Honoring People Committed to Winona

The Winona Community Foundation is seeking nominations now through Friday, May 31, 2024 for its 20th anniversary Founders Award. The Founders Award recognizes individuals who:

  • Have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to improving life in the Winona area community through the use of their time, talent and treasure;

  • Have recognized unmet needs and untapped opportunities to better our community;

  • Have collaborated with others to create a vision of what could be, then motivated others within the community to take action towards pursuit of that vision;

  • Serve as role models for others related to charitable activities & community projects;

  • Advance philanthropic activities in the Winona area community.

Individuals selected to receive the award will have the opportunity to grant $5,000 to a charity of their choice. Nominations are accepted through May 31, 2024 from Winona-area community members, with the recipient of the award selected by the Winona Community Foundation Board of Directors. The individual will be honored at the October 8, 2024 Founders Event.

History of the Founders Award

The Founders Fund was created in 2003 to honor all of the individuals who planted the seed for the start of the Winona Community Foundation in the 1980s. This endowed fund awards dollars to local non-profit chosen in the name of an individual or organization that clearly touched community life for all time. Past recipients of this award include:

  • 2023: Pat and Jerry Papenfuss (Click to watch video)
  • 2022: Malia Fox (Click to watch video)
  • 2021: Phil Feiten (Click to watch video)
  • 2020: JC Pfeiffer
  • 2012: Patte Peterson, Past Board Member of the Winona Community Foundation
  • 2010: The Winona HIMS
  • 2008: Sue Cornwell, Community Leader & First President of WCF
  • 2007: Tim Burchill, Past Development Program Director at Saint Mary’s University of MN
  • 2005: Gloria Ames, Community Volunteer
  • 2004: Dr. Darrell Krueger, Winona State University, Past President
  • 2004: Louis De Thomasis, Saint Mary’s University, Past President

  • Tuesday, October 8, 2024

  • 4 – 6 PM

  • Riverport Conference & Event Center

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