Kevin's Birch Fund Challenge Goal for TLC!

Organization Image

A nonprofit fundraiser supporting

Tofte Lake Center
Fundraiser image

Help me raise $750 to meet The Birch Fund Challenge for Tofte Lake Center!

$765

raised by 4 people

$750 goal

Fifteen years ago, I received a call from Liz Engelman as she was embarking on her dream to create Tofte Lake Center, an artist retreat center at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Ely, MN. It has been a joy to witness the hundreds of Minnesota and national artists who have since taken up residency at this magical place on the lake!


Since 2019, I have served on the Board at TLC, and I am proud to say that we have been able to subsidize over half the cost of each residency week over these years, and this past season we were able to fund the lodging for each individual artist in residence. This year, we are working to secure funding to fully subsidize the cost of every individual residency in the future and provide each artist with a stipend to support their artistic practice while they are away.


My friend and former TLC Board Member Bernadette "Bernie" Christiansen believed in the Tofte Lake Center from its beginning. As Board Chair, she challenged us to dream, encouraged us to be practical, and took every opportunity to set us up for success. We lost Bernie a year ago after living several years with cancer. Bernie modeled grace, resilience, intention, and love through it all. Her love of TLC and vision for the artists we support live on in her legacy, The Birch Fund.


Following Bernie's wishes, The Birch Fund will subsidize a residency each summer and allow an artist to recharge and focus on their work without the cost barrier. In her honor, the TLC Board of Directors will be matching gifts made to The Birch Fund 5:1 - when we meet our goal of $5,000, we will direct $25,000 more to The Birch Fund.  


Please join me by helping to raise at least $750 for The Birch Fund at TLC for this Give to the Max Day. Your gifts will count towards the $5,000 goal - together, we can help to release the $25,000 match, proving that every gift truly does make a difference!


Kevin Bitterman

Board Chair, Tofte Lake Center

https://toftelake.org


Photo Caption:  Quilted Birch Trees, by Bernadette "Bernie" Christiansen

This fundraiser supports

organization image

Tofte Lake Center

Organized By Kevin Bitterman

Giving Activity

Comments

Log in to leave a comment. Log in