A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News July 28, 2005 - Descendants honor parents by matching grant Leslie Arendt, For the Daily Tribune Editor’s note: The Daily Tribune will regularly run columns updating Community Progress Initiative activities in local communities. In this column, Leslie Arendt co-chairwoman of the Port Edwards progress team, discusses why she and her siblings decided to offer a matching grant to the Port Edwards Community Fund at the Community Foundation of South Wood County. Port Edwards – About 150 years ago, my great-great-grandfather decided this was a community he should invest in. He saw that the natural attributes of the area along with its local inhabitants made it the best place in the world to invest his money. Today our family feels the same way. It is truly a vibrant community and our family – Stephanie, Dean, Nancy, Jill and I – are glad we have been able to participate in some small way. The Community Foundation of South Wood County has given Port Edwards residents the opportunity to create a perpetual Port Edwards fund to support community endeavors. Our family, through the Gerard and Doris Veneman Family Fund, will match all contributions made to the Port Fund, up to $10,000. This is in addition to the Barker-Mead Fund’s $20,000 matching grant. Both matching gifts are meant to greatly enhance opportunities here. We feel privileged to see how firmly our community has taken hold of this opportunity in such a short time. Already citizens of Port Edwards are forming volunteer groups for the betterment of the community. The Prot Progress Team and the Port Fund committee are working together to create community improvement projects. It’s a grassroots effort, as ideas come directly from village residents. It is truly wonderful to see resident take part in projects such as village beautification, park enhancements and community-wide events. Our parents, Jerry and Doris Veneman, were lifelong residents of Port Edwards and loved this community dearly. As their children, we feel honored to preserve their memory this way.
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