Moments in Philanthropy :: May 2012
In This Issue
Letter from Kathleen Woit:
John Nolen’s Plan for Madison: The Power of a Great Civic Vision
Growing a Healthy Neighborhood: MCF Invests $50,000 in Worthington Park
TAPIT/new works Receives Great Performance Fund Support
Meet MCF Committee Member Shawn Carney
Aldo Leopold Nature Center Grand Opening
Awards and Accolades
Beyond the Page Happenings: Sun Prairie Library Gala
Letter from Kathleen Woit: John Nolen’s Plan for Madison: The Power of a Great Civic Vision
The role of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is to champion the growth of the business sector and economic development throughout Dane County. The role of the Madison Community Foundation is to facilitate philanthropy. The roles come squarely together in activities to promote and celebrate our community.
On May 22, 2012, we will join together to do just that. We have asked local historian, David Mollenhoff, to present “John Nolen’s Plan for Madison: The Power of a Great Civic Vision.” It is the 100th anniversary of Nolen’s Plan. In reflecting on the parade of civic projects that are a part of the plan, community leaders in all sectors will feel a sense of pride and accomplishment knowing there are many lessons to be learned as we go forward with new ideas.
We have heard and been moved by David’s presentation and are eager to share it with you. Please join us for breakfast on May 22.
The details are as follows:
When: Tuesday, May 22
Where: Alliant Energy Center
What: Local historian David Mollenhoff presents:
“John Nolen’s Plan for Madison: The Power of a Great Civic Vision.”
Times: 7:30 a.m. Check-in
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:15-8:45 Presentation
Cost: $20.00
Register: Visit the registration page here.
Or call the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (608) 443-1954.
Growing a Healthy Neighborhood: MCF invests $50,000 in Worthington Park
MCF recognizes that giving every child and every family a strong, safe neighborhood to call home is important to the strength of the whole community. That philosophy is behind a $50,000 grant from MCF to Goodman Community Center (GCC) to focus on the well-being of Worthington Park Neighborhood, a growing, multicultural neighborhood on Madison’s east side. GCC will use the funds to partner with the John McKnight Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University, which has spent decades teaching neighborhoods that rather than focusing on problems, they can transform themselves by starting from strengths: the skills and interests of the people who live there.
Experts agree that it is the people who live in Worthington Park who hold the secrets to making it a better place to live. Specially trained GCC staff will be conducting a person-to-person community capacity inventory designed to identify and catalog the skills, strengths and interests of people of all ages in the neighborhood. Staff will also work closely with other organizations, funders and institutions that work in the east side community.
As the momentum builds and more people participate in this survey, neighbors will begin exchanging knowledge, resources and skills. Relationships will develop. Blocks will become closer knit. Before long, ideas will become plans with people to carry them out. Problems that tend to plague lower-income communities can be largely prevented, and when they do occur, neighbors will have stronger connections to help them respond to challenges as a community.
The MCF investment in this community project holds the potential of reducing crime while creating meaningful connections between people that will make the Worthington Park neighborhood safer, healthier and more inviting. And, if successful, it could provide a model for other challenged neighborhoods throughout Dane County.
For more information about Goodman Community Center, visit www.goodmancenter.org.
TAPIT/new works Receives Great Performance Fund Support
Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Pleasant Rowland Great Performance Fund for Theater, a component fund of the Madison Community Foundation TAPIT/new works Ensemble Theater will bring a compelling new play about caregivers and the Sandwich Generation to Promenade Hall in Madison’s Overture Center this week.
These funds, allocated to support professional theater in the Overture Center, will help support the Madison debut of the Company’s newest production, entitled Care: A Play for Our Times.
Six performances of Care are scheduled for May 3 – 6, 2012, in Promenade Hall in Madison's Overture Center.
Employing drama, comedy, rhythm dance and an original score, Care explores the underground entrepreneurial world of those who look after older adults who can’t quite live on their own. The way this care-giving underground is structured – who participates and how, as well as who benefits and how – has worlds to say about how our society deals with aging, death, intimacy, race and class. As opportunities for the most profound human connection are grasped, acknowledged or ignored, the play’s characters must confront their capacity for connection and redemption.
For more information, visit the Company’s website here. www.tapitnewworks.org
Meet MCF Committee Member Shawn Carney
Shawn Carney is a member of the MCF Audit Committee, and has served as Audit Committee Chair for five years.
Shawn recently talked about his philanthropic motivation and relationship with MCF:
“I have a quote that sits on my desk attributed to the 19th century French Quaker missionary Stephen Grellet. It reads ‘I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good that I can do or any kindness I can show another human being, let me do it now and not defer it. For I shall not pass this way again.’ I ran across this quote several years ago and it really sums up for me what it means to practice a philanthropic life.
“As a partner with McGladrey & Pullen here in Madison, I am asked from time to time to serve on not-for-profit boards, usually in the Treasurer or Finance committee position. I enjoy doing it since I feel it utilizes my skill set and at the same time, introduces me to other people and programs in my community. When I moved here eight years ago with my wife Nancy and two children, Patrick and Marigrace, I was looking for places to spend my time outside of work that would contribute to the Madison community. As chair of the audit committee for the Madison Community Foundation, I found just that place.
“I have seen firsthand the philanthropic spirit of the Madison community. I’ve enjoyed my tenure on the MCF audit committee and have met some wonderful supporters of the Foundation. It is my honor to help fulfill the MCF mission: To encourage, facilitate, and manage long-term philanthropy.”
Ann Casey, MCF Vice President, Finance & Planned Giving, said, “Shawn has been a wonderful resource and leader in his tenure as MCF Audit Committee Chair. Having a strong and active audit committee is vital to the integrity of any organization, and Shawn has been very generous in helping us nurture and sustain that strength.”
Aldo Leopold Nature Center Grand Opening
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona chose Earth Day to unveil their new $5 million state-of-the-art addition that chock full of new high-tech exhibits to teach the community about the environment. MCF contributed $75,000 to help transport the exhibit, a state-of-the-art interactive display originally designed by the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC.
“The new exhibits help people of all ages learn about climate change and how to take care of the land that sustains us,” said Kelley Van Egeren, Development/Communications Director at Aldo Leopold Nature Center. “These new exhibits use technology to teach about the environment, combining our hands-on programs in science and nature with interactive computer learning experience, creating powerful learning experiences where high-touch meets high-tech."
Exhibits are open Monday – Friday, on a drop-in basis, from 10 am – 4 pm and the third weekend of every month on Saturdays from 11 am – 4 pm and Sundays from noon – 4 pm.
Click here for admission information.
Awards and Accolades:
The Tenney Park Group
The Tenney Park Group was recognized for their extraordinary work in fundraising and community service with a 2012 Madison Parks Volunteer Award at the Madison Parks Volunteer Celebration on Monday, March 5, 2012.
YWCA Women of Distinction
On May 24th, six accomplished women will be honored at the YWCA Women of Distinction luncheon for their community service, professional achievement, integrity, leadership and dedication to the lives of others and to the quality of life for all. Those six are: Frances Bicknell, Fabu Phyllis Carter, Naomi Carter, Karen Christianson, Nan Cnare, and Sarah Gilmore.
For more information about the honorees or the event, visit the YWCA website here.
Beyond the Page Happenings:
Beyond the Page Campaign Roll-out Garners Press
Dane County Library Services and MCF rolled out the Beyond the Page Library Endowment Campaign during National Library Week April 14-19. The press received -print, TV, radio - for this transformational project was astounding. Check out the press page here. http://www.madisoncommunityfoundation.org/Page.aspx?pid=498
The Beyond the Page campaign is a joint effort of Dane County Library Services and MCF to create a permanent endowment that will support humanities programming in all 28 Dane County libraries –forever.
Find out more about the program here.
Sun Prairie Public Library Gala
On the evening of June 2, Sun Prairie Public Library will be the scene of revelry and good taste during the Gala for the Beyond the Page Campaign. Early Bird tickets are discounted, so call soon to get yours reserved! (608)825.7323