Donor Stories
Tom and Judy Sleik named 2026 Forever Friends Award recipients
La Crosse Area Community Foundation honors lifelong commitment to community and giving Tom and Judy Sleik have spent a lifetime showing up for their community — a commitment now being recognized. La Crosse Area Community Foundation has named the Sleiks as its 2026 Forever Friends Award recipients. The award honors individuals who have made lasting…
Al Wieser: So they aren’t forgotten
For Al Wieser Jr., the goal was never simply to give back. It was to make sure two people would be remembered, not just now, but long into the future. To do that, he established two endowed funds at La Crosse Area Community Foundation. One fund carries the name of his wife, Karen, who was…
The love that keeps beating
How one family is turning loss into a lifeline for others When Alex Weber and Moran Lonning talk about their son, Charlie — affectionately known as Bubba — their faces light up. “He had big emotions,” Alex said, smiling. “He had a loud voice, wanted to be held all the time, and he made sure…
The Elliotts: Giving as a family tradition
Giving discussion becomes holiday custom The Elliott family’s first philanthropic dinner came about organically during a year-end family meal several years ago. During that dinner, the family talked about the prior year and what they had hoped to build upon the next year. This included organizations and programs they wanted to support with money from…
Putting the WE in Giving
How Wanda DuCharme and Edd Storey make generosity a way of life When Dr. Wanda DuCharme and Edd Storey sign a card, an email, or even a text, they typically end it the same way: WE. It’s more than a signature; it’s a statement of how they live. “We started using it early in our…
For the love of Chloe: Racing forward with heart
Honoring Chloe Kay Eckelberg’s short but joyful life When Jonathan and Amy Eckelberg talk about their daughter, Chloe, their voices are full of love — and purpose. “She had crazy, fluffy hair that stood straight up,” Amy said. “Everyone remembers that about her. That, and her giggle.” Chloe Kay Eckelberg was born in September 2019….
Sue Knopf: A journey of giving
Life experiences inspired a life of giving People don’t typically start out with philanthropy as their primary goal in life. In most cases, it takes time to build careers, settle into a home, and participate in local activities before aiming to improve the community for everyone. Sue’s journey of philanthropy is similar, but Sue had…
A collector of art — and curator of good
How Dick Record channels his passion for beauty into community giving Richard “Dick” Record doesn’t just fund the arts; he surrounds himself with them. His home is filled with paintings and sculptures from around the world, including a dining room that proudly showcases his collection of Picassos. “I can look at them whenever I want,”…
The sound of kindness
The Bob and Jean Marck Family Fund David Marck jokes that while some people summer in the Hamptons or Tuscany, he summers in La Crosse. A professional jazz pianist based in New York City, Marck returns to his hometown each year for a season that blends gigs, gratitude, and giving back. It’s not just the…
More than a game: Honoring Robin Finco
A life of compassion, character, and the game he loved When Fran and Billie Finco lost their son Robin unexpectedly in the summer of 2023, their world stopped. “It was a hemorrhagic stroke — he called 911 himself,” Billie said. “Within 24 hours, he was gone.” In the days that followed, the outpouring of love…