Submitted by Neil Kline, Family Friendly Workplaces

BALDWIN, WI – Pillar Bank, a certified family-friendly workplace, recently made its annual conduit contribution to the Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley. This contribution is part of their ongoing commitment fulfilled as a Family Friendly Workplace.

“At Pillar Bank, our employees are the cornerstone of our success. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace culture that not only empowers our staff to excel in their professional pursuits but also encourages them to prioritize their family well-being,” stated Shane Bauer, CEO at Pillar Bank. “Being acknowledged as a Family Friendly Workplace is a distinct honor, and we are proud to support the Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley with our contribution.”

The Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, based in Baldwin, provides essential resources and support to families with young children in the St. Croix Valley region.

As part of the Family Friendly Workplace Certification Program, employers such as Pillar Bank make annual contributions to nonprofits supporting families. This marks the second consecutive contribution by Pillar Bank as a certified employer.

For more information about Family-Friendly Workplaces and their Certification Program, you can visit familyfriendlyworkplaces.org.

Submitted by Sarah Weiske, United Way

HUDSON, WI – United Way St. Croix Valley and Dunn County United Way announces their intent to merge to form a stronger, more unified force for community impact. The combined organization will be known as United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, serving communities throughout Burnett, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix counties.

This strategic merger, effective July 1, 2024, will bring together two organizations with long histories and a shared commitment to improving lives and driving positive change in the region. By joining forces, these United Ways will more efficiently address critical issues facing individuals and families in need.

“We are excited to embark on this new chapter,” said Steve McCarthy, Executive Director of the merged organization. “By combining our efforts, we can better serve our communities, mobilize resources, and create lasting solutions to the challenges facing our region. We look forward to strengthening United Way’s presence in Dunn County. We will provide more details in the weeks to come.”

The merger will enable United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys to streamline operations, eliminate duplication, and maximize the impact of donor investments. Additionally, the organization will leverage the strengths and expertise of both entities’ board members and staff to expand effective programs and services, including 211, Success by 6, Mental Health First Aid Training, the John Coughlin Hope Fund, and an annual workplace campaign that reinvests financial resources in select nonprofit partners.

“We believe that by uniting our resources and expertise, we can make an even greater difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout the St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys,” said Todd Sherman, Board President of the merged organization.

“Together, we will continue to work hard to create thriving communities where everyone has the opportunity to succeed,” said Tim Bartels, Dunn County United Way Board President.

United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys will honor existing commitments, partnerships, and relationships established by United Way St. Croix Valley and Dunn County United Way, while seeking new opportunities for collaboration and collective impact.

For more information about St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys United Way, visit each organization’s current websites: unitedwaystcroix.org and uwaydunn.org. The organizations will share more information closer to July 1, 2024.

In the meantime, anyone interested in being a part of United Way’s collective efforts should contact Steve McCarthy at steve.mccarthy@unitedwaystcroix.org.

United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Western Wisconsin.

SPRING VALLEY, WI – When the opportunity arose for Elmwood local Nancy Nicoletti to open her dream shop in Spring Valley, she jumped on it. When she discovered the storefront (where the ‘Dragonfly & Damsel was previously located) would be available to rent, she quickly met with the building owner and decided to rent the space. “I love Spring Valley and the stores there,” said Nicoletti, “I know how supportive the community is.”

Fast forward to 2023, and Nicoletti hit the ground running. “When I decided to rent the storefront, I started asking around to see what people would want in the store,” said Nancy. “I always heard the same thing – unique gifts that are affordable.”

After visiting some craft shows with her husband, daughter, and granddaughter, and finding things they liked, she began speaking with vendors about consigning their items to her store.

To read this and other premium articles in their entirety, pickup the May 30, 2024 issue of the Sun-Argus newspaper. Click to subscribe for convenient delivery by mail, or call (715) 778-4990. Single issues are also available at area newsstands and our office in Spring Valley, WI.

HUDSON, WI – Patrick (Pat) McKernon was beloved. Family, friends, and colleagues remember him as an uncommonly kind, caring, and generous person. When he died in September of 2023, his final gift of generosity came as a massive surprise to those who knew him and the St. Croix Valley Foundation (SCVF).

Pat left a testamentary gift to SCVF, ensuring that more than $1.7M would be stewarded professionally to provide scholarships to students graduating from Elmwood High School, Pat’s alma mater, and adults residing in Pierce County who are returning to school.

“This gift is astounding in the best way,” said SCVF President and CEO Heather Logelin. “While we didn’t know Pat, we know he valued education and enjoyed giving others the opportunity to pursue their dreams. We are humbled that Pat chose us to steward his legacy, and we’re excited about the impact the McKernon Scholarship Fund will have on students from Pierce County.”

Established as an endowed scholarship fund, the McKernon Scholarship Fund will be invested professionally for long-term growth, with a portion of earnings available for scholarships each year. SCVF staff are working with Pat’s family members to ensure that his intentions are honored and that his gift will forever support this opportunity for higher education.

“The amount of the gift was surprising, only because we never discussed his finances,” said Pat’s niece-in-law Jill McKernon. “It was not out of character, though, because Pat was a very generous person. He graduated from Elmwood High School and knew he wanted his gift to serve that community, so I’m sure he did his research on the best foundation to serve his needs.”

Pat’s twin brother Michael (Mike) McKernon did not know that Pat planned to establish a scholarship through his estate. The gift, says Mike, is true to Pat’s nature in every way: it fulfilled Pat’s love of giving back and he brought absolutely no attention to it.

Mike recalls the impact Elmwood had on their lives, fondly reliving their experiences growing up in the village of 800 in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Mike and Pat – along with sisters Mary and Jan – graduated from Elmwood High School. Their father was both a teacher and a coach in the district, coaching the boys in baseball and football. Mike recalls that of the 24 boys in their freshman class, 23 went out for football.

“We knew everyone in our class,” said Mike. “We pretty much knew everyone in high school. We could go out on our bikes, and we could be out of town, into the woods in any direction within a five to 10 minute bike ride. We did that a lot.”

After high school, Pat attended University of River Falls (UWRF) and settled there, just 30 miles from his hometown. He worked in IT for 3M where he was both liked and deeply respected by his coworkers.

“They held him in very, very high regard,” says Mike of Pat’s colleagues. “He was really sharp, very organized, and just so obviously easy to work with, and that’s what I love to hear.”

Pat was also a pillar in the McKernon Family, showing up for sporting events, serving as a father figure, caring for aging relatives, and even letting a niece live with him while she attended UWRF. He never married nor had children, but Pat’s nieces, nephews, and their children were dear to him. Niece-in-law Jill remembers that Pat’s kindness and generosity were always on full display.

“Pat was a wonderful gift giver,” says Jill, who lives in South Carolina with her husband Sam and their three kids. “He loved to give experience gifts – tickets to events and things like that. He was another grandpa to our kids. They called him Gruncle Pat – for ‘Great Uncle’ or ‘Grandpa Uncle.’ He loved to golf and spend time with his friends and family.”

Pat’s love for sports, activities, and family came through in other ways, too.

“He came to everything that we did,” said Mike. “Family vacations, we’d go to Packer games, we’d go to a Badger game every year. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter. We’d go on vacations, and we’d always invite him. He went to Final Four basketball games; he went to the US Open…”

Golfing took Pat on trips to the United Kingdom, while fishing brought him to Canada on an annual fishing and houseboat trip with some of his closest friends, a 30-year tradition.

“Pat was an organizer, and he organized the boat trip,” says Mike. “They started going up and they camped in tents, then they started making a little extra money and going on this houseboat, and they never, ever pitched tents again!”

In June, Pat’s friends will make their annual trip to Canada to spend time fishing on the houseboat. This year, the group has given the adventure a somber new name: The Patrick McKernon Memorial Trip. Mike knows that Pat will be remembered dearly by friends, colleagues, and family members. And thanks to his final generous gift, the McKernon Scholarship Fund will continue to honor Pat’s legacy of generosity for graduates of Elmwood High School and adult learners from Pierce County – forever.

(Editor’s Note: Application details will be forthcoming in a future Press Release.)