Moments in Philanthropy :: February 2012
In This Issue
Chris Hoyt Seminar: Save the Date: May 3
A Centennial Celebration of Civic Vision: The John Nolen Plan and the Madison Civics Club
MCF Gifts $150,000 to Henry Vilas Zoo
Meet the MCF Board: Peter Lundberg
Terry Kelly: A Letter to the Editor of Wisconsin State Journal
Major Gift Puts Columbus Area Endowment over $100,000
Awards and Accolades: Julie Bolz, Andy Czerkas
Christopher Hoyt Seminar: Save the Date: May 3, 2012
Make plans to be in Madison on May 3 to hear Christopher R. Hoyt, Professor of Law, University of Missouri School of Law, discuss it all: the implications of the sunset of the Bush era tax cuts, IRA distributions and rollovers, and integrating estate planning and income tax planning.
When: May 3, 2012
Where: Alliant Energy Center, Madison WI
Cost: $30
This event is co-sponsored by Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP; Johnson Bank; Madison Estate Council; Wisconsin Planned Giving Counsel; Madison Community Foundation.
This seminar may qualify for law, CPA, CFP, and insurance Continuing Education Credits.
Registration information will follow by email in mid-March.
A Centennial Celebration of Civic Vision: The John Nolen Plan and the Madison Civics Club
To honor the 100th anniversary of both Madison Civics Club and John Nolen’s plan for Madison, the Madison Civics Club is presenting a special free event for members and their guests on Sunday, February 12, 2012, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. Registration is required – call Darcy Kobinsky at the MCF office to confirm by Thursday, February 9 (608)232-1763.
David Mollenhoff, urban historian, will speak on “John Nolen: The Enduring Power of a Great Civic Vision,” and George Austin, civic developer, will speak on “Looking Forward: Opportunities to Build on the Civic Vision.”
Again, registration is required. Call Darcy Kobinsky at the MCF office - (608) 232-1763 - to confirm by Thursday, February 9.
MCF Gifts $150,000 to Henry Vilas Zoo for First Ever Onsite Animal Health Center
Madison Community Foundation recently awarded a $150,000 gift to the Henry Vilas Zoo to be used toward a new Animal Health Center. The Animal Health Center will enable the zoo’s veterinarians and keepers to provide care for its animals on site, which will greatly reduce animal stress and promote rehabilitation.
"The Board of Governors and staff of Madison Community Foundation are pleased to provide a grant for the establishment of a new veterinary hospital on site at the Henry Vilas Zoo," said Kathleen Woit, Madison Community Foundation President. "The facility is the next step in being able to care for the animals that comprise one of Dane County’s most valuable assets."
"Madison Community Foundation’s generous gift is another way our community is helping us raise funds for essential zoo improvements,” said Friends of the Zoo Executive Director Anna Reynolds. “Building a new Animal Health Center in 2012 will allow us to continue providing the best possible animal exhibits and animal care for another 100 years."
Henry Vilas Zoo has never had an animal hospital. Currently, the zoo’s veterinarian uses a small room in the zoo administration office. Due to the limited facilities, many procedures must be performed at other locations in the zoo or at other veterinary facilities.
The new veterinary facility will provide critically necessary facilities for treating all of the zoo’s animals, large and small. It will include specialized areas for surgery, radiology, intensive care, pharmacy, laboratory, isolation, indoor and outdoor holding, and an area for research and educational programs.
"We appreciate the support and confidence Madison Community Foundation has shown us with their gift," said Interim Zoo Director Ronda Schwetz."Not only will this hospital help us give our animals state-of-the-art care, but it will let us share with the community the wonderful care we already do provide. We hope to use this facility as an educational venue for our community as well."
For more information about contributing to the Animal Health Center or other Zoo Century Campaign initiatives, please visit vilaszoo.org or call 258-9490.
Meet the MCF Board: Peter Lundberg
Peter and Jill Lundberg enjoy giving back to the community that has been their home for 35 years. Both came to UW-Madison from small Wisconsin towns, and like so many students, never left. They became fundholders at the Madison Community Foundation a decade ago, starting with acorn funds for themselves as well as their business, Janus Galleries.
A board member with Agrace HospiceCare, Madison Opera, the Madison Community Foundation and others, Peter volunteers many hours each week in his community and neighborhood. Jill is on the State board of Planned Parenthood, and coaches with Girls on the Run.
Peter explains their goal of philanthropy as “trying to balance the needs of our community and the world, being mindful of immediate basic needs, while also focusing on long-term sustainability. Most people are astounded when they learn there are 1500 non-profits in Dane County alone. How can one even begin to choose where their hard-earned dollars should go? The MCF has been doing this for decades, and knows many of these organizations very well. They are pro-active in their grant-making, and have been responsible for making non-profits much stronger, not only through funding, but through their experience, professionalism and guidance.”
He adds, “I think that if people take the time to research the non-profits they support, it is an eye-opening experience. In extreme cases, more than half may go to administration and fundraising. I know that over 99 percent of the money Jill and I give through the Madison Community Foundation goes directly to the non-profits we want to support. That is truly a model of efficiency and makes our dollars count.”
Terry Kelly: A Letter to the Editor of Wisconsin State Journal
The following is a letter Terry Kelly recently submitted to the Wisconsin State Journal.
I am excited to announce that the Madison Community Foundation has just completed major assistance to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, so that we might successfully obtain and install a major donation from the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.The National Academy, the members of which are the official science advisors to the President, offered to donate its peer-reviewed, state-of-the-art interactive exhibit on Global Climate Change to our newly expanded Nature Center in Monona. Representing the best current knowledge scientists have, this exhibit has hosted hundreds of thousands of visitors in Washington. It was developed by the Academy at an initial cost of $1.75 million, and includes touch screen learning stations and website and curriculum content which will enable us to teach children and adults more about one of the key issues of our time.
When the Academy made this wonderful offer to us, the Nature Center had just three months to raise the $160,000 required in order to pack, move, light, enhance and reinstall the exhibit in our new facilities. I am pleased to say that it is now completely installed and operating, and we are excited about our public grand opening to be held in April.
Hearing about this unique opportunity to advance our community’s science learning and environmental education, the Madison Community Foundation (in a special meeting convened on our behalf) quickly appropriated a grant of $75,000 to lead a challenge; that leadership made it possible to raise the remaining funding within weeks.
This amazing gift from the National Academy to our community, and the MCF grant which made it possible, will make something as complex as global climate understandable and accessible teacher and students of all ages, and is a significant addition to science curricula for Madison, Monona, and regional schools. We expect to host some 40,000 children and teachers this year, and expand to 100,000 visitors per year within five years.
We offer great thanks to MCF, which has a long history of financial support for Aldo Leopold’s vision. All of us at ALNC and in the community are deeply grateful for the presence of a locally governed community foundation that can make quick, thoughtful decisions to enable community organizations to take advantage of extraordinary opportunities.
Terry Kelly, Chairman
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Madison, Wisconsin
If you would like to contribute to the Global Climate Change Classroom project, click here.
Major Gift Puts the Columbus Area Endowment over $100,000
The Columbus Area Endowment (CAE) Advisory Committee recently received a $30,000 anonymous gift for the core endowment, which brings the core endowment to just over $65,000. Together with endowments set up under CAE’s umbrella by the Conlin, Lueders, Roche and Sharrow families, CAE had $110,362.15 in cash and pledges at the end of 2011.
“We are absolutely delighted by this wonderful gift,” said Al Strohschein, Co-Chair of the CAE Advisory Committee. “This gift will be a permanent resource for good in our community for generations-to-come.”
Founded in 2008, The Columbus Area Endowment mission is to make the Columbus area a better place to live, learn, work and play. Funds are held in a permanent endowment for the benefit of the Columbus community by Madison Community Foundation, which provides all legal, administrative and investment services, and field expertise.
The CAE made its first grants in the Columbus area in 2011, supporting programs of the Columbus Community Hospital, Columbus Area Senior Center, Columbus Club House and Firemen’s Service Corporation.
"Columbus is our home and it has benefited us and our children,” said the anonymous donor. “There are so many great projects that we support now. The CAE is a savings account whose interest supports community projects. In 100 years we don't know if our family will remain in the area, but the CAE will. The CAE is a way to assure our legacy for Columbus' future."
To learn more or about CAE and/or contribute visit: www.madisoncommunityfoundation.org/cae
Awards and Accolades
Julia Bolz, nationally-recognized humanitarian, social justice activist, and Madison native, was awarded the 2011 World Citizen Award at a World Affairs Council gala event in Seattle, WA, on January 31, 2012. Featured speaker was President Jimmy Carter.
For information on Julia’s work, visit this website.
Andy Czerkas has been selected winner of AARP Foundation's Hunger Hero contest. Andy's charity, The River Food Pantry, will receive a $15,000 donation from AARP Foundation to help that organization continue its work to end senior hunger. In addition, he received an AARP The Magazine Inspire Award in December 2011, and is featured in the December/January 2012 issue of AARP The Magazine. To see the AARP article, click here.
For more information on Andy’s work, visit The River website here.
To find out more about how MCF can help you support your charitable desires, visit the MCF website, or contact Amy Overby - Vice President, Donor Relations, (608) 232-1763.
The mission of the Madison Community Foundation is to encourage, facilitate, and manage long-term philanthropy.
Our grantmaking includes an open, competitive process designed to address our communities' changing needs.
MCF is in compliance with the National Standards of U.S. Community Foundations, administered by the Council on Foundations, a membership organization of more than 2,000 grantmaking foundations and giving programs worldwide, affirming a commitment to financial security, transparency and accountability.