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1980s
The “me generation” sees hostile takeovers, leveraged buyouts, and mega-mergers in business. Shop till you drop and credit cards became a way of life for many. New war on drugs and related increased crime rates were high, hospital costs rose dramatically, many lives were lost to AIDS, and unemployment rose. But ET also phoned home, Americans gave over $115 billion to charities, and the Berlin Wall came down.
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Video games, camcorders, minivans, aerobics, and talkshows became part of our lives.
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Personal computers were used by a large number of Americans.
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Business management was the most popular major on college campuses. The Catcher in the Rye was the most banned book and the word “mankind” modified to “humankind.”
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Nerds, valley girls, and the Smurfs became popular in the 80s.
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Video killed the radio star as MTV was launched. Michael Jackson and Madonna led the charts for most of the 80s as rap started to become popular.
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The La Crosse Center opened in 1980 and hosted Bob Hope in October of that year.
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Hixon Forest Nature Center was built.
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In 1982 the Foundation distributed its $1 millionth dollar in grants.
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In 1984 the first paid staff member was hired to oversee operations at the La Crosse Community Foundation.
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Many family-named funds were initiated in the 1980s. All of which continue to extend philanthropic support for area agencies and important causes.
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At the end of the decade, the Foundation’s assets were $4.2 million.
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