School foundation receives big gift

BY ANNA HERKAMP

DANVILLE June 25, 2009 10:47 pm

— The Danville Public School Foundation announced a generous donation Thursday from a local philanthropist.
The Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation will give the schools foundation $250,000 over the course of the next five years.
The money will benefit programs in Danville District 118 not paid for by tax dollars. The foundation has sponsored, for ex-ample, the artist-in-residence programs, Danville High School’s participation in a University of Illinois mock United Nations program; purchased violins at Cannon Elementary School and keyboard pianos at Liberty Elementary School and fitness equipment at South View Middle School.
For Hegeler himself, the choice to give to the schools foundation was not a difficult one.
“I think it’s really simple,” he said. “Bob Richard is a close friend.”
Richard is the school foundation’s new executive director. He knows Hegeler from various other causes the two have been involved with together.
Hegeler has given to numerous charitable causes during the years, which include AMBUCS, Provena United Samaritans Medical Center’s foundation, the Danville High School Memory Walk and many other local programs and organizations.
Hegeler is a member of the Danville High School class of 1946.
“I remember the day I graduated,” he said, adding that he has many happy memories from his years in Danville’s schools.
Richard said Hegeler carefully considers organizations he sponsors.
“He really looks at the organizations he donates to. If he feels it benefits the quality of life in the community, he’s very eager to lend his support,” Richard said.
As Hegeler puts it, “People give money to people, not to causes.”
The school district has no specific plans to use the money at this time. The foundation, which has existed for 20 years, accepts applications from individuals in the district for various projects.
“We don’t have any specific plans for the money, other than it benefits the children of District 118,” said Associate Superintendent Mark Denman.
“We’ll leave that to the volunteer foundation to (decide).”
Denman said the district has so many needs, which include the restructuring of DHS. He suggested it is possible the foundation could reexamine its application process.
“We’re very grateful for his thoughtfulness,” Denman said, adding the district values the gift very much.
Richard’s position is a new one for the schools foundation this year.
Previously the foundation only had a board, but no one in the community actively advocating for the foundation. Denman said the goal is to build the foundation’s endowment as much as possible.
“I hope the foundation takes this donation and others we’ve received and build a little nest egg to finance perhaps even larger projects,” Denman said.
The foundation received another sizable donation this year.
Dr. Ron Gillum, a member of the DHS class of 1956, also announced his donation of $250,000 earlier this year.
Golf trip raffle
Richard also is promoting another fundraiser this year, the goal for which is $40,000.
The school foundation will conduct the Pebble Beach Golf Raffle on Oct. 17. The Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation will sponsor the event.
Those who purchase a $100 raffle ticket will have the chance to win either a trip for four to Pebble Beech, Calif., for three nights at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, green fees to the Pebble Beach and Spy Glass Golf Course and $4,000 in travel expenses — or $10,000 in cash.
In addition, there will be a Million Dollar Shoot-out sponsored by Terminix, a putting contest and bean-bag tournament. Ticket requests may be made by calling Richard at 444-1044 or emailing him at brichard@danville.k12.il.us.
Those who buy tickets by July 22 will be entered into a drawing to win two weekly ground passes to the U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., on July 27-Aug. 2.