Recap of the 2008 Heart of Gold Banquet

2008 was the inaugural year for the Heart of Gold. The Foundation received 18 heart-warming nominations, with three finalists selected. Receiving recognition and the opportunity to direct a $1,000 grant to the Rusk County non-profit of their choice:

Finalist Non-profit Recipients

Joe Baye: Troup 45 of the Boy Scouts of America and Westlake Enterprises

Winnie Lee: Ladysmith Elementary School

Al Miller and Richard LaBelle: Westlake Enterprises

With additional proceeds from the Heart of Gold Banquet, the Foundation developed a grant program directed to the county's Junior & Senior High School students. In March of 2009, three $500 grants were given on the high school level, and one $500 grant on the Junior High level for the following projects:

• Matt Bunton of Ladysmith-Hawkins High School
  A garden project with vegetables to be donated to the Food Pantry
• Weyerhaeuser Freshman Health Class
  Student Redo of the Community Park
• Weyerhaeuser High School Outsider's Class
  Research, document and publish "The Outsider's Guide to Blue Hills Natural Areas"
• ReNee Bowers of Weyerhaeuser Junior High
  Student Cleanup of Bass Lake Project

The Rusk County Community Foundation is proud to be the conduit through which these grants were made possible, with the generous support of our community. Five thousand dollars are now flowing in our community, enriching the lives of Rusk County residents in a variety of ways.

2008 Nominees
Silent Aucton
The Event
Bob Lorkowski
Al Miller and Richard LaBelle
Joe Baye
Winnie Lee