The Blachowiak Family Fund was established to honor and remember Jerome and Karen Blachowiak. Their children, Anna, Becky, Christopher, and David, were born and raised in Chippewa Falls and have many fond memories of their hometown, where Jerome set up his long-time orthodontic practice.

"It was a wonderful place to grow up," said Becky Maher. "None of us live in the area anymore, but it's where we lived as a family. We were thinking about what would be important to our parents when we set up the fund."

Grants from this designated fund will provide ongoing funding for the Lake Wissota Improvement & Protection Association, the Bernard F. Willi Outdoor Pool, the Chippewa Falls Public Library, and the Foundation's Community Needs annual grant cycle.

The Blachowiak family lived on Lake Wissota, where they enjoyed a variety of all-season outdoor sports, including fishing. The library was a big part of the Blachowiak children's childhood, and they participated in the reading club every summer. Karen would take the kids to swimming lessons at the Chippewa Falls pool, followed by picnics in Irvine Park. All four of Blachowiak children went on to become lifeguards at the pool, so when they learned there was a chance the pool might close, they wanted to help.

Becky recalls the generosity of her parents supporting many local organizations throughout the years, looking after their neighbors, and going out of their way to be helpful whenever they could.

"We grew up knowing how important it is to give back to the community," said Becky. "I remember picking up trash on the side of the road as part of a cleanup project and delivering items to a family in need. An interesting thing about my parents is that they donated a lot to the area, but they did it anonymously. We thought it was time to put a name on a fund and recognize their good works!"