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To: Editor
From: Mary O'Brien
715-284-1337
Date: June, 2009
Grants totaling nearly $50,000 were awarded to 18 recipients at the Black River Falls Area Foundation’s (BRFAF) Social Gathering on June 23 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 the BRFAF scholarship donors and recipients.
BRFAF trustees Jean Lee, Mary O’Brien and Secretary Sue Michaelson organized the gathering. Other trustees are Chairman Gil Homstad, Vice Chairman Dave Hoffman, Treasurer Mike Dougherty, Todd Anderson, Ron Danielson, Dave Millis, Fred Stai and Tom Lister. Beth Overlien is the BRFAF’s administrative assistant. Annual Reports with the theme “Weathering the Economic Storm” were distributed and are available at the Jackson County Bank or by contacting Beth Overlien at 284-3113.
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 BRFAF.
Dave Hoffman reviewed significant events of the BRFAF this past year. He noted the very disappointing 2008 investment returns by saying a combination of drastic stock market declines and low interest rates resulted in 2008 earnings of minus 11.8%. “This is the first loss in our 22-year history,” he said. “Though disappointing, this performance was far better than that of the average foundation which showed a minus 28% asset decline according to The Council on Foundations.”
On a positive note Hoffman said 2008 Friends of the Foundation donated $16,250 and with those funds and some proceeds from the sale of a portion of land across from Burnstad’s purchased by the BRFAF 11 years ago through funds donated by Milt and Lidy Lunda, and a portion of a “Rainy Day Fund,” the BRFAF was able to make meaningful 2009 grants to community agencies and organizations. Hoffman also said that the sale of 14.75 acres of that land to the City Utility in 2008 made it possible for the BRFAF to purchase 14.5 acres across from the Lunda Park for community uses such as soccer fields and a community garden. He said there is still $140,000 remaining from that land sale for future community purposes and the BRFAF still retains 10 acres of the original land purchase across from Burnstad’s, which is reserved for possible school expansion.
Hoffman noted other new highlights in 2008 were the creation of the Alma Center Area Community Fund to benefit the Alma Center area and the creation of the new Meghan Powell Memorial Scholarship.
Hoffman said, “This year, because of the generosity of our 2008 Friends of the Foundation, we were able to increase our 2009 grant-giving capability and so far this year, the Friends of the Foundation have given $14,150. We thank you for your gifts and continuing support.”
In reviewing the financial report, Hoffman said the BRFAF’s total assets for the year ending December 31, 2008 were nearly $2,444,000. “We’re still in good financial shape and will, as so many others are doing, weather this economic storm.”
Trustee Sue Michaelson then announced the 2009 scholarship recipients. They are the following:
Ralph Lund Memorial Scholarship - Matt Gates, Black River Falls - $750
Don Halverson Memorial Scholarship - Laura Henkel, Warrens - $1,500
Duane & Lavina Hoffman Academic Scholarship - Emily Jordan, Black River Falls - $1,500
Duane & Lavina Hoffman Scholarship - Jordan Merfeld, Black River Falls - $1,500
Lions & Rotary Scholarship - Hannah Ripp, Merrillan - $1,000
Leland & Jeanette Larson Scholarship - Mollie Ginther, Taylor - $2,000
David & Marilyn Hoffman Scholarship - Timothy Roberts, Black River Falls – Up to $7,530
Philip E. Meyer Memorial Scholarship - Allison Volk, Black River Falls - $1,000
Anna & James Klir, Jr. Memorial Scholarship - Eric Barclay, Black River Falls - $1,000
Lieutenant Terry L. Preston Memorial Scholarship - Vincent Johnson, Hixton - $1,000
Alumni Association Scholarship - Timothy Roberts, Black River Falls - $1,000
Fine Arts Scholarship – Anonymous Donor - Hannah Ripp, Merrillan - $1,000
Thomas Robert Gilles Memorial Scholarship - Jack Taylor, Jr., Black River Falls - $1,000
Betsy Danielson Janssen Nursing Scholarship - Allyson Rush, Black River Falls - $1,000
Kelly Mauck Memorial Scholarship - Brittany Hentsch, Hixton - $1,500
Meghan Powell Memorial Scholarships - Jordan Ollhoff, Alma Center - $1,000 and
Michelle Winson, Alma Center - $1,000
Trustee Mary O’Brien then announced the following 2009 grant recipients:
Alma Center Area Community Fund toward their newly established fund.
Black River Area Child Care Services, Inc. to purchase a chest freezer.
Black River Falls Middle School to purchase SMART Board technology and all labor, wiring and equipment for two rooms.
Bolton Refuge House, Inc. Jackson County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Outreach to purchase a complete security system with eight outdoor infrared cameras and monitor for the transitional housing units located in Merrillan.
Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County, Inc. to begin replacing outdated computers used by Club members.
Spaulding Road Community Garden/ City of Black River Falls to purchase a deer fence around the Community Garden and to purchase water barrels to provide gardeners with water.
Forrest Street Early Learning Center to purchase an "all-in-one" kitchen set,
table and chairs and dishes to use in their play area.
Jackson County 4-H Recycling Committee to purchase garbage bins, plastic garbage bags and lids for the collection of aluminum and plastic bottles to be recycled during the Jackson County Fair.
Jackson County Fair Park Renovation for the second installment of the $100,000 five-year pledge for the Jackson County Fair Park Renovation.
Jackson County Historical Society to remove and replace double exit doors in the basement.
Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers to purchase a custom-made cabinet to store equipment for the visually impaired program.
Melrose-Mindoro Choirs to purchase a Clavinova and dolly.
Neighborhood Food Pantry to purchase two freezers for use at the food distribution sites in Merrillan and Alma Center.
Riverfront Inc. to purchase two accessible bottle label applicators for the work center to increase available contract work opportunities, ensure competitiveness and increase productivity.
Skyline Golf Course/Black River Falls Recreation Association, Inc. toward their newly established Legacy Fund.
Taylor-Hixton American Legion Post 368 toward handicap access to gazebo in their Veterans’ Park, and toward purchase of park benches, picnic table, grass seed, fertilizer and mulch.
Western Dairyland EOC, Inc. to purchase a used copy machine for the Fresh Start office, software and ink cartridges for printers.
Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp toward converting existing residence to a retreat center.
Accepting the Black River Falls Area Foundation grant awards were, from left, Trisha Wagner, Spaulding Road Community Garden/City of Black River Falls; Bill Arndt, Jackson County Fair Park Renovation; and Roger Stevens, Taylor-Hixton American Legion Post 368.
Accepting the Black River Falls Area Foundation grant awards were, back, from left, Ranee Roelse, Riverfront, Inc.; Becky McNulty, Bolton Refuge House, Jackson County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Outreach, Inc.; Kalen Laque, Forrest Street Early Learning Center; front, from left, Dennis Hardwick, Alma Center Area Community Fund; Dave Barclay, Skyline Golf Course/Black River Falls Recreation Association, Inc.; and Karen Foust, Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers.
Accepting the Black River Falls Area Foundation grant awards were, back, from left, Sharon Pfaff, Melrose-Mindoro Choirs; Jane Ellingson, Black River Area Child Care; LeRoy Latham, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp; Duane Bowen, Neighborhood Food Pantry; front, from left, Lara Zillmer, Black River Falls Middle School; Max Michaelson, Western Dairyland, EOC; Brittany Johnson, Jackson County 4-H Recycling Committee; and Patrick Guarino, Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County.
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