La Crosse Community Foundation receives $3.2 million legacy gift for to advance arts education
March 28, 2023
| By La Crosse Community Foundation |
No one knew the size of Ron Burman’s legacy gift until last week
Retired University of Wisconsin – La Crosse English professor Ronald Burman had a surprise in store for the La Crosse community when he passed away in January.
La Crosse Community Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jamie Schloegel knew Burman well through funds he’d established at the foundation. And she knew he had named the foundation in his will. But no one knew the exact legacy he had in mind. That is, until last week when Schloegel learned Burman had left $3.2 million to advance local arts education.
“It’s difficult to fathom the number of young artists who will benefit from Ron’s vision and generosity,” said Schloegel. “He left a charitable legacy that will have an incredible impact in the greater La Crosse area and beyond, forever.”
Bequest to go to four funds at the foundation
The bequest will be divided among three existing funds and a fourth to be created when the gift is received. The three existing funds are dedicated to arts education in memory of Burman’s wife, Valerie Burman, who taught art at the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and Western Technical College. The funds include:
- The Valerie Burman Art Plus Scholarship Fund provides three annual scholarships to area high school graduates seeking a double major in art and another field like education, just as Valerie did.
- The Valerie Burman Master of Fine Arts Fellowship provides a fellowship scholarship to students pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, with preference given to Valerie Burman Art Plus Scholarship recipients.
- The Ronald & Valerie Burman Fund for Visual Arts, a new fund Burman established just days before his death to support the Coulee Region Alliance for the Visual Arts. CRAVA will provide scholarships for children in grades 6-12 who are aspiring artists to purchase art supplies, memberships to local art museums and galleries, art classes and more.
Each of the funds will advance visual arts forever.
Funding advances visual arts education
Local artists Mark Halter, owner of Gallery 1802, and Mike Martino, owner of Martino Studios, are working together to get CRAVA up and running. They expect to begin dispersing scholarships later this year, with more than $35,000 in scholarship awards available annually.
“Arts education funding has fallen dramatically in the last ten years, but it still plays a critical role in culture and humanity,” said Halter. “It transcends language barriers, fosters empathy and broadens perspectives. It’s how we tell our stories as a society. That’s why it’s so important for young people to access these visual expressions and educational opportunities regardless of socioeconomic factors. Ron’s generosity ensures that for local young and upcoming artists.”