Sara's Birch Fund Challenge Goal for TLC!

In 2012, my friend Bernadette "Bernie" Christiansen asked me to sit down with her and Liz Engelman, founder of Tofte Lake Center - they needed fundraising help and wanted to talk about joining the Board.  After our meeting, I didn't fully understand the organization - people really get to go on residencies in nature? - but I loved Liz and wanted to help the organization, so I joined the board.

From 2013-2021 I served, and every single year I went up to TLC for our annual July Board Retreat on campus - it became my favorite getaway, and TLC became my number one organization.  We tackled growing, funding, and sustaining the organization. We helped Liz develop her long-term vision, and we developed a new strategic plan.

Along the way, Bernie and I became closer and schemed for the future, so when I learned that she had created The Birch Fund to support artists at TLC, I was not surprised, I was - once again - admiring Bernie's generosity and thoughtfulness.  

Bernie's legacy was solidified by her creation of The Birch Fund, rooted in her belief that all artists coming to TLC should be financially supported.  Designed to fund artist residencies, The Birch Fund goes one step further, providing stipends to ensure that cost is no barrier to the investment artists make in their creative development.  

You can help us make our dreams a reality by making a personal contribution to The Birch Fund.  Our goal is to raise $5,000 for Give to the Max Day, and when we do, the TLC Board will direct an additional $25,000 to The Birch Fund – together we will make it possible for artists to invest in their futures.  This matching contribution makes it even more clear: each and every gift of any amount truly makes a difference.  

Thank you for helping us meet The Birch Fund Challenge, your gift today will help make nature-based retreat a reality for artists.