After a successful career as a pioneering business woman Millie Tait, and her husband Lloyd, returned to Evansville.  Having grown up in Evansville she has always had a commitment to her community and the people who live there, and she has been very generous to the community.  When Millie accepted an invitation to become an Evansville Fund Advisory Board Member, the first thing she did was to make a financial gift.  She established the Millie Tait Fund as a component of the Evansville Fund.  What she like about the Evansville Fund, is that a gift to the Fund remains forever, unlike other fundraising efforts which bring gifts for immediate distribution.  She knew the advisory board would make the best decisions regarding grants from the fund.

While serving a two year term on the Advisory Board Millie graciously hosted two Garden Teas at her home in her exquisite gardens.  The Teas offered people a relaxed summer afternoon to enjoy each others company and to learn more about the Evansville Fund.  She also gifted two of the grand prizes for the Evansville Fund’s annual Chocolate Extravaganza.   “It is safe to say the Evansville Fund would not be what it is today without Millie’s generous support,” said Heidi Carvin, Advisory Board Chair.

Dr Roger S. & Elizabeth Gray Fund

Dr Roger S. & Elizabeth Gray lived most of their lives in Evansville. They were an integral part of this community through work relating to health care, volunteerism, and education.  After Roger’s death January 1, 2009, Elizabeth Gray notified the Community Foundation that their intent to establish a charitable fund to benefit Evansville, a community where they had shared so much with so many.  Evansville was still in their hearts, but living in Eau Claire left them somewhat out of touch with a changing community.  They knew that just as Evansville had changed over the past it would continue to do so in the future.  As a named fund of the Evansville Fund, they are allowing the EF Advisory Board to identify needs and opportunities in Evansville and use grant dollars where they are most effective.

 

 

Richard & Elaine Strassburg Fund

Richard (Dic) and Elaine Strassburg moved to Evansville in 1979 with their three children. The children grew up there and benefited from the great schools, teachers and community organizations. Elaine Strassburg comments; “I created this fund for several reasons. As a financial professional, I know the value of putting money aside for the future. I love it that money I give now will be used to meet community needs potentially forever”. She continues, “and I wanted to honor the memory of my late husband.” Her final reason for creating the fund Elaine states is, “I learned from people I admire that it feels good to give. I decided I wanted to do more of it in my lifetime --- not just through my will.”

Elaine adds, “I'd like to add that even though we've all been affected by this economic crisis, charitable organizations need donations now more than ever. I'm hopeful that most of us can still show our optimism in the future and our concern for others by opening our pocketbooks.”

 

 

Dorothy & Alvin  Helgesen Family Fund

 

At age 22 Alvin returned ‘home’ to Evansville after the war where he joined his brother, Elmer, in the farm implement business.  As the community changed (and it always has and it always will) the business evolved into an auto dealership that continued until 2008. 

 

Alvin loved doing business of all sorts in the community. If there was something that he needed or wanted, he became the local dealer for it!  He loved living in Evansville where he and his wife, Dorothy raised four children.  Alvin passed away in 1996.

Dorothy is still very much devoted to Evansville. Daughter Nancy says “My mom is Evansville's #1 volunteer. In fact, she has a quote in her home that says, ‘Stop me before I volunteer again!’" As a young wife and mother, she volunteered for brownies, girl scouts, cub scouts, school homeroom mother, church, Sunday school, and would help whoever was in need. Today, she is 83 years young, exercises at the health club, serves the "senior" meals at the Senior Center, quilts with the church ladies, plays bridge, and is a member of several groups and clubs in Evansville. She thinks Evansville is a great place to live and is one of Evansville's most vocal ambassadors.

 

The family decided to honor the Helgesen family’s lifelong relationship with Evansville by providing a fund that would give back to the community For good. For ever.

 

In November of 2008 the family of Alvin Helgesen decided to honor the closing of the auto dealership, one of Evansville’s longest continuously operating business (over 62 years) by establishing the Dorothy and Alvin Helgesen Family Fund, of the Evansville Fund.