The Women’s Fund of Portage County will honor the late Helen R. Godfrey at the Women’s Fund Spring Luncheon May 6 as the fifth recipient of the Spark Philanthropy Award.

The annual Spring Luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 6, at SentryWorld Great Hall, Stevens Point. The group will announce the year’s grant awards, celebrate the Spark Philanthropy award recipient and announce a new planned giving program.

Luncheon tickets for the event are $30 in advance by April 29 from Beyond Ordinary, Robin’s Nest Gifts, Sugar Doll, Girls in Pearls, Dolce Printing, Regnier Consulting and the Stevens Point Area YMCA or by calling 715-344-3624 for reservations. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.womensfundpc.org.

The luncheon is an opportunity to meet representatives from local agencies that received 2016 grants of $67,560 and to understand what they do to help women and children in the community. Attendees will hear about the Women’s Fund 2016 Spark Philanthropy Award recipient, the late Helen Godfrey, a strong supporter of local women and children at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) and in the community.

The Women’s Fund Spark Philanthropy Award, established in honor of Ann Dudley Shannon, is presented to an individual who has shown exemplary passion and compassion for local women and children. Previous Spark Awardees were Ann Shannon, Edie Kraus, Mary Berard and Kathy Davies.

Women’s Fund is also launching a planned giving initiative, Helen’s Circle, which will benefit local women and children.

A new feature of the luncheon will be a door prize donated by Tom Dailing and Lee Ayers. All ticket holders have a chance to win a 14-karat white gold pendant holding a blue topaz accented with diamonds inspired by the Women’s Fund logo. The pendant will be on an 18-inch gold chain. The piece is valued at $2,000.

This event is sponsored by Sentry Insurance and Ameriprise Financial, Michael Smith & Associates.

Godfrey was a UWSP administrator for 33 years, working with students, donors and the community. Godfrey, who died in 2011, was an advocate for struggling non-traditional women students, women’s athletics, the Helen R. Godfrey University Child Care Center and Special Olympics.

In addition to the Women’s Fund, she volunteered for numerous community causes including heading the capital campaign for Community Industries, assisting the Children’s Museum and she was a major supporter of KASH (Kids Are Special) Park. She was a consummate community volunteer, serving on many boards including the Community Foundation, YMCA Foundation and Camp Manitowish-YMCA.

The comments shared by those who knew Godfrey include, “She was a strong, passionate leader who lived her life with authenticity and grace,” said Angie Heuck.

“She saw the brightest possibilities of every situation,” said John Jury.

A founder and longtime supporter of the Women’s Fund, Godfrey was the first person to leave a planned gift for the Women’s Fund.

The Women’s Fund of Portage County is a collaborative initiative of the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, Saint Michael’s Foundation and the Stevens Point Area YMCA Foundation. The mission of the Women’s Fund is to empower women philanthropists by creating opportunities to fund programs that develop the full potential of women and children.

For additional information or questions contact Marcia Tepp at 715-345-1080, or email her at [email protected]