PRESS RELEASE June 30, 2008 Print E-mail

To:       Editor

From:   Mary O’Brien

Date:   June 30, 2008

For Immediate Release, Please

 

Foundation awards grants totaling nearly $72,000

Grants totaling nearly $72,000 were awarded to 24 recipients at the Black River Falls Area Foundation’s Social Gathering on June 24 at the Skyline Clubhouse in Black River Falls.  Attending were the grant recipients and special guests called “Friends of the Foundation” who each year contribute $100 or more to increase the available funds for grants.  Also attending were Foundation scholarship donors and recipients.

 

Foundation trustees Jean Lee, Sue Michaelson, secretary, and Mary O’Brien organized the gathering.  Other Foundation trustees are Gil Homstad, chairman, David Hoffman, vice chairman, Michael Dougherty, treasurer, Todd Anderson, Ron Danielson, David Millis, Fred Stai and Tom Lister.  Beth Overlien is the Foundation’s administrative assistant.  Printed Annual Reports were distributed and are available at the Jackson County Bank or by contacting any Foundation trustee.

 

Mary O’Brien gave the welcome by introducing the trustees and thanking the Friends of the Foundation for their “generous annual donations that each year help increase the dollar amount awarded for grants and special projects.” She also thanked the scholarship donors for establishing scholarships through the Foundation.

 

Board Chairman Gil Homstad reviewed significant events of the Foundation this past year.  He noted the new Foundation office in the Lahmayer Building, generously donated by Al and Jeanette Lahmayer;  John Hogden’s retirement from the Board of Trustees after serving the maximum nine years and the election of Tom Lister to succeed Hogden; the establishment of a Legacy Fund to encourage individuals to leave a bequest to the Foundation in their wills;  a $155,000 donation from Milt and Lidy Lunda to complete the purchase of the property across from Burnstad’s for future school and/or community projects; the completion of the Foundation Trail Park and Recognition Wall with more than 50 donors contributing $44,000 to the Trail Maintenance Fund; donation to Black River Memorial Hospital’s Capital Campaign from the Pine View Endowment Fund for furnishings for a meditation room; and the Skyline Legacy Fund for improvements to the golf course and clubhouse. 

 

Homstad also noted that three new scholarships were established in 2007.  They are the Thomas Robert Gilles Memorial Scholarship, the Dustin A. Rozmenoski Memorial Scholarship, and the Betsy Danielson Janssen Nursing Scholarship. 

 

He also announced that assets of the Foundation increased over $460,000 in 2007, which included donations made for the construction of the Fair Park and will be paid out as construction progresses.  Bee Herzberg retired in 2007 after serving as Assistant Secretary of the Foundation since it was established in 1986. Homstad extended the Trustees’ thanks and appreciation to her for her tremendous contributions and announced that Beth Overlien was hired late last year to succeed Bee.

 

Homstad said, “This year, because of the generosity of our 2007 “Friends of the Foundation,” we were able to increase our grant-giving capability by $14,000.” In reviewing the financial report, Homstad said the Foundation’s total assets for the year ending December 31, 2007 were nearly $2,580,000.  “It was a great year for the Foundation,” he said.

 

Mary Van Gorden spoke on “Creating a Legacy through the Foundation” and invited individuals to consider naming the Foundation in their will.  She also presented the Foundation a check for $1,000 that came from profits from an award-winning book called Alma Center Memories.  The book was produced in 2002 by the Alma Center History Book Committee, chaired by Donna Rousey.  The committee chose to donate a portion of the profits of the book sales to the newly established Alma Center Area Community Fund.  This fund is an affiliate of the Foundation and its purpose is to provide opportunities for charitable giving to enhance the quality of life in Alma Center and the immediate surrounding area.

 

Trustee Sue Michaelson then announced the 2008 scholarship recipients.  They are the following:

  • Ralph Lund Memorial Scholarship ($750) - Emily Zahasky, Black River Falls;
  • Don Halverson Memorial Scholarship ($1,500) - Brittany Torkelson, Black River Falls;
  • Duane and Lavina Hoffman Academic Scholarship ($1,500) - Chelsea Bahnub, Black River Falls;
  • Duane and Lavina Hoffman Scholarship ($1,000 the first year; $500 the second year) - Kate Allen, Black River Falls;
  • Lions and Rotary Scholarship ($1,000) - Max Hart, Black River Falls;
  • Leland and Jeanette Larson Scholarship ($1,500) - Robert Klevgard, Hixton;
  • David and Marilyn Hoffman Scholarship (Up to $7,530) - Marla Hawley, Black River Falls;
  • Philip E. Meyer Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) - Michelle Lindberg, Hixton;
  • Anna and James Klir, Jr. Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) - Letece Borreson, Black River Falls;
  • Lieutenant Terry L. Preston Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) - Jacob Hanson, Black River Falls;
  • Alumni Association Scholarships ($1,000 each) - Jennifer Meyer, Black River Falls and Michaela Rockney, Black River Falls;
  • Fine Arts Scholarship – Anonymous Donor ($1,000) - Kayelin Glasspoole, Black River Falls;
  • Thomas Robert Gilles Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) - Matt Millis, Black River Falls;
  • Betsy Danielson Janssen Nursing Scholarship ($1,000) - Eryn Sanborn, Black River Falls;
  • Kelly Mauck Memorial Scholarship ($1,500) - Jennifer Johnson, Black River Falls;
  • Meghan Powell Memorial Scholarships ($1,000) - Jacob Prindle, Alma Center and Nick Seichter, Alma Center.

           

Trustee Mary O’Brien then announced the following 2008 grant recipients:

  • American Legion Baseball/Baseball Field Committee toward the purchase of fixtures and equipment for concession stand and bathrooms.
  • Black River Area Child Care Services, Inc. toward the purchase of equipment for classrooms.
  • Black River Memorial Hospital for the final installment payment of a $25,000 five-year pledge for their Capital Improvement Campaign for use in the OB Department (with assistance from the Stanley Held Funds).
  • Black River Memorial Hospital – OB Department to continue sending the Parenting the First Year Newsletters.
  • Black River Falls Middle School – Technology & Engineering Department toward the purchase of a CNC Laser Engraver.
  • Black River Falls Swim Team toward the purchase of equipment for the Lunda Center to be used during swim team and swimming lessons.
  • Blair-Taylor Schools toward the purchase of Lap-top computers for students with special needs in the area of technology.
  • Bolton Refuge House, Inc. Jackson County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Outreach towards the purchase of materials to build a security fence for transitional housing units.
  • Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County, Inc. toward the expansion of the existing flag football program and to start other programs.
  • Hanson Lien Post 368 American Legion to purchase Flight Jackets to be worn by Military Funeral Honor Guard during Veteran’s Funerals and burial detail.
  • Jackson County Fair Park for the first installment payment of a $100,000 five-year pledge for their renovation.
  • Jackson County Interfaith Caregivers, Inc. to purchase a four-copy tape duplicator for Interfaith’s visually impaired program (with assistance from the Stanley Held Funds)
  • Melrose-Mindoro High School to upgrade the in-school cable TV system by next year’s FCC deadline in order to receive digital television signals.
  • Melrose-Mindoro Area Schools toward the purchase of new Soldering/De-soldering station.
  • Miles Hagen American Legion Post 200 towards the replacement of the black top in their parking lot.
  • Miss Black River Falls Program towards the repair/update of the Miss Black River Falls float.
  • Riverfront, Inc. to purchase and install a sink and cabinet and a ceiling mounted motorized lift system and tracks.
  • Skyline Golf Course to support the Black River Falls Area Foundation Skyline Clubhouse Fund.
  • The Friends of the Black River, Inc. to help with costs to set up a possible small park and kayak course in the tailrace below the BRF municipal powerhouse.
  • Village of Alma Center to help with the establishment of the Alma Center Area Community Fund.
  • Village of Taylor – Park and Recreation Department towards the construction of dugouts for the Pony League Field.
  • Western Dairyland EOC, Inc. to support the Life Skills Literacy Program called My Decisions.
  • Western Dairyland EOC, Inc. towards the transportation needs of the homeless population.
  • Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp towards the re-roofing of portions of two buildings at Fallhall Glen.