Brillion Area Family of Funds Celebrates Raising $1 million to Establish a Permanent Endowment Fund for the Brillion Community

Earlier this year, the Brillion Area Family of Funds reached a milestone of raising $1 million to establish a permanent endowment fund for the Brillion community. During a celebratory luncheon held at the end of May, Tammy Koehler, Advisory Board Chair for the Brillion Area Family of Funds, shared her gratitude to all those who helped make this a reality.

“We celebrate something truly remarkable, the power of community, generosity, and a shared belief in the future of Brillion,” said Koehler. “The amount raised represents more than dollars. It represents trust, a vision, and most importantly, it represents people. Because of this fund, local nonprofits will receive approximately $45,000 every year to support important programs and services not only this year but for forever.”

The Brillion Area Family of Funds began back in 2013 with a simple but powerful mission – to preserve, strengthen, and improve quality of life in the Brillion area. As an affiliate of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Brillion Area Family of Funds has become a meaningful force for local philanthropy and community impact.

The goal to create an endowment fund for the people of Brillion began in 2021 when local philanthropists, Bob and Pat Endries, approached the Brillion Area Family of Funds with an idea of a $500,000 matching challenge. Bob Endries explained at the celebration, “Brillion is very important to us. I have lived in Brillion all my life. Brillion has treated us well. I will never forget that.”

The Endries’ gratitude turned into action. Community members responded with a spirit of generosity with each gift adding to a powerful ripple of impact. Every single contribution mattered to this endeavor.

“Every gift matters. Every person matters. And when a community comes together around a common purpose, incredible things can happen,” said Koehler. “This endowment fund is a lasting legacy for Brillion. It creates opportunities for nonprofits to serve families, support youth, strengthen education, improve community programs, and meet local needs for decades to come. Most communities hope for a bright future. Brillion decided build one.”

To learn more about the Brillion Area Family of Funds and how you can become involved, visit cffoxvalley.org/Brillion.