PRESS RELEASE November 19, 2007

The Black River Falls Area Foundation celebrated National Philanthropy Week, November 11 – 17, 2007 by inviting their Friends of the Foundation to a luncheon on November 13th to thank them for their support and to introduce them to the different types of funds available through the Foundation.

Foundation chairman Gil Homstad welcomed the nearly 40 people in attendance and reviewed the history of the foundation since it began in 1986.  “One of our first goals was to award grants to area non-profit organizations and serve as a vehicle for people to establish scholarship funds, which we continue doing,” he said.  “But, through the years, the foundation has also taken the lead in raising funds for major community projects such as the Lunda Community Center, the Skyline Golf Course expansion, the Black River Falls Public Library, the Lunda Community Park and the Foundation Trail. Today we are concentrating our efforts on increasing foundation funds to not only meet the charitable needs of our community now, but also to meet needs far into the future.”

One of the eight funds introduced was a Legacy Fund, in which individuals commit to provide a gift to the foundation in their will.  Mary Van Gorden and Dave Hoffman both have committed to a Legacy Fund and shared the reasons why they have made this commitment.

Attorney Tom Lister also spoke and reviewed four various planning techniques donors may consider using to make modifications to their wills ‘so charitable gifts can be made without consulting with an attorney,” explained Lister.  He then reviewed those techniques, which are a Codicil to a Will, a Transfer on Death (TOD), a Deed on Death (DOD), and a Payable on Death Designations (PODs).  Packets containing information on these planning techniques, two new foundation brochures and a listing of funds already established through the foundation were distributed to all attending.

At the conclusion of the luncheon Jim Kaphengst, a member of the Alliant Retiree Council and Alliant Energy Foundation’s Volunteer Program, presented a check for $300 to the foundation.  The grant funds given by Alliant Energy were given to honor and recognize Kaphengst for his volunteer spirit in this community.  Kaphengst explained that Alliant Energy tracked 81,200 hours of their employees’ and retirees’ volunteer time between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007 and “they provided $111,300 in honorary cash grants to support worthwhile causes in Alliant Energy’s hometowns.”

“I am very pleased to be able to give this to the Black River Falls Area Foundation,” said Kaphengst. Gil Homstad accepted the funds and thanked Kaphengst for all his volunteer efforts in this community and for “selecting the foundation as a recipient of these grant fund.”

Homstad also introduced Beth Overlien who has been hired to succeed Bee Herzberg, the foundation’s assistant secretary, who will be retiring the end of the year.  “Bee has served as assistant secretary and sole employee of the foundation since it started over 20 years ago,” said Homstad.  “For most of those years she volunteered without any compensation.  Bee has been the administrative glue, which has held the Foundation together, and her importance to the success of the Foundation cannot be overemphasized.  We will greatly miss Bee and all she has given to the foundation.  And we welcome Beth who will officially begin her duties in December.”

Anyone wanting information on the foundation, the list of established funds or the various planning techniques for Legacy Funds can contact the foundation at 715-284-3113.

 

Jim Kaphengst, left, presented a grant award from the Alliant Energy Foundation to Gil Homstad, chairman of the Black River Falls Area Foundation at a luncheon meeting to introduce Friends of the Foundation to a new Legacy Fund and other funds available through the foundation.

 

Speakers at the foundation’s recent luncheon were, from left, Tom Lister, Mary Van Gorden and Dave Hoffman.  Lister reviewed the various planning techniques donors could use to create a Legacy Fund and Van Gorden and Hoffman spoke on their reasons for establishing a Legacy Fund through the Black River Falls Area Foundation.

 

Assistant secretary of the Black River Falls Area Foundation Bee Herzberg, right, welcomed her successor Beth Overlien at the November 13th Foundation Luncheon.