Fritz and Julie Schierl. Image courtesy: Boys and Girls Club of Portage County
PLOVER, WI (WSAU) — Leaders of the Boys and Girls Club of Portage County have announced a $1 million donation from a local philanthropist.
CEO Kevin Quevillon Fritz and Julie Schierl have pledged the largest donation that the group has received in its 20-year history. He says the gift will help them beef up their endowment fund, which hasn’t had a chance to grow much in their first two decades.
“It’s really, kind of just established. We really haven’t built up our endowment, so a contribution like this will support [that], which will support us well into the future,” said Quevillon.
Money that doesn’t get stashed in the group’s foundation will be used to improve programs for those who use the club. “It’s operational funds, I know Fritz and Julie want to make sure we have the resources we need to do the things we want to do for the kids, support them and their families.”
Quevillon adds that he thinks the Schierls choose to support their group because their values aligned, and they want to leave a legacy of giving to worthwhile causes.
“They’ve been very blessed with their careers. I know Fritz would say his mom and dad instilled in him the need to give back and support the community. I think this is an opportunity where they just want to invest in kids,” he said.
In honor of the donation the club’s facility in Plover has been renamed for Fritz and Julie Schierl. That came earlier this week through action from the Village of Plover’s board of trustees. The village owns the building and leases it to the Boys and Girls Club for $1 per year.
Quevillon says the club will hold a private event to mark the donation. The couple plans to spread the donation out over several years.
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