Feed My People has wasted no time in implementing its Food Outreach Program, which received 2015 grant funding from the Eau Claire Community Foundation. Please click the links below to read more about how this wonderful program is bringing food to people in need.

"New Food Pantry Opens in Park Towers Apartment" story on WEAU website

"Everyone's Talking About It" article about the Food Outreach Program on the Feed My People website

The Eau Claire Community Foundation is proud to support Feed My People as it works to ensure that no Eau Claire resident, regardless of income or disability, has to worry about going hungry.

The post Feed My People Puts ECCF Grant Money To Work appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

 Are you in the Women's Giving Circle, or do you want to learn more about it? You can read the latest edition of the Circle News to find out about current W.G.C. happenings.

Click here for a printable copy of the September Circle News

Circle News

 SEPTEMBER  2015

Twentieth Edition

Greetings to you all and where did the summer go?!! The Circle Advisory Team hopes to see you at our Fall Educational Event. The event is open to everyone. Invite a Friend for our program on the 28^th. No cost or pre-registration required. The Presenter is Nancy Coffey, UW Extension Nutrition Coordinator and remarks will be by Rachel Keniston, Director of The Community Table.

Is There Really Poverty And Food Insecurity In My Community?

Come hear statistics on local poverty and step into the shoes of low income families. Learn the challenges of a low income mother with children when it comes to nutrition, finances and caring for her children.

We are also asking attendees to help The Community Table with toiletry items for those in need: toothpaste, hand-soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs, toothbrushes, etc.  Please consider bringing these items and/or giving monetary donations upon arrival. We Hope To See You All There!

GROWING MEMBERSHIP— Our membership has grown to 212 since the beginning of the year. Please help us reach 225 by November. Invite your friends to share in our mission and join Women’s Giving Circle!

Membership opportunity: Please consider serving on the Circle Advisory Committee.  Contact me if interested-715-579-5009. Slate of officers will be announced in October and elected in November.

WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE BOOK CLUB

Book discussions take place at BAM’s Coffee Shop 4:30 – 5:30pm

Monday, October, 26th: The Cherry Harvest by Lucy Sanna

Note: There will be no book club discussion in September.

FUTURE DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Grant review meetings

Tues. September 15^th – 2-5 pm

Tues. October 13^th – 1-5 PM

Fall Educational Event – Monday, Sept. 28^th, The Community Table, Nancy Coffey Speaks on “Hunger in Eau Claire” 4:30 -6:30 pm.

Annual Meeting – Mon. Nov. 2^nd –  4-6:30 PM Eau Claire Country Club

Gift of Giving Breakfast – Wed. Dec. 2nd – 7:30 am at the Clarion –2015 grant awardees disbursal of funds.

Spring Gathering – Thurs. May 5^th EC Country Club

Respectfully, Linda Bohacek

The post Women’s Giving Circle September Newsletter appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Have you heard? Trojan Horse won the 2015 Sculpture Tour Eau Claire People's Choice Award! Congratulations to artist Dale Lewis of Minnesota.

Trojan Horse

Each year, the People's Choice Award is given to the sculpture that receives the most votes. Sculpture Tour Eau Claire then purchases the sculpture and gives it to the City of Eau Claire.

Sculpture Tour Eau Claire also dedicated the 2014 People's Choice award winner, Going for the Goal by Dee Clements, at a ceremony on October 22, 2015. The sculpture is now on permanent display at Hobbs Ice Arena (915 Menomonie St, Eau Claire).

Going for the Goal

You can find out more about these sculptures and others at www.sculpturetour.org. You can also visit the Sculpture Tour page of this website and, if you'd like to donate to Sculpture Tour Eau Claire, you can visit their Fund Page.

The post The People Have Chosen! appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Community members come together to celebrate the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation's Founding Partners Event.

On September 24, Eau Claire Area School District principals, administrators, school board members, and community partners came together to honor the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation’s 52 Founding Partners. The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation held the special event to thank the Founding Partners for Education, who have each donated $5,000 or more to establish the District Wide Endowed Fund for the Future and other funds that address the District’s greatest needs. The Founding Partner plaque was unveiled at the Board of Education Office in Eau Claire, followed by a reception.

The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation is a nonprofit, independent organization that connects the community and the Eau Claire Public Schools to inspire and enhance the educational experience of our students; it was officially launched in 2011 as a supporting organization of the Eau Claire Community Foundation. To learn more about the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation or to make a gift, please contact Executive Director Sarah French at sfrench1@ecasd.us or (715) 852-3015. You can also explore its website at www.ecpsfound.org.

The post Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation Celebrates Founding Partners Event appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

New Board of Trustees Chair Mark Faanes

We're pleased to welcome three new members to our Board of Trustees; Linda Danielson, Dr. Philip Happe, and Karl Murch recently began their three-year term of service. We would also like to thank Jane Lokken for her service as the Chair of the Board of Trustees and welcome Mark Faanes as the new Chair.

The Board of Trustees is a volunteer group composed of community leaders dedicated to making Eau Claire a better place to live. The Board is responsible for developing policies, procedures, and regulations for the operation of the Eau Claire Community Foundation. It also monitors the Foundation’s financial health and provides the Executive Director with resources to meet the needs of those the Foundation serves.

We sincerely thank the current and former Board members for all of their time and expertise on behalf of the Foundation, and we look forward to three great years with our newest members.

Linda Danielson

Dr. Phil Happe

Karl Murch

The post Eau Claire Community Foundation Welcomes New Board Members appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Confluence Arts Center Campaign Exceeds $10 Million in Pledges and Donations;
Fundraising Committee Announces Million Dollar Challenge Grant Program.

Several recently received large donations and pledges to the Confluence Arts Center fundraising campaign have pushed total giving so far by local families and area businesses beyond the $10 million mark. The project’s fundraising goal is $13.5 million, including grants applied for but not yet received from regional and national charitable foundations outside the community that support projects like the Arts Center.

The fundraising committee also announced that another million dollars has been pledged by an anonymous donor in the form of a challenge grant. The campaign will receive the million dollars if it can raise an additional $500,000 locally by December 31. The arts center fundraising committee will officially kick-off an “It’s Time” community campaign October 15 at the Uncorked Autumn Wine Tasting Gala sponsored by Gordy’s Market.

You can learn more about recent major gifts to the Confluence Project by reading "Confluence Center Gains Three New Pledges," posted on the Leader-Telegram's website.

“We are continuing to see strong momentum with philanthropy for the Confluence Arts Center,” said Tom Barland, the fundraising campaign’s co-chair. “The $15 million dollar grant for State of Wisconsin, included in the state’s budget, and Eau Claire County’s recent re-affirmation of its $3.5 million investment in the project has convinced people that the Confluence Arts Center is going to be a reality. They are eager to help assure the capital campaign’s success.”

“Our focus these past several months has been on Century Club gifts of at least $50,000 and contributions from businesses through the Businesses for Growth campaign,” said Jill Barland, a fundraising committee co-chair. “During this time, we’ve had many people ask us how they can help. The ‘It’s Time’ campaign provides a way for everyone who wants to see the Confluence Arts Center happen to step forward with their gifts. Contributions of any size are needed and welcome."

The Eau Claire Community Foundation is the main recipient of community campaign gifts. The UW-Eau Claire Foundation is also continuing to accept gifts for the Arts Center

For more information about the Uncorked Autumn Wine Tasting Gala: https://www.facebook.com/Uncorked-Autumn-Wine-Tasting-Gala-490266627777042/timeline/
For information about the ‘It’s Time’ Campaign: www.communityfortheconfluence.org or this website's Confluence page.

For information on how to make a gift, contact Sue Bornick at the Eau Claire Community Foundation (715-552-3801) suebornick@eccommunityfoundation.org or Kimera Way, UW-Eau Claire Foundation (715-836-5180) waykk@uwec.edu

About the Confluence Project

Philanthropy is one part of the fundraising target for the $40 million arts center. City and county government have conditionally pledged $8.5 million for the project. The State of Wisconsin also has committed $15 million through a non-state agency grant.

The Confluence Project is a public/private partnership engaged in a $65 million downtown redevelopment project in Eau Claire. The major component in the project is a regional arts center. The arts center will be used by community arts organizations and UW-Eau Claire, and will be the region’s venue for touring and local stage theatrical and musical performance events. The $13.5 million in philanthropic giving that aims to be raised by the Confluence Campaign will be applied to help build the arts center, planned to open by the end of 2018.

The post “It’s Time” for the Confluence appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Welcome to the ECCF Fall Newsletter!

Want to catch up on the latest ECCF happenings? Please click the link below to read:

• A letter from ECCF Board of Trustees Chairman Mark Faanes
• Grantee Spotlights
• News from the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation
• A Women's Giving Circle update
• Upcoming Events
• And more!

ECCF Fall Newsletter

The post The ECCF Fall Newsletter Has Arrived appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Eau Claire Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 Children’s Legacy Outstanding Achievement Awards. These Honorees will officially receive their awards at the Children’s Legacy Luncheon on April 21, 2016.

The Honorees are being recognized for making important and lasting contributions to the well-being of children in the Chippewa Valley. The Children’s Legacy Luncheon also raises awareness of issues important to the health and welfare of local children and raises money for the Children’s Legacy Fund, which supports grants to organizations that benefit children. Each Honoree selects a local nonprofit to receive a $500 grant from the Children’s Legacy Fund.

The Honorees for the 2016 Children’s Legacy Outstanding Achievement Award are:

• Julie Betchkal - Volunteer for Early Childhood Interagency Councils; Mentor; Statewide DPI Coordinator for the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children

• Carol Craig - Founder of “Cadre of Deliberative Discussions” on behalf of quality education; Former President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the ECASD Board of Education; Educator; Mentor; Volunteer

• Sally Ellison - Volunteer; Philanthropist; Founder, Owner, and Director of Tiny Tots Inc.; Creator of family-friendly play opportunities for children, including those with special needs

• Michael Laska - Foster Parent; Safety Camp Coordinator and Counselor; Water Safety Task Force Member; Fire Prevention and Safety Educator; EMS Instructor; Volunteer; Mentor; City of Eau Claire Fire Inspector

• Pa Thao - Co-founder of Wisconsin Women's Cultural Training Initiative; Advocate for Low Income and Minority Youth and Families; Volunteer; Mentor; Executive Director of Hmong Mutual Association

• Sue Tietz - Volunteer and officer for numerous nonprofit organizations; Mentor; Philanthropist; Business leader; President/CEO of McDonough Manufacturing

All Honorees were nominated by community members in recognition of their work on behalf of children.

You’re invited to join us in celebrating these Honorees at the 2016 Children’s Legacy Luncheon, which marks the event’s 15th anniversary. It will take place at The Florian Gardens from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on April 21, 2016.

We also invite individuals and businesses to support the Honoree-recommended grants by becoming event Sponsors. Sponsorship levels range from Table Sponsorship to Diamond Level; all levels include special donor recognition.

If you have questions about the Children’s Legacy Luncheon or would like information about becoming a Sponsor, please contact Sue Bornick at the Eau Claire Community Foundation by calling 715-552-3801 or emailing info@eccommunityfoundation.org.

For more information about the Children’s Legacy Luncheon, you can visit the Children’s Legacy Luncheon page under the Lasting Impact tab of this website.

The post 2016 Children’s Legacy Outstanding Achievement Award Recipients Announced appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

On Dec. 18, 2015, President Obama signed a permanent extension of the IRA charitable rollover into law. It will be effective retroactive to January 1, 2015, and has no expiration date.

As a result, donors age 70 1/2 and older may transfer up to $100,000 from their IRA to a qualified public charity. The transfer will be made free of federal income tax, and the gift qualifies for the donor's 2015 required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.  

Many of you had been waiting for passage of this law before you acted on your IRA distribution for 2015. Now that it’s been passed, you may wish to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Eau Claire Community Foundation offers many giving options; you can read about them on the Ways to Give page of our website, begin creating your own Fund online, or print out a form detailing some of our options for using the IRA Charitable Rollover to start your own fund.

If you'd like to receive a 2015 tax benefit, please let us know as soon as possible so we can process the gift before the year's end. Remember that certain funds (donor advised funds, for example) aren't eligible for this IRA rollover provision, so please contact us if you're unsure if your gift will qualify.

You have several options for contacting us: You can email info@eccommunityfoundation.org, call the Foundation at (715) 552-3801, or stop by the office during business hours. Our address is 306 S. Barstow St. Suite 104, Eau Claire, WI  54701.

Please note that due to the holidays, our normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm) will be slightly different. We’ll close at 1:00 pm on Dec. 24 and be closed on Dec. 25. We’ll also be open until 5:00 pm on Dec. 31 but closed all day on Jan. 1.

Some of you may have already made direct charitable gifts from your IRA in 2015. If so, please be sure to inform your tax preparer that you took advantage of the IRA charitable rollover so the distribution will be reflected properly on your 2015 tax return.

Thank you for your generosity!

The post IRA Charitable Rollover Is Now Permanent! appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

You may recall that a bronze sculpture, Mother and Child, was stolen from Sculpture Tour Eau Claire in 2013. The artist, Cody Swanson, resides in Italy.

This bronze was stolen from a granite welded pedestal located in front of Stella Blues (306 East Madison Street, Eau Claire WI). Mother and Child renders the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, stands less than 2 feet tall, and weighs less than 40 pounds.

The theft of this $11,000 sculpture threatened the future of Sculpture Tour Eau Claire, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that's sustained by community effort, generous art patrons, and donors who give their money and time in order to bring this free artistic and cultural experience to the Eau Claire community.

In addition to beautifying Eau Claire with 34 sculptures sourced from all over the world, Sculpture Tour Eau Claire works with community partners to develop programs that promote health, arts education, local commerce, and tourism to Eau Claire.

On January 6, the Eau Claire Police Department notified Sculpture Tour Eau Claire that Mother and Child has been recovered!

Sculpture Tour Eau Claire is funded entirely by the generosity of its donors. You can visit its website at http://www.sculpturetour.org/ to learn more about the organization and ways to support it.

More information specifically about Mother and Child can be found at  http://www.sculpturetour.org/showcase/mother-and-child-2013/.

You can follow the following links to see some of the local media's coverage of this story:

• http://www.wqow.com/story/30902048/2016/01/06/sculpture-stolen-found-after-nearly-three-years
• http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Sculpture-stolen-in-2013-has-been-found-364432141.html
• http://www.leadertelegram.com/News/Daily-Updates/2016/01/06/Sculpture-stolen-in-2013-recovered-in-wooded-area-in-town-of-Fairchild.html

Please contact Sculpture Tour Eau Claire Executive Director Michelle Koehn at michelle@sculpturetour.org or (917) 975-4817 if you'd like more information about Sculpture Tour Eau Claire.

The post Stolen Sculpture Is Recovered appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Do you want to learn more about some of the outstanding philanthropic activity going on in the Chippewa Valley?

If so, please click on the link below to find information for donors, nonprofits, and other
community members:

• Funds both current and new
• Grants disbursed in 2015
• Donors to the ECCF and to the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation
• Spotlight profiles of fund holders and grantees
• And much more!

2016 ECCF ANNUAL REPORT

The post The 2015 ECCF Annual Report Has Arrived! appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Women's Giving Circle is now accepting grant applications! The mission of the WGC is to support nonprofit organizations that run programs benefiting Eau Claire area women and/or children. If your nonprofit is planning to create such a program or significantly improve an existing one, you're eligible to apply for a grant of up to $5000.

You can find more information about the Women's Giving Circle at the Women's Giving Circle page of this site; scroll down to learn how to apply for a WGC grant.

All grant applications must be submitted by midnight on July 1, 2016.

Please call the Eau Claire Community Foundation at (715) 552-3801 or email Rebecca at grants@eccommunityfoundation.org if you would like more information about the Women's Giving Circle and its grant application process.

The post Women’s Giving Circle Is Now Accepting Grant Applications appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

A scene from the 2016 Women's Giving Circle Spring Gathering

A big thank you goes out to all the Women's Giving Circle members, guests, and nonprofit representatives who made the 2016 Women's Giving Circle Spring Gathering a great success!

Almost 100 women gathered to socialize, enjoy a meal, and learn about the programs being run with funding from the 2015 Women's Giving Circle grants. The presenters and their grant-funded programs were:

Mary Jo VanGompel from Literacy Chippewa Valley: "Healthy Foods, Healthy Families"

Cathy Barkovich from Chippewa Valley Free Clinic: "Women’s Health and Hygiene"

Suzanne Becker from Feed My People Food Bank: "Dairy for Kids"

Kari Stroede from Family Resource Center for Eau Claire County: "Parent Café"

Lynda Olson from Lutheran Social Services: "Addiction and Restorative Justice Parenting Program"

Mary McManus from UW-Stout: "Fostering Success at UW-Stout Summer Overnight Camp"

Toni Mattson from Trinity Equestrian Center: "Wounded Women’s Equine Therapy Program"

Congratulations to all of these outstanding grantees, and thank you again to all of the Women's Giving Circle members whose generosity made these grants possible!

More photos from this event are available on the Eau Claire Community Foundation Facebook page.

The Women's Giving Circle is currently accepting applications for the 2016 grant cycle. Please see the Women's Giving Circle page of this website for more information.

The post Women’s Giving Circle Spring Gathering: A Great Success! appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Eau Claire Fury and the City of Eau Claire Presents the 50^th Annual

Eau Claire Classic Fastpitch Softball Tournament

June 24-26, 2016

The 50^th Annual Eau Claire Classic Fastpitch Softball Tournament will be held in Eau Claire, Altoona, and Wheaton June 24-26, 2016.

The tournament will host 96 teams with members from three states in five different age groups competing throughout the weekend. The tournament, jointly sponsored by Eau Claire Fastpitch and the City of Eau Claire, will be played at venues throughout the Chippewa Valley and will also feature the newly constructed Reit Family Fields at Jeffers Road Park.

A study conducted in 2014 in regards to estimated economic impact of events that used Eau Claire Parks & Recreation venues showed this event to have an impact of nearly $733,000.  The Eau Claire Classic Fastpitch Softball Tournament recorded the largest estimated economic impact of all the events included in the study; and with this year’s event being the largest in the history of the tournament, it’s anticipated that the economic impact will be even greater in 2016.

This event will serve as the first major event to use the new facility on Jeffers Road and tournament organizers hope it’s just the beginning of great things to come at the new complex.  The Jeffers Road Development is still actively seeking donations to complete the project.  Donations can be made to the Eau Claire Community Foundation via the Jeffers Park Development Fund page on this website. For more information regarding giving to the park, contact Susan Bornick, Executive Director, (715) 552-3801.

Visit Eau Claire is sending this press release courtesy of the Eau Claire Classic Fastpitch Softball Tournament. Visit Eau Claire effectively markets the Eau Claire Area as a destination for conventions, group tour, sports, and leisure markets; to promote regional economic growth; to enhance the area’s overall identity and image; to sell fun, promote fun, and most importantly – have FUN!

The post 50th Annual Eau Claire Classic Fastpitch Softball Tournament appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Eau Claire Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Xcel Energy has awarded the Foundation a $250,000 grant for the Confluence Building Fund.

The Confluence Project is a collaborative effort to continue the redevelopment of downtown Eau Claire at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers. The centerpiece of the project is the Confluence Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility to showcase Eau Claire’s arts community.

Philanthropic support is critical to reach the Confluence Arts Center Campaign’s new $15 million fundraising goal; the original $13.5 million dollar goal was expanded to $15 million to ensure that the project moves forward with a September 2016 groundbreaking. Donations to the Confluence Building Fund, established at the Eau Claire Community Foundation for the construction of the Confluence Arts Center building, will help Campaign organizers attain this goal.

Presenting the grant award were Ben Fowke, Xcel Energy Chairman and President, and CEO Mark Stoering, President of Xcel Energy-Wisconsin. Eau Claire Community Foundation Board Chair Mark Faanes as well as Confluence Fundraising Committee Co-Chairs Tom and Jill Barland and Meghan Bauer were present to receive the award. Thanks to Xcel Energy’s generous grant, funding for the Confluence Arts Center has exceeded $13 million.

However, gifts and pledges to be paid over multiple years are still being sought and are still needed. The goal of the Confluence Arts Center Campaign is to have enough private funds committed by the end of this year to ensure that the Confluence Arts Center will be able to open in 2018.

To learn more about the Confluence Arts Center, you can go to the Eau Claire Community Foundation website’s Confluence page or to make a gift using your credit card, you can go to the Confluence Building Fund page. You can also explore the Community for the Confluence website at www.communityfortheconfluence.org. If you have questions, you can email Eau Claire Community Foundation Executive Director Sue Bornick at info@eccommunityfoundation.org or Kimera Way, UW-Eau Claire Foundation President, at waykk@uwec.edu.

The post Confluence Arts Center Receives $250,000 Grant from Xcel Energy appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Eau Claire’s Confluence Arts Center received a huge boost in its fundraising efforts with the announcement of a $1.5 million challenge grant to the project. The goal of the grant is to secure another $1.5 million in pledges and gifts by September 30. The resulting $3 million will allow for the Arts Center groundbreaking and construction to begin in September. The matching gift challenge was announced as part of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council’s annual Jubilee Event at the Florian Gardens.

The $1.5 million challenge has been provided by a group of anonymous donors who want to ensure the successful completion of fundraising for the construction of the Confluence Arts Center. According to fundraising co-chairs Tom and Jill Barland, this commitment represents a significant final push in the fundraising from individuals and companies in the region. To date, the Arts Center fundraising has secured $12.5 million in gifts and pledges. The challenge grant and matching funds will add another $3 million to the project, which will generate nearly $16 million in private gifts for the construction of the Arts Center.

“We have received such tremendous support from so many who can see the future of our community through the construction of the Confluence Arts Center,” said Jill Barland. “This generous challenge match of $1.5 million is the final major endeavor to ensure we will indeed break ground in September. With the goal so close at hand, we believe there are people and companies who want to make this dream a reality and are ready to commit.”

The “Breaking New Ground” gift challenge will match every pledge and gift received by September 30, 2016. Donors will have until December 31, 2016, to make their first pledge payment. Pledges toward the Arts Center construction can extend over a period of up to five years. Every dollar will be matched up to $1.5 million, realizing a total of $3 million toward the Arts Center construction. Groundbreaking and construction will begin in mid-September with the facility opening anticipated by March 2018.

Gifts and pledges are being accepted by both the Eau Claire Community Foundation and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation. For details on how and where to give, you can go to the Community for the Confluence website. You can also contact Susan Bornick, Executive Director of the Eau Claire Community Foundation, at 715-552-3801, or Kimera Way, President of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation at 715-836-5180.

The post $1.5 Million Challenge Grant for the Confluence Arts Center appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Eau Claire Community Foundation is proud to announce that it awarded $97,346 in grants through its 2016 competitive grant cycle. Most grant recipients received their checks at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting on June 9, and grantees not in attendance have now received their awards as well.

Please click here for a complete list of 2016 competitive grant application recipients.

In this grant cycle, the Foundation received 60 grant applications and was able to fully or partially fund 43 of them. These awards bring the Foundation’s current 2016 disbursements through competitive and Donor-Advised granting to $396,985.

Community support is vital for the continuation of grant awards like these, which help local nonprofits in their work to increase the quality of life for Eau Claire area residents. Grants are awarded in four major giving areas:

Create Culture (arts and museums)

2016 Create Culture Grant Recipients

Give Green (environment, physical fitness, and animals)

2016 Give Green Grant Recipients

Form Futures (education)

2016 Form Futures Grant Recipients

and Offer Opportunities (food, shelter, and other basic needs).

2016 Offer Opportunities Grant Recipients

The Eau Claire Community Foundation strongly encourages the public to donate to its Community Fund, which supports a diverse array of nonprofit organizations. People can also contribute to any of its almost 200 other Funds or even start their own Funds.

More information about starting a new Fund or contributing to an existing one is available on this website. You can also write to info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call the Foundation office at (715) 552-3801.

The post 2016 ECCF Competitive Grant Recipients appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

After many months of planning and fundraising in the community, the new playground project at the Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School is coming to life. The playground has been a long-awaited project, and students, teachers, parents and community members alike are thrilled to see the vision unfold. Groundbreaking on the project is scheduled for this summer.

The project is funded by several private gifts and is made possible in large part due to generous grants from area businesses. Scheels’ partnership in the endeavor brought the project over the fundraising goal with their $40,000 grant.  “All of us at Scheels are glad to contribute to the outdoor learning environment project at the CVMCS. The project is sure to have a significant impact on the children of the school and the surrounding community.  The physical fitness and scholastic development of our children is an important facet of our community responsibility, and as such we welcome the opportunity to give back to the community in this way,” Daniel Baemmert, Eau Claire Scheels’ Assistant Store Leader, shared.

Parents and community members share Baemmert’s enthusiasm and are grateful for the support. Blenda Yun, CVMCS Parent and Trustee of the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation, said, “We are so grateful to have the opportunity to bring this innovative space not only to the students of CVMCS but also to the West Riverside neighborhood.  None of this would be possible without the support of the families and friends of CVMCS, the Eau Claire community, and the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation."

Businesses in the area who pride themselves on health and fitness have been supportive of the project.  The playground is also sponsored by a generous Hometown Health grant through Mayo Clinic Health System. Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School’s principal, Todd Johnson, was thrilled to see the support from the community. “Someone once told me there are 100 different words for the word “snow” in the Inuit Native American language. I wish there were that many for ‘thank you!’ I would use every one of the words to express my gratitude!”

The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation is a Supporting Organization of the Eau Claire Community Foundation. To learn more, please visit the ECPSF website at www.ecpsfound.org.

The post Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation Helps Montessori School Open New Playground appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) is pleased to announce its outreach to Young Philanthropists. 100 young people between the ages of 22 and 39 will have the opportunity to become members of the WGC at a reduced rate: The normal annual donation of $250 will be reduced to $150 for up to three years. Membership will be $250 annually after those three years or when a new member turns 40.

The WGC, a fund of the Eau Claire Community Foundation, was founded in 2007. Its diverse group of members uses the power of collective giving by pooling their donations in order to fund grants to nonprofit organizations that work to enhance the well-being of women and children in our community. The impact of each $250 contribution is considerable: Together, the WGC members have distributed over $151,000 in grants and raised their Endowment to over $250,000 since their fund was established.

WGC Young Philanthropists Membership Form

Anyone interested in learning more about the WGC—or joining it—can explore the Women’s Giving Circle page of this website, which is located under the “Lasting Impact” tab at the top of the screen. They can also contact the Foundation office by writing to info@eccommunityfoundation.org or calling (715) 552-3801.

The post Women’s Giving Circle Appeals to Young Philanthropists appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

For 15 years, the Children’s Legacy Luncheon was an event which created awareness of special issues regarding the welfare of children in our community and raised funds to help causes related to our children. The Children’s Legacy Luncheon also honored community members who had made important and lasting contributions on behalf of children in the greater Eau Claire area. Each year individuals or couples were recognized for their efforts on behalf of the children of our community.

Honorees were nominated by members of the public and selected by a nomination committee. The selected honorees were recognized at the Luncheon with an “Outstanding Achievement Award” presentation, and each was invited to recommend a $500 grant to a nonprofit organization in our community.

The 15th and Final Luncheon

2016 was an important year for the Children’s Legacy Luncheon: It marked the Luncheon’s 15^th and final year. At this milestone celebration, we recognized the 85 previous Outstanding Achievement Award Winners as well as six deserving new ones. The Anniversary also gave us the opportunity to thank our many sponsors for their past years of support.

During its 15 years, the Children’s Legacy Luncheon succeeded in its mission of making profound and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of children. Since inception, the Luncheon has distributed over $65,000 in grants to projects that enhance the well-being of local children, and the Endowment Fund has grown to almost $100,000.

Without each and every one of you, these achievements would not have been possible. You’ve demonstrated your commitment to youth welfare. Now it’s up to you and generous donors like you to keep the Legacy alive as the Foundation goes on to focus its resources on other pressing community needs.

The Legacy Lives On

With your support, the Children’s Legacy Endowment will live on through annual grants supporting local initiatives on behalf of children. These grants will be distributed every year in April through the grant process, and Grantees will receive special recognition.

The Foundation’s goal is to increase the Endowment to $125,000! You can help us reach this goal through a gift to the Endowment, which can be in honor of any or all of the Honorees. You’re free to contribute as much and as often as you like in order to sustain future granting.

Donating to the Endowment

You can make a gift using your credit card on the Children's Legacy Endowment Fund page of this website, or you can print out the Legacy Lives On Form and mail it with a check to the Eau Claire Community Foundation at 306 S. Barstow St. Suite 104, Eau Claire, WI  54701. Please make the check out to ECCF and note "Children's Legacy Endowment" on the memo line.

Though the event itself has ended, the positive impact on the lives of children will live on through your generous support to the Children’s Legacy Endowment. For Good. For Eau Claire. For Ever.

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