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Ceremony will be Nov. 10 in Middleton
Blitzke, Culvers to receive 2011 ‘Cornerstone Award’
August 2011
In recognition of their lifetime of work in support of area libraries, including the South Central Library System Foundation, Bob Blitzke and Craig & Lea Culver will receive the “Cornerstone Award” at a Nov. 10, 2011, fundraising reception. The event will be held at Electronic Theater Controls, 3031 Pleasant View Road, Middleton, WI.
“The Foundation’s third annual award honors three people who have made significant contributions to the improvement of library service in their own communities, throughout the South Central Library System, and statewide,” said Linda Davis-Brown, foundation board president.
The award is given to an individual or individuals who have had a significant and long-term impact on enhancing public libraries in South Central Wisconsin and represent the values and mission of the SCLS Foundation.
“Bob was the architect of the SCLS Delivery System, which is a national model that serves libraries statewide,” Davis-Brown said. “He also played a vital role in the creation of the SCLS Foundation, serving as the development coordinator for two years.”
According to Davis-Brown, this third annual Cornerstone Award Reception continues a fundraising tradition that has raised more than $30,000 for the foundation in two years.
Craig and Lea Culver, co-founders of the 436-restaurant chain, based in Prairie du Sac, WI, have supported libraries statewide through the “Culvers Coloring Contest” as part of National Library Week, and have contributed countless coupons, t-shirts, and other items as reading prizes for the Summer Library Program. They also have supported their local libraries, most recently donating their previous Support Center headquarters building to the Prairie du Sac Public Library. In recognition of the donation, the library will be named the Ruth Culver Community Library in honor of Craig’s mother.
“The kindness of Craig and Lea in donating this property served as a catalyst that finally allowed our community to move forward in planning a new facility for our very busy and over-crowded library,” said Prairie du Sac Public Library Director Jennifer Endres Way. “Located in the heart of Prairie du Sac, the property is significant as it supports efforts to reinvigorate the downtown by helping to make it an active community center and promote the success of neighboring businesses. The wonderful views of eagles over the Wisconsin River further add to the value of this gift, as does its proximity to assets such as the Sauk Prairie Historical Society and the Blue Spoon Café.”
Craig and Lea Culver’s leadership and community support are also illustrated in their sponsorship of a statewide National Library Week program. “This year marked the 15th year that Culver’s has encouraged children throughout Wisconsin to visit libraries and participate in the joys of reading through this program,” Way said. “This year, Culver’s sponsored a new reading program during the school year for children, teens and adults at the Sauk City and Prairie du Sac libraries. It was extremely popular.”
This year’s host, Electronic Theater Controls (ETC), is a global entertainment and architectural lighting company dedicated to providing customers with the best and most innovative lighting products, services and solutions.
The company’s 325,000-square-foot headquarters in Middleton was built in 2004 and expanded in 2009. It is the hub of the company’s global operations and an homage to the art of lighting and entertainment. Visually a theater in its own right, ETC’s “Town Square” atrium (pictured) stages a 1940s street.
“Partnering with ETC to recognize the contributions Bob, Craig and Lea have made to libraries is an honor,” Davis-Brown said. “The Cornerstone Awards are a fitting tribute to three tireless supporters of public libraries, and we’re especially grateful to ETC for hosting our reception in their beautiful facility.”
Event raises nearly $13,000 for SCLS Foundation
Davis, Keen receive Foundation’s ‘Cornerstone Award’
March 2011
About 60 library supporters, family members, and friends gathered in Fitchburg Nov. 10 to say thank you to Phyllis Davis and Bob Keen for their lifetimes of dedicated service to public libraries.
Davis and Keen were the South Central Library System Foundation’s 2010 recipients of the “Cornerstone Award.” In their honor, nearly $13,000 was raised to support public libraries through the Foundation.
“This second annual event was a fitting tribute to Phyllis and Bob, two tireless advocates for the public libraries of the South Central Library System,” said Linda Davis-Brown, foundation board president. “They have made untold contributions to the improvement of library service in their own communities and throughout the South Central Library System.”
The Cornerstone Award is given to an individual or individuals who have had a significant and long-term impact on enhancing public libraries in South Central Wisconsin and represent the values and mission of the SCLS Foundation.
Phyllis worked for SCLS in various capacities since 1985, and as director starting in March 2006.
Bob has been a Green County Library Board trustee for more than 30 years, and has served on the SCLS Board of Trustees for 25 years. He also served about 10 years on the board of the Wisconsin Library Trustees Association.
“The Cornerstone Award is an exciting opportunity for our library community,” Davis-Brown said. “Many people make significant contributions to libraries, and this is one way to recognize those efforts.”
Photos from the Cornerstone Award presentation can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com/sclsphotos.
Foundation’s first disbursement coming in 2011
March 2011
Despite the economic downturn of the past several years, the SCLS Foundation has continued to raise funds in support of member libraries.
Closing in on its initial goal of $100,000, the Foundation Board voted at its January meeting that it would begin to use some of these funds to pay for programs that benefit all member libraries.
According to the board’s action, the Foundation will use one-quarter of the fund balance increase from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2010, to help pay for a systemwide program or project for member libraries. That $5,412 will be used sometime in 2011 to develop a program or project that will be available to all member libraries.
At the end of 2009, SCLS funds in the Foundation were $70,301. That increased to $91,950 at the end of 2010, representing a total fund increase of $21,649.
“This is an exciting time for the SCLS Foundation,” said Linda Davis-Brown, Foundation board president. “Even with the economic slowdown over the past three years, we’re still in a position to begin using Foundation funds for the good of member libraries.”
In addition to raising funds to benefit libraries, the SCLS Foundation also can serve as a fiscal agent for donations to libraries. Because the SCLS Foundation is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, SCLS member public libraries don’t need to file for that status.
Residents can still make their tax-deductible contributions to your library, but your record-keeping requirements are simpler.
Another foundation advantage is that investment experts at M&I Wealth Management help ensure that your contributions work for you. You don’t have to become an investment expert, or spend the time hiring someone to do it for you.
Finally, any funds invested in the SCLS foundation remain the property of the library, and any amount can be withdrawn at any time.
For information about joining the Foundation, contact Martha Van Pelt at (608) 246-7975.