Alexandria, Minn. – The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) honored Fred Bursch and Kathyrn LeBrasseur with the “Ruth McDonald Award in Philanthropy” on Monday, May 6 at their Annual Dinner. The celebration of community and philanthropy was held at the Arrowwod Resort, Hotel and Conference Center with over 325 people in attendance.
The theme of the dinner was “Creating Opportunity, Strengthening Community”. The evening began with a welcome and innvocation from AACF Board Chair Jason Pohlen. Executive Director Kathy Pfeffer introduced two videos to the crowd, the first explaining how the Alexandria Area Community Foundation serves both donors and the community and the second showcasing four generations of Alexandria residents from the perspective of Kathryn LeBrasseur, Fred Bursch, Josh Tatge and Maggie Pfeffer. Each spoke about how the Alexandria community has impacted their worldview and shaped who they are as a person.
Following the video presentations, Jason Pohlen returned to the stage to present the award to Kathryn who accepted the award on behalf of the community, who she expressed a deep gratitude for all it has given to her in her life. The award was then presented to Fred Bursch who told the story of his family, their trials and tribulations, and what the Alexandria community means to them. He then accepted the award in honor of his parents.
The evening was capped off by a rendition of “It’s a Wonderful World” sung by Pat Kalina.
The “Ruth McDonald Award in Philanthropy” is named after a woman who made a significant gift to the community foundation through her estate. It recognizes the volunteer efforts of individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of philanthropy in the area.
Link to additional photos of the evening: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pQ4P6hvdomrkW6uS8 (names of those pictured are in the comments)
The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local Alexandria area. Since 1992, AACF has grown to over $3.3 million in assets and awarded over $2.9 million in grants to nonprofits. The AACF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of many community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers nearly 800 funds totaling more than $140 million. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/Alexandria.
Fred Bursch
After passing the Minnesota Bar exam and being employed by Hennepin County, Fred returned “home” to be a part of the family business. Since the purchase, Bursch Travel has expanded to 18 offices across the region. Fred’s involvement and legacy can be witnessed all around the community. He has served Alexandria through a number of organizations and is a founding board member of several foundations, including Alexandria Area Community Foundation. We are pleased to present the Ruth McDonald Award in Philanthropy to him and thank him for his vision and commitment to Alexandria.
Kathyrn LeBrasseur
Born and raised in Alexandria, Kathryn credits the concept of “a job well done brings joy,” emphasis put on pursuing an education and the equalizing experience of growing up in the 30s for the person she is today. She still hears her mother saying “God didn’t put you here to do nothing” and so she keeps busy helping wherever she can, to better Alexandria. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and is magical at finding others to share her dreams for both youth and senior citizens. Ruth McDonald would be pleased to know we are honoring her good friend with the Ruth McDonald Award in Philanthropy.