C E L E B R A T I N G O U R P A S T A N D A T R A N S F O R M A T I O N A L F U T U R E

A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 9

Dear Friends of the Winona Community Foundation, Celebrating our past and a transformational future was the “unofficial theme” of the WinonaCommunity Foundation in 2019. At the beginning of 2019, the Foundation board of directorswas in the process of hiring a new executive director. With this task in front of us, the boardchose the opportunity to envision a stronger, more prominent role for the Foundation. Inhiring Nancy Brown as President/CEO, we have already seen changes that will help usaccomplish that. We are grateful to our donors and fund advisors for trusting us with their philanthropy.Together, with the local nonprofit community, their contributions had wide-reaching impacton the quality of life in Winona and the surrounding region. Finally, on behalf of the entireboard, I extend our gratitude to our outgoing board chair, Hamid Akbari, who championed thetransformational path we are on. I also want to thank outgoing board members, Fred Fletcher,Kelley Olson, and Tom Wynn for their service and counsel.

Beau Van Beek Past-chair, 2019

B O A R D M E M B E R S WINONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

H A M I D A B K A R I , C H A I R

A N D R E W G U Z Z OB E A U V A N B E E KF R E D F L E T C H E R

K A T H Y P E T E R S O N

C H E R I E D D Y -C R I G L E R

B O B D E T E RA M A N D A H E D L U N DD E N I S E M C D O W E L L

K E L L E Y O L S O NJ E R R Y P A P E N F U S S

T O M W Y N NA A R O N Y O U N G

Vice Chair Past Chair Treasurer Secretary

F I N A N C I A L S U M M A R Y

The above limited financial information is un-audited. Contact the Foundation office for complete audited financial statements.

I frequently hear that the Winona area is agiving community. And nowhere is that moreevident than the Winona CommunityFoundation. I am humbled by the generousspirit of our many donors and fund holdersand am inspired by their desire to make theWinona community a place where all have theopportunity to thrive.  In 2019, the Foundation awarded more than$1.3  million to nonprofits in all areas of needand interest. Fund holders supported humanservices, arts and culture, youth andeducation, the outdoors, animal welfare, andso much more. Ninety-two percent of thesegifts remained in the Winona area.   The Foundation’s Community Grant programinvested $70,615 in local nonprofits to helpaddress critical issues like trauma support forour first-responders, employmentopportunities for our disabled community, artexposure for children and adults, and a warmbed for those experiencing homelessness.   

When I joined the Foundation in May 2019, Iknew the Foundation played an importantrole in the community. Today, it is imperativethat the Foundation grow its assets to expandits ability to address the rapidly changing andgrowing needs of our community.  Fortunately, the Foundation is well-positioned to do so because of the hard workof those who came before me and currentlywork alongside me. This includes anextraordinary volunteer board of directorsand talented staff, and of course, an amazingcommunity with a generous heart. I am pleased to submit this annual impactreport to you and the community we serve. Nancy M, Brown, CFREPresident/CEO

W H E R E W E A R E N O W

message from the President/CEO, Nancy Brown, CFRE

Foundation Staff:Mandi Olson, Nancy Brown, Sara Brandon

Ramona L. (Ladewig) Jezewski Englishlived a lifetime in the Winona area andtraveled widely, leaving her mark not onlyon people in Winona, but all around theworld. Because of a gift designated in herwill to the Winona CommunityFoundation, she will be giving back toWinona, and the people she loved, waybeyond her lifetime. Ramona grew up on her family farm inStockton where her family raised cows formilk and beef. In 1958, her family started afish farm known as the Stockton TroutFarm. Ramona had a waitressing career atWally’s Restaurant in Fountain City,Wisconsin, where she met many Winonansincluding her first husband, HenryJezewski. After Henry died, she marriedanother Winonan and a Wally’s patron,Bud English. Together Bud and Ramonalived near West Lake Park and inretirement, they enjoyed travelinginternationally and domestically, alwaysappreciating the people they met alongthe way.

Why did she give to the WinonaCommunity Foundation? Ramona knew that the Foundation meetsthe needs of the ever-changingcommunity in a lasting way. As Budshared, “she knew the Foundation isn’t aplace where you donate once and thenit’s gone.” She gave no instruction withher gift, nor did we expect the gift whenit arrived in 2019, so the Board ofDirectors took the responsibility ofstewarding this gift seriously. Afterlearning she had a strong love foranimals, it was decided to create aquasi-endowment and each year give$5,000 to the Winona Area HumaneSociety, while using the other earningsfor the competitive Community Grantprogram. The Community Grant programflexes to meet immediate program andproject needs for local non-profits,which the Board felt would honor thereason why she gave to the Foundationin the first place.

R A M O N A L . J E Z E W S K IE N G L I S H F U N D

A surprise legacy gift from aperson known for her giving heart

R E A D M O R E S T O R I E S A T W W W . W I N O N A C F . O R G / G I V E / I M P A C T

R a m o n a w i l l f o r e v e r b e k n o w n f o rh e r h a r d w o r k i n g v a l u e s , h e r g i v i n g

h e a r t , a n d l o v e f o r f a m i l y a n da n i m a l s .   A n d n o w w i t h t h e

R a m o n a L . J e z e w s k i E n g l i s h F u n d ,s h e w i l l n o t b e f o r g o t t e n a n d h e r

g i v i n g h e a r t w i l l l i v e o n .

When we cast our bread upon the waters,

we can presume that someone downstream

whose face we will never know will benefit

from our action.

F O U N D A T I O N F U N D S

- M A Y A A N G E L O U

Anonymous Funds (1) Big Brothers Big SistersBK5K YouthClara Barton Red CrossCommunity FundJack and Sue Cornwell MemorialDive and Rescue of WinonaEarly Childhood InitiativeFounders FundFriends and Deborah Miller Kanabar LibraryFriends of the Drug Court of Winona CountyGoodfellowsHomer Civic AssociationRamona L Jezewski FundJean Knutzen Special Purpose FundPete Kuklinski Jr GolfThomas H. Laken - Admin EndowmentLandon We-no-nah FountainWilmer L and Beverly A LarsonLive at the LeveeMargaret Simpson House dba Family & Children Center

Masonic Temple RestorationNordic Ski Club of WinonaReady Set SchoolRushes Wilderness FoundationRandy Schenkat Human Development FundSt Charles Area Hospice Volunteers EndowmentSteamboat Days of WinonaWinona Area Hospice EndowmentWinona Area Toys for KidsWinona Area Track & Field ProjectWinona County Developmental Achievement CenterWinona Nonprofit Alliance*Winona Park DevelopmentWinona Park Development - Dog ParkWinona Park Development - East End ProjectWinona Park Development - Every Child's DreamWinona Senior Friendship CenterWinona Sister CitiesWinona Volunteer Services - EndowmentWinona Volunteer Services - Invested

F I E L D O F I N T E R E S T

James and Barbara AllaireAncius Family Anonymous Funds (2) Daniel and Jennifer Arnold Family Dave and Muriel Arnold FamilyTed and Patti Biesanz FamilySteven and Ann Blue^Brosnahan FamilyJames R and Nancy M Brown*Mike and Linda CichanowskiGerry Cichanowski FamilyJohn and Margaret Cross MemorialThe Cyrus Family*Dahl Automotive William and Judith Davis FamilyTom and Annmarie DeMarais*Mark Deter MemorialJohn and Susan Eddy FamilyChuck and Laura Eddy Family Phil Feiten FamilyHahn CharitableHelen Leaf Haun FamilyHarland P and Pauline G Knight FamilyJean Knutzen

D O N O R - A D V I S E D F U N D SDale E and Linda K KukowskiBob & Debbie Leaf Family Leonard Lopez MemorialGabriel & Cecilia Manrique Family Mia Martin Elmer & Louise Mattila Family Leone J. & Thomas E. D.D.S. Mauszycki Cultural and Civic FundJeremy and Janel Miller FamilyKen and Sally Mogren^Mr. Morris' Extra ChanceJerry and Patricia Papenfuss FamilyJC and Arlene PfeifferR.E.A.C.H. John and Betsy RowekampDan and Pat Rukavina FamilyMarilyn Schwab Family Stephen and Barbara Slaggie FamilyCharles and Marie Smith^Thern, Inc. Dan and Shelley Trainor IIIWA GroupJoyce WoodworthThomas and Barbara Wynn

Gomez Montessori ScholarshipBruce McNally Family Scholarship^Morrie Miller Memorial Scholarship

Jack Radar Scholarship FundRotary Ambassadorial Visitor

Rottinghaus Company ScholarshipBrianna Grace Vitek Scholarship

S C H O L A R S H I P

*Fund opened in 2019 ^Fund closed in 2019

C o n n e c t P e o p l e t o N a t u r eD e n t a l A c c e s sD o n n a H e l b l e F u n dE m e r g e n c y A s s i s t a n c eF l a t l a n d e r S p e e d S o c i e t yL y n d o n a n d J e n n i e L P i e r c e E d u c a t i o n a l

Dr. Hamid Akbari and Azar KhounaniDonald and Gwendolyn AndersonArt and SolScott and Jane BiesanzTed and Patti BiesanzSara and Jeff BrandonNancy and Jim BrownDr. Frank and Ruth BuresBrian and Sandra Burke Celanese FoundationDr. David and Kathleen ChristensonGayla Clemons* Bob and Marg DeterBarbara DufresneGreg and Terri EvansLeslie FooteMike and Sue HauserAmanda and Matt HedlundCarol HeylRobert and Suzanne HoodecheckRamona Jezewski TrustMark and Nancy Kristensen Margaret LambertLaurie LucasCynthia Marek and Doug LofthusDr. Denise and James McDowellJohn and Shelly Milek

Dr. John and Marlene MulrooneyDr. Dennis and Patricia NolanKelley and Dr. Scott OlsonMandi and Todd OlsonJerry and Patricia Papenfuss Family FundCapt. Donald and Donna PetersonJC and Arlene Pfeiffer FundDick and Sandy PopePolly RenkJohn and Betsy Rowekamp FundMarilyn Schwab Family FundDr. Charles and Judith ShepardSteve and Barb SlaggieRonald and Diane StevensDr. Scott and Kathleen TurnerVenables FoundationJim and Joan VondrasekNancy WiltgenTom and Barbara WynnAaron and Kristen Young

D O N O R S

*deceased

We are grateful to those who choose to invest

in the Winona Community Foundation’s

mission through their contributions to our

operations and community grant program.

This list represents gifts made between

January 1 and December 31, 2019. While we

make every effort to ensure the accuracy of

this list, and regret any errors or omissions. If

you find one, please contact us in order to

allow us to make corrections.

First responders experience unavoidable stress and traumatic events in thecourse of their vocation. Each day the challenges of being a first respondercan take a serious toll on health, well-being and performance. If these challenges are not dealt with in a productive manner, they may leadto emotional and behavioral health problems. This not only puts theindividual at risk but those around them and the community they seek toserve. Resilience training teaches thinking and coping skills that can beemployed on the job as well as at home and in other circumstances.  A $10,000 grant awarded to Paul Stern and Trish Johnson, of Manitou Center,along with mental health counselor Erica Thibodeaux, and police investigator,Anne Scharmach allowed them to develop and deliver a pilot program toprovide resilience and mindfulness training to first responders.   “First responders face some of the most challenging and unavoidableoccupational stressors of our time,” explains Erica Thibodeaux, a mentalhealth counselor who is trained to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction(MBSR). She went on to explain, “We know that mindfulness reduces stress,and we know that first responders have occupational stress. It just makessense.” In early 2020, nineteen first responders attended the first series of training.Participants reported high satisfaction and changes in their well-being. Theyare also looking for ways to broaden access to the training throughestablishing peer leaders, additional training opportunities, and more.Manitou Center is a public charity dedicated to building a compassionate,healthy, and safe world. Individually and collectively.

M I N D F U L N E S S M A T T E R S

To provide resiliency training for local firstresponders designed to reduce negativehealth outcomes from work relatedemotional stress.

M A N I T O U C E N T E R

$ 1 0 , 0 0 0

B I G B R O T H E R S B I G S I S T E R S O F T H E

C O U L E E R E G I O N $ 7 , 8 0 5

To incorporate emotional wellnessprogramming with their matches throughinformational workshops for youth, mentorsand families.

G R E A T R I V E RS H A K E S P E A R E

F E S T I V A L $ 5 , 0 0 0

To create an event where actors from GRSFhave guided conversations with communitymembers about issues facing today's society.

W I N O N A C O U N T YH I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y

$ 2 , 9 7 0

To create "The Cube," a hands-on activityarea for preschool visitors related toexhibits in the museum.

H A B I T A T F O RH U M A N I T Y W I N O N A -F I L L M O R E C O U N T I E S

To purchase five AED machines and safetyequipment to increase worksite safety forvolunteers, staff and homeowners.

$ 8 , 3 4 0

A P P L E T R E E D E N T A L

$ 1 0 , 0 0 0

To purchase mobile dental care equipmentto serve clients at Home and CommunityOptions and other vulnerable residents withbarriers to dental care.

C O M M U N I T Y G R A N T S

The goal of the Community Grant program is to strengthen our communitythrough philanthropy by making grants to projects and causes that address boththe needs and the opportunities present in the community. Funds to support theCommunity Grant program are made possible in part through gifts madethrough wills from; Ramona L. Jezewski English and Wilmer & Beverly Larson.Community grants are also supported by individual donors and a percentage ofthe General Trust fund of the Winona Community Foundation.

TOTAL 2019 GRANTS:$70,615

C A T H O L I C C H A R I T I E SO F S O U T H E R N

M I N N E S O T A

$ 5 , 0 0 0

To double the overnight capacity at theWinona Community Warming Center fromten to twenty people.

Grant dollars were awarded to assess theneeds of seniors, recruit and trainvolunteers and companions, and providecaregiver support in Winona County.

E L D E R N E T W O R K

$ 2 , 0 0 0

F R O Z E N R I V E R F I L M F E S T I V A L

$ 3 , 5 0 0

Awarded to further its mission to engage,educate and activate citizens through theart of documentary film-making.

R I V E R A R T S A L L I A N C E

$ 4 , 0 0 0

To support the 2019 Family Art Day after anunexpected loss in funding. This eventpromotes community exploration of visualarts, music and performance in a physicallyaccessible location.

W I N O N A O R C$ 3 , 5 0 0

To purchase a commercial crosscut shredderto create jobs for people with disabilitiesand expand shredding services for thegreater community.

M I D W E S T M U S I C F E S T

$ 7 , 5 0 0

To support the 2019 festival which providescommunity building through music.

www.winonacf.org

In January 2020, we moved from the Exchange building to the Riverfrontbuilding. We look forward to welcoming you at our street-level entrance. Thefront of the annual report depicts the Exchange building with our old logo,turning into our new logo.

October 6, 2020Join us at our annual Founders Event:

Honoring ExtraordinaryCommitment

to Improving Life in Winona

Learn more at winonacf.org/about/founders-award/

WINONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION111 Riverfront, Suite 2E

Winona, MN 55987

507-454-6511wcf@winonacf.org

www.winonacf.org