January 4, 2021 at 11:23 a.m.
RCF looks back on 2020, ahead to 2021
RCF looks back on 2020, ahead to 2021
The Rhinelander Community Foundation (RCF) is grateful for the opportunities to work with donors and supporters encouraging forward momentum within our community during such a unique and challenging year. Sharing vision, time, talents and resources, RCF and its community partners continued to make positive strides towards its mission facilitating charitable giving and working together to enhance the quality of living now and for the future.
A year in review, the RCF Board of Directors approved over $232,000 in grants for needs and initiatives within the Rhinelander area.Since first granting in 2017, RCF has made available over $477,000 in grants to date. The Foundation continues to grow the Rhinelander Community Unrestricted Endowment with a goal of $1,000,000, which would make possible the ability to grant $50,000+ annually in our community forever.
In February, RCF hosted its 2nd annual grant cycle, open to qualified organizations. RCF was able to respond with financial support to 13 local organizations, totaling over $28,000 for their needs, projects, programming and initiatives. Soon thereafter, the news of the pandemic followed and the RCF Board of Directors approved a grant to the St Mary's Hospital Foundation Helping Hand Program, providing financial support to frontline hospital and clinic workers in Rhinelander. In the parks, RCF was able to collaborate with an enthusiastic group of pickleball players, Downtown Rhinelander, Inc and the City of Rhinelander to help facilitate construction of 8 new pickleball courts. Now, it is hard to find a time they are not in use. In addition, the 5-spot train engine at the beloved Pioneer Park Historical Complex got a much needed "lift" - up off the degrading tracks and soon to be reset on a long lasting foundation.
Projects within the complex will continue to be funded thereafter with the aid of community support for the newly established Pioneer Park Historical Complex Fund.
2020 was the first year RCF was able to start utilizing the Rhinelander Youth Project Fund - with a total of over $15,000 in grants implemented. This community non-endowed fund was established in 2019 by George and Sondra Juetten aimed to make grants available for youth driven projects, needs and initiatives, excluding scholarships. Initial grants made early in the year provided support for EMS equipment, Girls Scout trailblazer programs and supplies, drug abuse education supplies and programming, as well as autism and sensory activities. When needs changed within the youth community to those related to the pandemic, RCF was able to respond within the schools, by providing financial support for flexible seating, creating additional spaces for indoor and outdoor learning and fellowship, recommended by school administration and teachers. Supplies were funded for virtual learning that promoted health and wellness with activity and exercise lessons, and for the purchase of math curriculum enhancements. Grants were approved to support replacing shut down water fountains with bottle fillers in two school locations. These most recent youth grants provided needed help to both public and parochial schools in the area.
The goal of the RCF Board of Directors is to provide $10,000 in grants annually in upcoming years through the Youth Project Fund. If interested in contributing, gifts to RCF can be noted to be designated to the Youth Project Fund.
While reaching out to the larger community, RCF is pleased to be able respond to the changing needs in our area and will continue this over time. This year has been unique and has left no one untouched with challenge and change in lifestyle. RCF will continue to forward positive momentum in the Rhinelander area while working with and supporting community partners doing important work. Successes have been made possible by over 150 donors and supporters willing to invest in the Rhinelander community - this has been valuable and important. New donors are welcome and remembering RCF in estate planning is appreciated.
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