The Leota Braun Charitable Foundation, Inc.

History

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Several years ago Leota Braun willed a large donation from her estate to the village of Rockford for park development.  This fund was invested for growth and eventually grew to around $460,000.

In the year 2001 the park board undertook the construction of a new community building to be built with as much volunteer labor as possible and using funds from the Leota Braun donation and some other large donations to cover the cost.

Prior to the beginning of construction and especially after the project began, it became obvious that local management of such funds would be highly advantageous.  In August of 2000 Bob Thompson, assistant vice president and branch manager of the Peoples Bank Co. office in Rockford, proposed the possibility of starting a Rockford area civic foundation to Herb Muhlenkamp, C.P.A., who maintains his home office in Rockford.  The two decided to pursue the matter to try to determine local interest.

Letters were sent to churches and community organizations asking them to send representatives to an exploratory meeting that was held at the New Horizons Community Church on September 27, 2001.  Present at this meeting were Bob Thompson, Herb Muhlenkamp, Tom Huff, Jeff Armstrong, Sandy Schaffner, Bob Ransbottom.  It was decided to gather information from other foundations and report back to this group.  Others who participated in meetings and/or information gathering following this initial meeting included Roy Thompson, Norm VanTilburg, Homer Hall, and Doug Karst.

Visits were made to the Van Wert, Ohio, and Portland, Indiana, civic foundations.  Information was also obtained from the Pandora-Gilboa School Foundation and the Fort Recovery, Ohio, Community Foundation.  After hearing reports of the successes of these organizations, it was decided to appoint a steering committee.  The steering committee met and provided guidance and appointed the following as founding officers:  Bob Thompson, President; Roy Thompson, Vice President; Karen Sapp, Secretary; and Herb Muhlenkamp, Treasurer.  The officers were charged with the duty of creating the structure of the foundation.