Donor Stories

Transforming Tragedy into Teaching With Kindergarten Fund

Kindergarten fund will help educate young minds in perpetuity As a kindergarten teacher in the La Crosse School District, Sue Blanchar says she never went to work. She went to school. In fact, she went to school for 34 years, serving as the very first teacher hundreds of area children ever had. It’s a responsibility […]

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Alzheimer’s fund supports caregivers

From supporting caregivers to becoming one Kathy Lucey has always been a caregiver, caring for her elderly parents, mother-in-law, and aunts. She knows it can be onerous, lonely work, made even more emotionally taxing when the object of your care is one of the people you love most in the world. She has firsthand experience […]

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George and Betty Kruck

From humble beginnings to hopeful futures Signs of George and Betty Kruck’s generosity and deep belief in the life-changing power of education run throughout the Greater La Crosse community. Both of them attribute the opportunities they’ve had in life to public education. Betty, the daughter of Fred and Lillian Mitchell, grew up on a small […]

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Nicholas Byrne Padesky Scholarship Redefines Traditional Criteria

Channeling Philanthropic Gift Requires Thought Nicholas Padesky had always considered himself fortunate. When his parents, Tim Padesky and Tara Johnson, informed him of their intention to commemorate his Central High School graduation with a gift to the La Crosse Community Foundation, Padesky was overwhelmed with gratitude. The news was heartwarming, yet it also presented Padesky […]

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Fund Spotlight: Heather & Stephen Ross and Maureen & Robert Freedland LPEF Fund for Diversity Education

Designated Fund Spotlight The Heather & Stephen Ross and Maureen & Robert Freedland La Crosse Public Education Foundation Fund for Diversity Education was established in November of 2021 for the purpose of providing diversity education opportunities for the students in the School District of La Crosse. Diversity education promotes empathy, reduces prejudice, and enriches students’ […]

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Fund Spotlight: Borton Construction Scholarship Funds

The Borton Construction Scholarship Fund was established by the founders of Borton Construction, Paul and Melissa Borsheim, in 2008 to support continued education in construction-related fields such as engineering, drafting, design, or other trade areas.

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Forever Society Member Spotlight: Wayne and Joan Wojciechowski

Wayne and Joan Spieker Wojciechowski Memorial Fund Wayne Wojciechowski established the Wayne and Joan Spieker Wojciechowski Memorial Fund in 2021 to honor the passing of his beloved wife, Joan. The fund is designated to provide financial support for the needs of St. Clare Health Mission of La Crosse upon Wayne’s passing. Where their stories begin […]

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Scott Henke Memorial Fund for the Care and Shelter of Animals

Honoring a life that loved his furry friends The Scott Henke Memorial Fund for the Care and Shelter of Animals was established by his father Paul and sister Nicole following Scott’s passing in 2016. The fund is designated to support the care of animals in shelters as a meaningful way to honor the memory of […]

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