Planning for the Foundation began in 2001 after Jim and Kathryn Lohr had relocated from Columbus, Ohio, to Walker,  Jim Lohr was familiar with the Columbus Foundation and the vital role it played in the Columbus community.   Building a Foundation, shaping a reality from an idea, however, involves hours of foresight and planning.   Jim Lohr and Dale Jones were at the forefront in the task of implementing the Foundation project for the Walker community.  In the offices of DW Jones, Inc., Jones and Lohr brainstormed; they projected how the Foundation should function and how to involve community leaders with varied skills.   They navigated the governances and functions required to initiate the Walker Area Foundation as they sought to establish a self-sustaining Foundation to serve the area. The hours that Lohr and Jones devoted at this earliest stage laid the groundwork for what was to come.  WAF is indebted to Ms. Wendy Roy, then Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation, who provided advice, insight, encouragement, and nuts-and-bolts support for Foundation governance and organization in WAF's formative phase.”

​

At about this time, the Blandin Foundation had been underwriting a citizen project in Walker called Project Future (PF).  PF’s objective was to develop and submit proposals to Blandin for community advancement.   Blandin itself had suggested that the establishment of a community foundation might be among the proposals.  Lohr worked with PF community members Harold Bruns, Thelma Grimley, John Thompson, Molly McGregor, John Valen, Gloria Hansen, and Sheila Hunter to prepare a recommendation for the creation of such a community foundation in Walker which Blandin accepted.  Molly McGregor wrote the successful proposal.  (PF simultaneously recommended the construction of a community center which Blandin also accepted.) 

 

The catalyst for launching WAF was a $75,000 Blandin grant ($25,000/yr for three consecutive years) augmented by a $25,000 grant from Arvig Communications. In providing these funds for the start-up of the Walker Area Foundation, the donors stipulated two broad objectives:  1) develop a legally registered Community Foundation that could maintain PF's vision over the years ahead while raising a minimum of $100,000 in the first three years, and 2) develop programs so that estate planners routinely inform clients of the philanthropic opportunity available through a Community Foundation.  The first official meeting of the Walker Area Foundation was on April 18, 2003.   The following pages outline how WAF has met and exceeded these objectives.  

 

During 2003 to 2006 the WAF board included Lohr plus Grimley, Bruns, and Hunter from the original PF board, in addition to vice chairman John Warren, Secretary Pat Kastning, Treasurer Randall Morrison, and, intermittently, board members, Andy Bednarczyk, Bill Bieloh, Mike Bongo, Paul Dybing, Paula James, Dale Jones, Beth Plattner, Roger Strandlie, and Jim Tuller.  Several committees were organized for administrative purposes, including finance, fund-raising, grant review, and publicity.   

​

The WAF mission is fourfold: (1) build a permanent Endowment Fund; (2) provide grants; (3) act as a catalyst and facilitate projects; and (4) inspire philanthropy and community involvement.  

 

By 2006, fund-raising for the Walker Area Community Center (WACC) was well underway.  Because of a perceived need to avoid competitive fund-raising within a small population, WAF had not yet solicited public contributions.   Nevertheless, WAF's total fund balance was $121,605, of which $72,155 were endowed funds and $52,450 were non-endowed funds.

During the period from 2007 through 2010, WAF began to gain traction.  A new influx of board members and a good blend of experience from past years prompted further growth.  John Warren and Pat Kastning, sequentially, served as chairs, Jim Lohr served as secretary, and Harold Sherbrooke served as treasurer and financial chair during this time.  In addition, the board, consisting of Dale Jones, Joanna Aamodt, Mark Olson, Jim Tuller, Eric Guler, Otto Ringle and Bill Bieloh, was stable.  Growing our portfolio through fund-raising efforts was a main goal.   Leadership provided by Jim Lohr (past chair), Dale Jones (board member), John Warren, and Pat Kastning propelled WAF into a viable foundation.  

 

A newspaper publicity campaign was launched to inform the public of WAF's purposes and goals, and hosting a “movie and treats” event at the Bear Pause Theater was one of the first major efforts to raise funds.  Invitations were extended to prospective Foundation donors, and approximately seventy people were in attendance.  This event provided WAF a solid opportunity to introduce the mission of the Foundation and emphasize how the community-at-large could make a difference through tax-deductible donations.  

 

While working toward portfolio growth, WAF's mission for community-focused support remained at the forefront.  Sponsored by WAF fundholders Dale and Harriet Jones, “The Big Dig” became a classic event during the summers of 2007 to the present time as part of Walker Bay Days summer celebrations.  Youth hockey was supported through the WAF Ringle fund.  

 

The second fundraising event, “A Taste of Broadway I” (TOB) was a dinner theater affair.  Musical entertainment of Broadway vocal renditions was presented by local talent.  The production was directed by Joanna Aamodt, produced by Pat Kastning, and announced by John Warren.  MJ Warren coordinated ticket sales and dining logistics.  Approximately thirty area residents shared their musical talents at this event hosted at Chase on the Lake. TOB was deemed a success; the mission of the Foundation had been advertised to a wider community audience.  

 

The 2008 success prompted “A Taste of Broadway II” on September 9, 2009.   The same format and location were utilized under director, Joanna Aamodt, producer, John Warren, and coordinator, MJ Warren.   The event was a sold-out affair for two evenings. 

 

During this early period, the WAF logo, still in use today, was created and donated by the late local Walker artist, Don Beadle.   

 

The WAF Finance Committee, Harold Sherbrooke (Chair), Jim Lohr, and Dale Jones, worked with Brian Johnson of Stifel Nicolaus to utilize current assets to make wise investment choices to increase WAF's fund balance.  In addition, Sherbrooke and Lohr established a Scottrade account with one-third of WAF assets; two-thirds remained with Stifel Nicolaus investments.  Sherbrooke and Lohr met regularly in their efforts to grow the Scottrade account during these very difficult economic times.  

 

By the end of 2010, the WAF fund balance had grown to $321,184.  Eight endowed accounts comprised $270,629 of that balance:  Harken, Louks, James (WACC), J&K Lohr, Ringle (WACC), Ringle (Hope Lutheran), Audrey's Purple Dream, and Norton.  Nine non-endowed accounts, totaling $50,555, were established, as well as three bequests (deferred gifts) from Ineke Leer, Tom Miller, and Kathy Miller. 

 

Not to be overlooked through this period, WAF had received grant requests and approved and distributed more than $156,336 to community projects.   Below is a list of WAF disbursements from 2003-2010:

From 2011-2013, WAF's make-up had a much different look.  Joe Sherman and Dan Meir served as chairmen sequentially; Ane Rogers served as secretary, and Orv Rosenberry and Gary Weigel served as treasurer/chair of the financial committee sequentially. New board members included Roger Aitken, Gary Arndt, Mike Nelson.  Pat Kastning and Dale Jones remained on the board and served in many board capacities.  

 

During this time, “A Taste of Broadway” remained WAF's featured event.  Because the event outgrew Chase on the Lake site, Northern Lights Casino ballroom became the venue for WAF's signature event.  The ballroom was the site for “TOB III-VII”, from 2011-2015.   Joanna Aamodt, John Warren, Pat Kastning were keys to its ongoing success. Through the Walker Pilot, Joe Sherman organized a professional public-relations campaign.   With the additional of efforts of Kathryn Lohr, Harriet Jones, and Ane Rogers, “TOB VII” became the most profitable event hosted by WAF.

 

In 2014, Lohr and Sherbrooke resumed responsibilities on the governance of WAF as chair and financial chair, respectively; Gary Weigel remained treasurer.   

 

From 2013 to 2015, WAF became recognized as a responsible fiscal agent for 

many worthwhile projects in the community.  Otto Ringle's “Circle of Time”, Wolf Pride, Friends of the Library, and Audrey's Purple Dream were a few of the projects which utilized WAF's services.  

 

A major WAF grant provided $120,000 to Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Schools for the purchase of instructional Apple I-pads.  A donation of $2500 was also made to Immanuel Lutheran School for the purchase of instructional computers.  Mike Nelson, Gary Arndt, and Jim Lohr spearheaded those projects.  

 

Financially, the Foundation continued to grow.  In 2015 the Scottrade account and the Stifel Nicolaus investment portfolios were rolled over to Cetera investments and were managed locally by Sheri Winter, First National Bank North.  WAF continued to be served by Bank Forward for their cash-flow checking account.  By the end of 2015, WAF fund balance had grown to $582,077.  This total included thirteen endowed accounts for $465,803, and eleven non-endowed accounts for $116,274.   The spreadsheet was expanded to include a bequest from Dale and Harriet Jones, as well as endowed accounts--Albert Louks Fund, Charles Beckman Scholarship Fund, Tunheim, Winegar, Bruns (TWB) Alumni Faculty Scholarship Fund, and the Harold and Linda Sherbrooke Fund.

From 2016 to 2020, the Foundation assets continued to grow at a robust pace.  However, efforts to fill the positions of chair, treasurer, and financial chair were discouraging.  Lohr, Weigel, and Sherbrooke had served in these positions respectively for many years.  The board members at this time were Lohr, Sherbrooke, Weigel, Mike Kerrigan, Dale Jones, Mike Nelson, Dan Meier, Steve Michel, Mark Sylstad, and Keane Johnson.   In 2020, Ineke Leer, Jen Arnold, and Kristin Holly joined the board.  As Lohr and Sherbrooke stepped down from their offices, Sylstad and Johnson assumed 

the responsibilities of chair and treasurer.  Lohr and Sherbrooke resigned from the board but volunteered to continue with responsibilities on the 

finance committee, Sherbrooke, serving as finance chair.   The finance committee, in addition, included Sylstad (WAF Chair), Johnson (WAF treasurer), Weigel (board member and past treasurer), and Sheri Winter (Cetera advisor).

 

This time block was the strongest financial period in WAF's history.  Following the directives of the deceased Ernie and Jean Jarman, Pat Bresley, executor of the Jarman estate, established the Ernie and Jean Jarman endowed fund with a significant contribution. (The author expresses a special thank-you to Bresley for extending the Jarman legacy with this generous donation.)  

​

The finance committee spent countless hours in efforts to maximize earnings with sound investments and also efforts to simplify the financial portfolio for ongoing success.  Sylstad, Johnson, and Weigel served as liaisons between the finance committee and the WAF board.   

​

The growth of the Walker Area Foundation can readily be confirmed by the following list of grants approved by the Foundation and donor-advised funds.  Below is a list of WAF disbursements from 2011-2020.  

 

Notification was received in January 2021 from Sylstad and Johnson that they would retire from their positions effective December 31, 2021.  Their contributions as chair and treasurer for the past five years have been vital for WAF to move on in 2021 and beyond.  On behalf of WAF and the community, the author extends appreciation to them both. 

 

In summary of WAF's financial status, WAF's assets on December 31, 2020 totaled $1,822,399.  That sum is comprised of thirteen endowed accounts totaling $1,680,978 and fourteen non-endowed accounts totaling $141,421.    

​

On a very personal note, the author apolgizes for any persons inadvertently omitted.  Consulting with many and pouring over news articles, WAF minutes, spreadsheets,  and documentation, every effort was made to write an accurate history of WAF's evolution.  As is with any written history, this continues to be a work in progress.  The author is hopeful that this documentation will be helpful to any new WAF members as well as the community-at-large.  

 

In addition, the author writes,  “Little did I know in 2007, when I first joined the WAF Board, what a worthwhile and community-impacting organization I had joined.  Like most organizations, it is the people who make the difference.  The names recorded on the previous pages became friends, or at the least, people I respect.  The talent and generosity in our small community of Walker, Minnesota is more than amazing—it is a blessing.  WAF board members and officers named on the preceding pages were all volunteers.  They gave their time, talent, and expertise to make the Walker Area Foundation an integral component of  Walker and surrounding area.