Marshfield Respite Care receives $25K gift

By City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Area Community Foundation celebrated 25 years on Oct. 17 at the 2^nd Street Community Center in Marshfield.

The foundation began in 1993 when former Mayor Marilyn Hardacre helped raise a $25,000 matching grant to go with $25,000 in seed money from Anne and Bette Adler. Current director, Amber Kiggens-Leifheit said that today the foundation has $17.2 million and 215 funds each with its own identity and purpose.

“We’ve been involved in most of the good things you see in town,” Amber said, naming multiple projects the foundation has served as fiscal agent for, including: Jack Hackman Field, the Wildwood Park Pavilion, and the 2^nd Street Community Center where the event was held.

The new Everett Roehl Library and Community Center had been the Foundation’s biggest project to date, until the Marshfield School District’s athletic facilities update came along at $11 million in community donations and pledges.

The non-profit foundation serves as the agent for community projects, allowing donors to make tax-deductible contributions.

Leifheit is the fourth director in the foundation’s history. Bob Heck was the first director, followed by Joyce Billings and then Dean Marquardt.

During the evening, the foundation presented a $25,000 gift to the Marshfield Area Respite Care Center, which lost its former headquarters when the Wesley United Methodist Church was destroyed by fire Labor Day weekend.

The Respite Care Center has currently found a new home in Faith Lutheran Church just a few blocks away from its previous location.

Leifheit also announced that the foundation would be moving into the 2nd Street Community Center – a move she hopes is complete by the end of the year.