A Proud History of Supporting Shorewood

BY JENNIFER ANDERSON | PHOTO BY JONATHAN KIRN

Residents may be aware that the Shorewood Foundation is a philanthropic vehicle enabling donors to support some of the Village’s most prominent cultural assets, such as the 4th of July parade and fireworks, the Shorewood Farmers Market, the Public Arts Committee, and the upcoming Shorewood Feast.

But not everyone may be aware of how the foundation came to be — or of its numerous smaller good works over its 55-year history.

Made up of 15 volunteer board directors who meet bi-monthly, the Foundation is one of the oldest community nonprofits in the state and early on was used as a model by other communities wanting to replicate its successful operating model. The story of how the Foundation got its start in 1964 is a bit hazy, but it ultimately came down to one man who had a good idea, a deep love for his community and a willingness to work hard.

Alvin Meyer (pictured above) grew up in the Village and his wife, Ann Meyer, has said that “Shorewood was in his bones.” Meyer was elected a Village trustee, then served as Village manager and attorney until the mid-1990s. Nicknamed “Mr. Shorewood,” Meyer rallied a group of 14 of his peers to create an organization designed to financially assist groups that were working in some way to benefit the community.

The Foundation’s smaller initiatives include providing an annual grant to support the post-prom activities at Shorewood High School, offering students a fun, safe space in which to hang out after the dance. The group also provides scholarships to two SHS students annually, and has funded Promethean boards for classrooms and bike racks and books for the schools.

Around the community, the Foundation has paid for hats for the Shorewood Connects volunteers, covered the cost of landscaping and lighting around the Plensa sculpture at Atwater Park, paid for the soccer fields at Spector Field, contributed $50,000 for the Shorewood Public Library renovation and sponsored the Shorewood Gardens Tour. It also provides ongoing support to the Senior Resource Center, along with dozens of other local projects.

No doubt Mr. Shorewood, who passed away in 2006, would be proud of the foundation’s many projects, large and small. While much of the work takes place behind the scenes, the results touch the lives of every community member in some form or another.

“Upholding and building upon the legacy of past board members is a responsibility we all take seriously,” says Rose Spano Iannelli, Foundation president. “We want future generations to feel that we were good stewards of this special community.”