The Friends of Brown County State Park member Jane Mitchell presented a letter with updates on the Peach Tree shelter restoration project written by Group Secretary Rachel Perry at the Fabulous Fifty meeting on Sept. 12.
Local group Fabulous Fifty has had a big impact on Brown County groups since Betsy Lease formed their giving circle 11-years ago.
When Lease created the group, she envisioned it being a place where people could learn about philanthropy while also meeting other women in Brown County. The group originally began as a women’s giving circle, but has since welcomed the magnanimous men.
“Before COVID, we were at 92 members and we kind of tanked,” Group member Kim Robinson said. “Now we’re up to 86, so we’re on the mend.”
Every member of the group gives at least $200 per year to the pot that will be given to the chosen groups. Members can then submit ideas for organizations that they would like to receive the money during their first meeting in February, everyone votes and the winner receives $12,000. The runner up receives $8,000 and if there is money left over, a third winner is chosen.
Since its inception in 2013, they have given away $185,787 to local organizations, according to Robinson. This year the group awarded $12,000 to the Friends of the Brown County State Park to restore Peach Tree Shelter. They also awarded Brown County 4-H with $8,000 to help fund new programs while maintaining their current options. The accountability meeting with updates on each organization’s progress was Sept. 12.
The Friends of Brown County State Park are currently working on the $76,887 Peach Tree Shelter restoration project with funding from Fabulous Fifty, the Community Foundation, individual donations and the group’s personal savings. There is not an estimated date of completion, but the hands-on restoration process has begun, Friends of Brown County State Park Secretary Rachel Perry said in a letter read by Jane Mitchell.
“The chimney is completely done, so they are working away,” said Mitchell. “Now the roof needs to be done next.”
Brown County 4-H Youth Development Educator Allison Roberts opened the conversation about what Brown County 4-H provides for the community before inviting two local 4-Hers Addie True and Averi Bohbrink to share their experiences in the program.
“What we do here in Brown County with 4-H is we provide opportunities to youth grades kindergarten through second for mini 4-H, and for regular 4-H grades third through 12th,” said Roberts. “We provide them the opportunities to enhance and gain skill base whether that’s leadership, career development, health and living. It could be learning about wildlife, all kinds of different life skills that they can use to help make our world better. Many of our youth participate and give back to our community through volunteer service hours, they participate in different organizational events. Not just here in our county, but they also go outside our county and provide other resources. They get to attend state trips, some have been to Washington D.C., so they really get to change and make the world better.”
Brown County 4-H has 141 youth participants with an additional 30 mini 4-Hers. They participate in different types of projects throughout the year that they can showcase during the county fair before potentially moving on to the state fair.
“4-H is year-round, not just during fair week so the money that you are providing us allows us to eliminate barriers for many families that could not financially afford to participate in 4-H,” said Roberts. “Through our after school program or our area wide events, we send kids and pay for their enrollment so they can participate.”
Fabulous Fifty is always looking for new recruits. Interested parties can email Lease at [email protected].
