By Stacey Schultz

Executive Director

Marshfield Area Community Foundation

The Marshfield Area Community Foundation has more than 110 funds, each with its own purpose for being developed. The Marshfield High School Alumni Fund is coming to a close after 25 years and certainly served its purpose to continue impacting students at Marshfield High School.

The Marshfield High School (MHS) class of ’54 recently celebrated their 65th class reunion. Truly a gift to have a celebration, with a group getting together 65 years after graduating. It’s no wonder that this graduating class still gets together and takes time to reminisce about a time in their life which made a lasting impact on them.

This impact was shown when they established the Alumni Fund with the Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc. back at their 40th reunion. Dick Seehafer, class of ’54, said they owed much of their success to the superb instruction and encouragement they received while at MHS.

 In short, they wanted to give back to a place that had given them such a good start in life. Their fund was set up to give grants to teachers at MHS.  The grant program was designed to enhance and reward innovative teaching, learning, and special motivational activities at MHS and Marshfield Middle School.

Their goal was to reach $54,000 for the class of 1954…clever. They achieved that goal thanks to the generosity of many of the classmates and friends. The funds were administered through the Foundation for 25 years, but as the group got a bit older, they decided to give out their final awards of $5,900 to three projects: $2,500 towards the School Forest Remodeling Project, $2,000 for creation of “Comfort Zone” at the MHS library, and $1,400 to enable computer streaming of the light shows at Rotary Winter Wonderland.

Their lasing memorial was made by sponsoring one of the two ticket booths at the new Marshfield Community Athletic Facility with a $50,000 donation. This brought the fund to a close. To a close, after donating $45,549 dollars in 37 grants.

Thank you MHS class of ’54. You gave back to thank those who helped you and in return have helped so many more.