2016 Children's Legacy Luncheon

Eau Claire Community Foundation th Anniversary

Children's Legacy Luncheon Recognizing the 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award Honorees

April 21, 2016

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THE FLORIAN GARDENS

2340 Lorch Avenue

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Thank you to our Major Sponsors DIAMOND

GOLD

SILVER

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Program Welcome

Sue Bornick Executive Director of the Eau Claire Community Foundation and Laura Talley Vice Chair of the Eau Claire Community Foundation Nikki Hanna/Minette Ponick Co-Chairs, Children’s Legacy Luncheon

Luncheon

Presentation of Outstanding Achievement Awards Michael Laska

Fire Inspector; Foster Parent; Safety Camp Coordinator and Counselor; Water Safety Task Force Member; Fire Prevention & Safety Educator

Julie Betchkal

Volunteer with Early Childhood Interagency Councils; Statewide DPI Coordinator for the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children

Sally Ellison

Founder, Owner, and Director of Tiny Tots Playhouse for families with children, including those with autism and other special needs

Carol Craig

Co-Founder of Coalition for Civic Engagement-Public Education; ECASD School Board Past President and Member for 21 years

Pa Thao

Co-founder of Wisconsin Women’s Training Institute; Advocate for low income and minority youth and families; Executive Director of Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association

Sue Tietz

Philanthropist; Active participant in numerous non-profit organizations; Business Leader and Owner of McDonough Manufacturing

[{ Judy Clark

WEAU 13 News Mistress of Ceremonies

Closing Remarks

Nikki Hanna/Minette Ponick Co-Chairs, Children’s Legacy Luncheon Reception music provided by Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony

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Helping Children Succeed...

with the ability to reach for the sky!

HSHS Sacred Heart & St. Joseph's hospitals congratulate this year's Outstanding Achievement Award recipients • Julie Betchkal • Carol Craig • Sally Ellison • Michael Laska • Pa Thao • Sue Tietz

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endless

the possibilities are

, .

To learn more about how the Eau Claire Community Foundation has helped create endless possibilities we invite you to visit our website at www.eccommunityfoundation.org or call 715.552.3801 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/eccommunityfoundation

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Congratulations to our ECPSF Trustee Sue Tietz and to all the other Honorees!

Ensuring the future through gifts, grants, and scholarships.

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In support of our children

We congratulate: Julie, Carol, Sally, Michael, Pa and Sue!

Your friends at Mayo Clinic Health System mayoclinichealthsystem.org

New Year. New location!

2016,&the Boys TheInBoys Girls Club& -Girls MaryClub Markquart Center is excited Center to annouce it will be to Mary Markquart will be moving opening the doors to itsOxford new home at in its new home at 1005 Avenue 1005 Oxford Avenue in Eau Claire on Eau Claire.

Monday, June 13th.

We look forward for the opportunity to We look educational forward for the opportunitytotoeven provide programming provide educational programming to even more Chippewa Valley youth for many more Chippewa Valley youth for many yearsto tocome. come. years

www.cvclubs.org • Like us on Facebook

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We’re not just your local newspaper; we care about the community and its quality of life.

The Leader-Telegram has proudly supported many local organizations and events for over 135 years

1.800.236.5577 ~ 715.833.9254

Your Newspaper Your Community

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leadertelegram.com

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Children’s Legacy Award Winners

ratulations g n o !

C

www.marshfieldclinic.org 16830-000

thank you Patty Horecki & Helen Nordstrom Founders of the Children’s Legacy Luncheon

Sponsored by Nikki and Rich Hanna

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Celebrating our community and those who improve it.

BMO Harris Bank is proud to support the Eau Claire Community Foundation.

BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC

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bmoharris.com

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Dear Julie, Carol, Sally, Michael, Pa and Sue, Thanks for helping our future shine brighter than the stars.

Family owned and operated since 2004, Computer Wizards has over a decade of experience serving the Chippewa Valley’s computer needs.

We offer many services including virus and malware removal, new computers and upgrades, remote support, office systems, and more!

Find us Online: www.EC www.EC--CW.com 1401 Birch St. Eau Claire, WI 54703

715.833.9581 service@ec service@ec--cw.com

WEDDING FILMS & SAME DAY EDITS

Congratulations Award Winners!

www.northwesternbank.com

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Capture the Moments!

Contact us at 715-828-3258 or www.momentsvideoproductions.com

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Mistress of Ceremonies Judy Clark

Judy produces and anchors WEAU 13 News Today at 10:00 a.m., anchors WEAU 13 News at Noon and co-anchors WEAU 13 News at Five. She also hosts various live and taped special programs and represents the station at a variety of community events.

Judy started her career at WEAU 13 News in 1990 as a General Assignment Reporter. She has also co-anchored the 10:00 p.m. newscast.

Judy is a graduate of Chippewa Falls Senior High School and UW-Eau Claire. Prior to working at WEAU 13 News, she worked as a Reporter and Anchor for WAXX-WAYY radio in Eau Claire. Judy has earned awards from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and the Northwest Broadcast News Association for radio and television reporting.

Judy is a lifelong resident of the Chippewa Valley. She grew up on a dairy farm in the Town of Tilden in Chippewa County. Judy and her husband, Tom, have two sons.

Judy enjoys spending time with family, reading, fishing, and gardening.

The Board of Trustees is pleased to make $500 grants to each of the following programs. Each of these agencies and/or programs were recommended to the Board by the Honoree. These grants reflect the mission of the Foundation, give the luncheon attendees an opportunity to see the impact of their contributions, and most importantly recognize the good each honoree does for children throughout the Chippewa Valley.

HONOREE

RECIPIENT

Julie Betchkal.........Indianhead Federated

Library Systems Carol Craig...............Longfellow - Puddle Jump Event Sally Ellison.............Tiny Tots Playhouse Michael Laska........Outdoor More, Inc. Pa Thao....................Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual

Assistance Association, Inc. Sue Tietz..................Eau Claire Public Schools

Foundation

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Mike Laska

Got to laugh!

“It is all about kids for me,” Mike Laska states. In his profession as a fire inspector, he has seen the sadness of a SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) situation and the stark reality of injuries and drownings involving children. “What really opened my eyes to the need for educating children about survival skills was when I had my own children late in life.” It was then Mike began his journey – which he continues today – to make the world safer for kids.

With a positive attitude and a penchant for intermingling work and play, Mike’s initiatives have focused on children interacting with firefighting equipment, fire masks, firefighter uniforms, and other gear used by fire fighters in order to diffuse fear of the firefighter in uniform and to promote fire safety.

Working with children 3-11 years of age and familiarizing them with the role of the firefighter and fire safety, Mike expanded his role in teaching kids survival skills through his involvement as a coordinator and counselor in Safety Camp for the past two decades. Safety Camp teaches children about bicycle safety, gun safety, electrical safety, and personal safety. Mike also serves as a key member of the Water Safety Task Force, which features water safety awareness, like the use of life jackets, swimming lessons, and ways to decrease water-related incidents.

The messages of fire safety and water safety are more than projects to Mike; they are his priorities. “I like to closely interact with children and relate to them on their level and their terms.” One example he points to in achieving a connection with kids is through “Sparky,” a heretofore minimally utilized mascot in the Fire Department. Mike dons the “Sparky” costume, circulates at public family events, and is approached by fascinated children and adults as he imparts the message of fire safety. “The magnetism of “Sparky” with children and adults produces pure joy, and I know I have done my job in getting the message across,” he observes.

Mike advocates for fire safety and survival skills through school visits, news media, social media, and education. He is passionate about helping people and points to a memorable experience wherein a mother with her newborn was in his CPR class through the Head Start Program. About two weeks after completion of the class, Mike received a call from her stating,“You saved my child.“ She went on to explain that her baby was choking, and she got the object out “….all because you showed me CPR!”

Mike practices what he preaches not only in his profession, but also in his personal life as well.

Together with his wife Jen, Mike invites low income kids over to play, to feed them, to watch movies, and to teach them right from wrong. The Laska home is known as the House of Hope in their neighborhood. Mike points with pride to the fact that he and Jen have recently become legal guardians to a 9 and 12 year old brother and sister for whom they had been foster parents for more than a year.

The interaction and responses of others to Mike’s efforts resonate with him as he enthusiastically talks about his need to do what he can to make changes in society starting with kids. “I am a self-motivated person guided by the examples of my mother and my grandfather (a fire inspector of 20+ years.) I strive to be the father mine was not. I have my children, my wife, and a strong professional support system. I just try to be the best I can be.”

Allyn Bertrang, Deputy Fire Chief, praises Mike’s successes with children: “Simply put, Mike does the right things for the right reasons.”

The grant recipient that Mike has chosen is Outdoor More, Inc.

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Julie Betchkal “There’s a world of difference between insisting on someone’s doing something and establishing an atmosphere in which that person can grow into wanting to do it.”

~ Fred Rogers

Julie Betchkal has been “taking care” of children for as long as she can remember. At the age of 2, she was already a big sister of two little brothers and was the oldest grandchild among several cousins who spent lots of time at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. This nurturing environment set the stage for her passion to work with children. She reflects, “I honestly can’t recall wanting to be anything other than a teacher since first grade.” Julie is being honored today for her 30 years of exceptional advocacy for children with social and emotional difficulties through her work as a teacher and leader of Wisconsin’s Pyramid Model effort.

Julie spent the first 20 years of her career in Colfax, Wisconsin, as a special education teacher for preschool and elementary children. During this time, she worked with many student teachers and saw firsthand how important it is for teachers in this field to support one another. Teaching young children can feel like hard work some days, so having a supportive staff enables them to do their best in these situations.

As a parent of a former student puts it, “I quickly learned that Julie was a God-given gift to our family as a firecracker advocate as well as the most skilled special education teacher I have ever encountered. She incorporated evidence-based special education practices in her classroom and ran a highly organized schedule, keeping students meaningfully engaged during the entire school day.”

After leaving the classroom, Julie has spent the past decade providing professional learning opportunities for early care and education providers who work with children that are experiencing social and emotional challenges. Since 2009, she has been co-leading Wisconsin’s Pyramid Model effort. This model is Wisconsin’s framework aimed at helping adults master techniques that will enhance a young child’s social and emotional development and help prevent the child from needing to use challenging behavior to communicate what they need. This is the project that Julie is most passionate about because the adult outcomes for children who do not learn important social and emotional understandings early are quite poor. People need training to be effective at doing this, and Julie has been instrumental in providing this training as well as the support for teachers to implement the strategies.

Julie helps coordinate about 75 dedicated trainers and coaches who work with educators across the state. She frequently spends long hours on the road every week conducting training sessions, mentoring colleagues, and serving on leadership teams. Chris Hambuch-Boyle says, “I have never worked with anyone that is so knowledgeable and committed to her work.”

Numerous memorable experiences over the years are what keep her going, such as a former student whom Julie still copies when she masters a challenge by raising her arms and chanting “I win, I win!”

The grant recipient that Julie has chosen is Indianhead Federated Library System.

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Sally Ellison “It’s not how far your dreams take you—it’s how far you take your dreams.”

~ Anonymous

Sally was born, raised and educated in England. She eventually moved to the U.S. and was able to successfully raise three sons as a single parent for 17 years after her husband passed away unexpectedly when the youngest of the three was only one year old.

That youngest son is now 21 years old and the one responsible for bringing Sally’s accomplishments to our attention.

She moved permanently near Rock Dam Lake in Willard, WI, over four years ago, where she met her second husband. They have a 4 year old son and a 2 year old daughter, who inspired her to create something that she is being recognized for today. Sally is being honored for her exemplary work of founding, directing, and operating the nonprofit charitable organization Tiny Tots Inc., a playhouse for families with children, including those with special needs and autism.

Having two sets of children over three decades made Sally very aware of how raising a family has changed over the years. After driving her younger kids all the way to Eau Claire for scheduled activities, she started to think that it was not only time consuming and potentially cost prohibitive for many families, but parents were dropping them off rather than spending time with them like she did when her older sons were growing up. The dream of creating a place for families to spend quality time together, the Tiny Tots Playhouse, was born.

Sally and her husband Scott purchased a church in Fall Creek that they completely remodeled with their own personal finances to share with the community. Sally’s mission was to create an affordable, interactive playhouse specifically designed for children to bring their parents, grandparents, or caregivers. The playhouse is solely run by volunteers and only charges a nominal admission fee per child; all adults play for free. All Sally asks in return is that they have fun playing with their children away from cell phones, texts, and electrical devices while they are there. The doors opened on May 1st, 2014, so check out how wonderful the facility is at www.tinytotsplayhouse.org.

The playhouse has numerous play areas and many activities that Sally schedules regularly, such as bringing in therapy dogs for Waggy Tails Storytime. She is extremely pleased that her facility has become a safe and welcome spot for several special needs and autistic children. To accommodate these family’s needs, she developed a separate sensory trampoline room and a “Sunshine Days” playgroup specifically for autistic children.

As one parent volunteer expresses, “As a parent of a child with autism, I have been faced with many challenges. I have to say autism has changed my life…but Tiny Tots Playhouse has changed my world! I have had the opportunity to see my son overcome fears, start communicating, and even seek out a new friend even if it’s only for a moment or two. Not only has Sally given our community an amazing place to play, but also an excellent place to find friends and support on this crazy journey.” This type of success story is what drives Sally to keep her dream alive.

Even though it is very difficult for Sally to find help, she continues to successfully run the Playhouse on her own. As the parent volunteer of the autistic child continues, “Keep being amazing, Sally, and doing what ya do! I will forever be grateful for Tiny Tots and you.”

The grant recipient that Sally has chosen is Tiny Tots Inc.

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Carol Craig “Children are the living messages we send to a time we cannot see.”

~ J.W. Whiteheads

Carol came to the Chippewa Valley at the age of 17 to attend UWEC; fortunately, she stuck around and became one of the area’s greatest advocates for public education. As Carol Gabler puts it, “Carol Craig has a gift of bringing people together for a common purpose and engaging them in a positive manner with a sense of humor. She does her homework so she can see the big picture and has the ability to listen, inform and engage others to get things done that help all students to achieve.” Carol is being honored not only for her 21 years of service on the Eau Claire Area School Board, but also for the many initiatives she engendered over the years to ensure that all children have equal opportunity for success.

Early on in her career as a school psychologist for an area rural school district, Carol realized how critical it was to have everyone working together—teachers, parents, school administrators, community members and elected officials -- all focusing on making sure every child has the opportunity to develop to his/ her potential. This experience was instrumental in her motivation to serve on the Eau Claire School Board for over two decades.

During her tenure on the Board, she initiated numerous collaborative efforts. Her leadership was instrumental in implementing specialists for kindergarten programs, creating a student led task force on environmental issues, making policy changes to promote public participation in district-wide decision making, and promoting equity of student participation in academic and extra-curricular programs -- just to name a few.

Her development and implementation of the “Kids and Single Parents Camp” has been one of her favorite endeavors. The summer camps at Island Lake had the purpose of providing disadvantaged families with a semblance of a summer vacation as well an environment that supported and affirmed their children’s value. The camps were in partnership with Eau Claire community organizations and the area schools. Carol reflects, “To this day, adults who attended the camps as children will say, ‘It was the best vacation I ever had.’

Little did they know, I was having as much fun and fulfillment.”

Where did all this positive energy and enthusiasm come from? Carol relates that much of her inspiration came during a home visit with a beaten down parent, who begged Carol to help get her kids through high school. This parent’s words, “I know that if I had just listened to my teachers, I could have made it. Don’t let this happen to them,” still echo in Carol’s mind.

Carol’s involvement has spanned pre-K through 12, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and the University of Wisconsin System. She continues to be involved in several community initiatives. Recently she has co-founded the “Coalition for Civic Engagement- Public Education,” whose purpose is to facilitate citizen discussions about public education, principles of democracy, and the integrity of opportunities for all children in the United States. Carol says, “My advocacy for children, their adult support networks, and the community in which they grow will be an enduring part of my ‘retirement.’”

The grant recipient that Carol has chosen is the Longfellow – Puddle Jump Event

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Pa Thao

To live a life of patience

Pa Thao’s focus on children is rooted in the refugee camp into which she was born and lived until she was 10 years old. At that point in her life, Pa immigrated to the United States and began the process as a 10 year old child of assimilating into a vastly different culture.

She remarks: “I credit the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association with providing guidance to me and my mother at this important period in my life.”

It was through the Eau Claire Hmong Mutual Assistance Association that Pa was destined to define her purpose in life: to educate and thereby prevent domestic violence and sexual assault victimizing the children in her culture. “Initially, it was difficult for me because of my gender, my age, and the fact that I was not married to a Hmong man,” Pa reflects. She attributes her growth and success in developing programs addressing domestic violence and sexual assault against youth to strong Hmong women mentors from the Refugee Family Strengthening Network who guided her. Using the wisdom of her mentors and network opportunities, Pa continues to advance her work in the prevention of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Tirelessly advocating for all children to have access to community programs focusing on opportunities for minority and low income families, Pa finds herself the voice for women that they may feel safe and capable in raising their children. Toward that goal, Pa actively participates in mentoring survivors of gender, sexual, or international violence as “a way of being part of a smaller group that can become so much bigger.” Through these pioneering efforts, Pa has become an inspiration and an example of what positive outcomes for children can result from making steady inroads into sensitive, relevant areas of family life.

Pa humbly talks about her role in working with children and families: “I want them to remember what they learn – not whom they learned it from.” She continues: “You do not see results right away. The benefits emerge when the child becomes an adult. So, being around children and knowing what you are teaching them has an impact in their lives; that is important to me. It requires patience.”

Pa Thao’s influence is impressive and found in her volunteer work with the Sojourner House and Literacy Volunteers. She also serves on the Governance Board for the Montessori Charter School and is cofounder of the Wisconsin Women’s Training Institute and the Building Our Future Campaign, which focuses on awareness of abusive international marriages.

“It is all about teamwork,” Pa emphasizes. “Each child is an opportunity, and I want them to learn what they were taught. My role is to bring about change the best I can so these children have a level playing field from which to grow.”

The grant recipient that Pa has chosen is Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc.

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Sue Tietz Making a difference in the life of a child can make a difference in yours.

Sue Tietz strives to be a beacon of Goodness in the lives of children. “Often children are victims without a voice,” Sue states. Her heart is touched by children who are abused and taken advantage of.

“What motivates me is to be there for children and make a difference when bad things happen to them.”

The riches in Sue’s heart for family and health were gifts from her mother. As a child Sue learned to embrace these gifts and nurture them. Her father, a philanthropist and owner of McDonough Manufacturing, taught her the value of sharing with others. This combination of sensitivity and sharing followed Sue in life: she has given of her Self and her financial resources to enhance our community for children.

Sue’s involvement in Kiwanis, Girl Scouts and Hope Lutheran Church, as examples, is testimony to her commitment of improving the lives of children. “I especially loved teaching Sunday School at Hope Lutheran Church. The 17 years she taught Sunday School has left her with cherished memories. She was sensitive to the life lessons portrayed during Sunday School sessions; and points to one in particular: “I instructed the children to make their beds for one week and have their mother sign a slip each day that, in fact, they had done this task. I directed them to bring the signed slips to Sunday School after the week. I brought ice cream cones that day for everyone as rewards. But, only three children had followed the lesson and, of course, they received the ice cream treat. The remainder of the Sunday School class asked why they did not receive the reward. It was then they learned the life lesson that those who follow the rule and are honest are rewarded ; there are no short cuts to being recognized for good deeds.”

Sue has been active on behalf of children through her role as a volunteer, as a spokesperson, and as a champion of community efforts to engage and support programs focusing on their needs . The Eau Claire Public School Foundation, Feed My People, Leader Telegram’s “A Penny for Your Thoughts” (which provides daily newspapers for children), Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce Foundation , and mentoring UW-Eau Claire Entrepreneur Students (for business shadowing) are but a few of the avenues Sue pursues in helping youth.

She lives her philosophy of being there for youngsters. In her neighborhood, during the early years, there were many children who resided near her; and Sue and her husband provided Popsicles for them. The children felt comfortable coming into their home for a Popsicle. To this day, Sue is reminded by those children how much they appreciated her openness and generosity in offering a simple treat for them: A Popsicle. The feeling toward children is reciprocal: “I am honored with the trust given to me by children.”

Testimony to her dedication to children in our community is borne out by generous donations of her time and financial resources throughout her life. Dianne Hughes, a longtime friend, notes: “Sue has a genuine, altruistic concern for human welfare, especially as it relates to youth.” Indeed, being with Sue Tietz enriches one as it is obvious she embodies Goodness and human kindness. Sue reflects, “I would like to be remembered as someone who made a difference because she cared.”

The grant recipient that Sue has chosen is Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation.

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Children’s Legacy Luncheon Mission:

Vision:

The Children’s Legacy Fund offers an opportunity for

The Children’s Legacy Fund will increase awareness of

donors to make profound and lasting contributions to the

issues critical to the health and welfare of children by raising

health and welfare of children.

funds for use in the Chippewa Valley to support initiatives on behalf of children.

History: The first Children’s Legacy Luncheon fundraising event was

which is held by the Eau Claire Community Foundation.

held in April 2002 and was established by the Friends of

With the change, Sacred Heart Hospital became a major

Luther and sponsored by Luther Midelfort. The Friends of

sponsor and volunteer, and Marshfield Clinic followed. Mayo

Luther Board felt it was very important to create an event that

Clinic Health System, the Founding Sponsor, continues to be a

was positive for the community as a whole and one that

primary donor to the Children’s Legacy Luncheon. Numerous

furthered the Friends of Luther’s mission of education and

individuals, organizations, and businesses also support the

outreach. Therefore, the Children’s Legacy Luncheon was

Luncheon each year.

established by Founders Patty Horecki and Helen Nordstrom with the intention of creating awareness of special issues

Most of the money raised by the Luncheon funds grants that

regarding the welfare of children in our community and raising

immediately support the health and welfare of children in the

funds to support nonprofit organizations that serve them.

Chippewa Valley. The remainder funds the Children’s Legacy Endowment Fund at the Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Children’s Legacy Luncheon honors community members

This Fund, which began issuing grants in 2010, provides a

who have made an important and lasting contribution on

long term source of support for local projects that enhance the

behalf of children in the greater Eau Claire area. Members of

well-being of children in our community. Strong corporate

the public are invited to nominate individuals or couples who

sponsorship and generous donations to the event will increase

have gone above and beyond expectations in serving children.

the number and size of grants that can be offered to nonprofit

A Nominations Committee then reviews the submissions and

organizations.

by consensus selects the Honorees who will receive the “Outstanding Achievement Award.” These Honorees are

Not only have the Luncheons been inspiring and

recognized at the Luncheon with an award presentation and

heartwarming; they’ve also had a tremendous impact on the

are invited to recommend a $500 grant to the nonprofit

wellbeing of local children. To date, approximately $60,000 in

organization of their choice.

grants to organizations serving area children have been made possible thanks to the generosity of Luncheon Honorees,

In 2007, Luther Midelfort (now the Mayo Clinic Health

patrons, and sponsors. Together, they’re making the Chippewa

System) collaborated with the Eau Claire Community

Valley an even better place to be a kid.

Foundation to create a Children’s Legacy Luncheon Fund,

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Outstanding Achievement Award Honorees Children’s Legacy Luncheon 2002 Audrey Bryan* Carol Gabler Tom Kidd Dotty Lillo Dean Schultz

2007 B.J. and Bea Farmer Betsy McDougall Gibbs Emily Moore Kitty Rahl Betty Smith

2003 Ruth Gullerud Steve Kristo Barbara Shafer Mike Troy* Ken Van Es Bette Wahl*

2008 Thomas Barland Dr. Donald and Gloria Barnes Doug Greenhalgh* Elizabeth Hicks Ronald Lessard Terry Sheridan*

2004 Bernie Trettin Daniel Kincaid, M.D. Barbara Breen* Bill Read, M.D. Kimamo Wahome Ruth Wallace

2009 Naomi Harris Marvin Lansing, Ph.D. Bob Lesniewski Carolyn Pritchett Emilio Rinaldi Alvin and Barbara Rolland

2005 Owen and Janice Ayres Linda Bohacek William Conway* Wynne Cook Rob Fadness Tim Robertson

2010 Helen Andresen* Robert Carr Sherry Jasper Mark Johnson Ivar Lunde Jack and Lorraine Schilling

2015 Melinda Gardner Donna Lehmkuhl Pete Riley Kathy Rulien-Bareis Katherine Schneider Jodi Thesing-Ritter

2006 Karen Alexander Rich Boardman David J. Franks Yong Kay Moua Susan Rowe Todd Teske

2011 Kathern Axelsen Neal Benham, D.D.S. Ruth E. Harris Marnie Hersrud Janet Proctor John Schaaf

2016 Julie Betchkal Carol Craig Sally Ellison Michael Laska Pa Thao Sue Tietz

2012 Phillip Fey Neil Hanson Bruce Hering Linda Johnson Andrea Sullivan Paula Wainscott 2013 Sara Antonson Ron Buckli Susan Hintgen Betsy Kell Rob Reid Arlene Wright 2014 Colleen Bates Chris Hambuch-Boyle Vicki Hoehn Christopher Stratton Lisa Walter

*denotes deceased

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Children’s Legacy Luncheon CHAIRPERSONS

Nikki Hanna • Minette Ponick • Sara Antonson • Bob Carr Penny Crochiere • Jeanne Herman • Leslie Lyons • Carol Morin Susan Peterson • Hannah Walsh • Jill Williams VOLUNTEERS

Colleen Bates • Nancee Burbank • Sarah French • Carol Gabler Donna Gilbertson • Christine Hambuch-Boyle • Betsy McDougall Gibbs Andrea Sullivan • Rose Wiechmann • Susan Willkom HONOREE SELECTION COMMITTEE

Jeanne Herman • Leslie Lyons • Sara Antonson Colleen Bates • Bob Carr • Penny Crochiere Andrea Sullivan • Jodi Thesing-Ritter EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION STAFF

Sue Bornick • Erin Dayton • Hannah Juliot Sharon Peterson • Rebecca White Body

thank you!

The Eau Claire Community Foundation extends a very special “thank you” to all the volunteers of the Children’s Legacy Luncheon.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Outstanding Achievement Award Honorees, past and present.

empowering young people to own their economic success

Your commitment and dedication make this event possible!

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For more information or to volunteer, contact: Susan Peterson, Executive Director at 715 835-5566

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Thank You

Each person being honored here today plays a vital role in impacting the lives of children and youth. To many of them, it isn’t just the job; it is part of their personal being. Many will tell us they only did what they thought was needed. We all know there is much more to the story. Let’s listen carefully, as we may all hear something that will remind us what truly engaged and committed persons can accomplish.

This past year, the Children’s Legacy Luncheon volunteers, along with the Trustees and staff of the Eau Claire Community Foundation, have worked to shape this luncheon to be a community event that recognizes individuals and highlights the needs of children while raising funds. Following this goal, the Board of Trustees established the Children’s Legacy Fund, an endowment that will provide grants to area non-profits serving area children and youth. Each honoree will have a grant given to a charitable program that is reflective of what we are distinguishing them for today.

WE EXTEND A TREMENDOUS THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS WHO MAKE THIS EVENT HAPPEN:

• Our Diamond, Gold, and Silver sponsors • The financial support of table sponsors and contributors to honorariums • The Board of Trustees of the Eau Claire Community Foundation • The members of the Luncheon Planning Committee for their many hours of time and talent • All of the families and friends who are joining us today • Most importantly, today’s honorees for sharing their commitment and stories as an inspiration to all of us

Thank you to everyone for sharing in this special day!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN’S LEGACY LUNCHEON MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES Judy Clark BIOGRAPHIES Nikki Hanna Minette Ponick PHOTOGRAPHER Bill Hoepner SHARP PHOTO Bill Eklund

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GREENDOOR GRAPHICS Michael Lundebrek COMPUTER WIZARDS James Dierauer MOMENTS VIDEO PRODUCTION Richard Wahl BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY Centerpieces

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Thank you for supporting the health and welfare of children in the Chippewa Valley by attending the

Children’s Legacy Luncheon!

Our Vision

Our Mission

The Children’s Legacy Luncheon increases awareness of issues critical to the health and welfare of children by raising funds for use in the Chippewa Valley to support initiatives on behalf of children.

We strengthen our community by offering donors opportunities to establish charitable legacies, by making grants, and by serving as a catalyst to address community needs.

The Children’s Legacy Luncheon Fund and the Endowment are funds of the Eau Claire Community Foundation.

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4/14/16 12:10 PM