2009 Year End Review

After spending time re-organizing and re-educating, the Tyler Area Community Foundation (TACF) seated its permanent advisory board on Nov. 23. This step marks the end of a year-long process with our partner, the Southwest Initiative Foundation, to “pass the torch” from the original core group of volunteers who got things started to a new board focused on building a permanent endowment for the community and meeting a $25,000 challenge grant from SWIF.
We want to thank those individuals who started TACF in 2001. Their vision is inspiring, as community foundations are among the fastest growing forms of philanthropy today! Now, there is a waiting list at SWIF for a community foundation, and we are grateful we participated in the program when there was availability. Founding board members included: Bo Duncan, Denny Blomgren, Karl Lunder, Marty Gallanter, Dr. John Utoft, Joy Schak, Deanna Drake, Sharon Jacobsen, Kelly Knudsen, Rick Lemonds, Bob Anderson, Kristi Luger and Dacia Burckhardt.
We also want to acknowledge and thank our new advisory board members who will carry TACF forward into the future. These community leaders will set new goals, raise endowment dollars, educate the community and award grants through an application process once enough money has been raised. New board members include: Sandy Enemark, Stephanie Ekema, Trent Hess, Glen Peterson, April Thomas, Joan Jagt, Gary Manson, Dan Tolsma and Tim O’Leary.
As part of its new responsibilities, new board members participated in a fundraising planning session with SWIF and set a goal of raising $13,000 for the permanent endowment. This amount is needed within 12 months to meet the challenge grant from SWIF, and SWIF will match every gift, dollar-for-dollar, up to the $13,000 we have left! Generous donors to the endowment in 2009 include: Hope Mutual, Skiver Car Show, Tyler Community Chest, Kelly Knudsen (State Farm), Tyler Lion’s Club, Sharon and Henry Jacobsen, Buzz and Joyce Dass, Tyler Kiwanis Club, Lois Andersen, Joan and Jerry Jagt, and Tim and Stacy O’Leary.
In addition, TACF has partnered with the Tyler Golf Club and is helping it raise money for the renovation project. Over $175,000 has been raised so far and will be used as expenses are incurred related to the renovation. Generous donors to the golf club project include: Allen Lund, Ines Peter, Jim and Carol Kopel, John and Margaret Bornhoft, Lennie Burckhardt, Charlie Swenson and Sonja Lund, Dr. John and Nancy Utoft, Tim and Stacy O’Leary, Beck Agency (Kullen Stanek), Kelly Knudsen (State Farm), Hope Mutual and the Tyler Lions Club.
Thank you to all donors!
There is still time to give during 2009 – either to the endowment to help us meet the match from SWIF or to the golf club project. All gifts are tax deductible. Contact a TACF board member for more information. You can also follow the activities of the Foundation by reading our blog updates at http://tylerareacf.blogspot.com