Left to right: Richmond McCleur, Takka the dog, and Mandi Olson.
It was a great day for animals in Winona as the Winona Community Foundation presented a $5,000 check to Richmond McCluer, board member of the Winona Area Humane Society (WAHS), from the Ramona Jezewski English Endowment Fund. This endowment fund was established in 2019 to give yearly to the Winona Area Humane Society in Ramona Jezewski’s name. So far, a total of $30,000 has been distributed from this endowment fund to support the WAHS’s mission to place dogs and cats in forever homes – and will continue to grow and give to this cause for years to come. Donations are critical to cover the costs of operating the facility, and this yearly gift is a steady, ongoing support in helping cover those costs and ultimately caring for the animals.
Ramona Jezewski English loved Winona and loved animals. She grew up on her family farm in Stockton, and in 1958 her family started a fish farm known as the Stockton Trout Farm. When Ramona passed in 2018, she made sure that love was shared by making an unrestricted gift through her estate to the Winona Community Foundation. After learning Ramona had a strong passion for animals, the Board of Directors at the Foundation created an endowment that will give the first $5,000 of income to the Winona Area Humane Society every year. . .forever. The other income from the endowment is used to support the competitive Community Grant program. The Community Grant program awards twice yearly grants to local non-profits with the goal of enhancing each charities’ impact.
Build a Better Winona
This endowment fund just one example of a legacy giving option at the Winona Community Foundation. To learn more about directing your own legacy gift, contact Mandi Olson at 507-454-0441.