CHARLES AND ADELE HEETER OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Recognitions Committee has approved, Doug and Carla Salmon to be the recipients of the Charles and Adele (Patricia) Heeter Award.  In keeping with their wishes the award is being presented to the Salmons privately.  The Salmons have quietly made a significant impact on many individuals and organizations in the greater Fox Cities area over the past 15+ years.  In 1999 they began, with the assistance of another volunteer, to interview and award scholarship assistance to highly motivated but financially needy students.  Over time they began collaborative arrangements with foundations that are associated with the local educational institutions.  The scholarships have totaled over $3 million and assisted approximately 800 students.  In addition the Salmons had a strong desire to assist many non-profit organizations in the greater Fox Valley – particularly through capital campaigns and the development of administrative endowments. In 2002 Doug and Carla formed the Doug & Carla Salmon Foundation, a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region.  Approximately 50% of the annual contribution to the community goes to the scholarship program.  While the Salmons support as many as 60 local organizations with operating grants each year, they have chosen to direct a larger percentage of the Salmon Foundation annual grant making to support capital campaigns, endowment growth, and agency leadership needs.
Since the year 2000 they have supported in a significant manner over 22 organizations in capital campaign needs, over 12 organizations relative to endowment building, and almost ten organizations with multi-year grants to support newly created staff positions.  Over the years Doug and Carla have also invested their time and expertise to lead and assist numerous non-profit organizations in the area.