks should be made payable to the Black River Falls Area Foundation and mailed to Foundation Trail Maintenance Trail Walk, PO Box 99, Black River Falls, WI 54615.

New this year will be a Children’s Parade Walk that will begin at 9 a.m. at the Lunda Park. Leading the parade will be children’s music and some of the seven dwarfs on a golf cart and gators. Children and their parents can walk a portion or the entire trail in this special parade.

Team and individual registration forms are available at the Black River Falls Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, or from the walk committee members Ron Danielson, John Hogden, Dave Millis, Mary O’Brien and Fred Stai. The forms, indicating funds raised and T-shirt sizes, must be returned by May 5th to the Chamber Office.

To receive a T-shirt each individual walker must raise $50; a family combined must raise $50; and each member of a business or organization must raise $50. If walking with a team or family, T-shirts will be available for pick up on May 12 or 13 from your captain. T-shirts for individual walkers will be available for pick up at Millis Transfer May 12 or 13 or the day of the walk at the Lunda Park. The top money-raising business or organization team and the top money-raising individual or family will have their names engraved on a new plaque that will be located near the walk by the Chamber of Commerce building.

Free Frostop Root Beer and Chippewa Spring Water will be provided at the shelter and the first 100 participants completing the walk will receive a gift. Corporate sponsors of the walk are the Clinic Pharmacy, Millis Transfer, Jackson County Bank, Co-op Credit Union, D & S Manufacturing, Karen Stai Koenigs, Insurance Agency, Inc., Milt and Lydia Lunda, Banner Journal and Shopper, Sand Creek Brewing Co., and Ripp Distributing Co., Inc.

PRESS RELEASE April 1, 2005

The Black River Falls Area Foundation is pleased to announce the arrival of www.brfareafoundation.org, the Foundation’s new web site. The site was developed by Mike Windsor with assistance from Foundation trustees Todd Anderson, Dave Hoffman, Dave Millis and Mary O ’Brien.

Visitors to the site will find information on the Foundation’s history, mission, board members, financials, Friends of the Foundation, types of funds and contact information. Last year’s scholarship and grant recipients are also listed in addition to special comments from some grant recipients.

The Foundation’s grant application form is also available on the site and can be downloaded. Grant applications are being accepted from April 1 through May 15.

The site will be updated as information changes. The trustees invite you to visit the site and they extend their thanks to Mike Windsor for his expertise and talent in making this a reality for the Foundation.