For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Approximately 85 community members gathered at Bull’s Eye Country Club on Oct. 22 for the 2018 Blue Door Awards hosted by the Boys & Girls Club board of directors.

This year’s Blue Door Award recipients are Len & Mary Ironside, StrongBridge Wealth Advisors, and  Kurt Heuer and Phil Brown.

Jill Kurszewski, Boys & Girls Club board chair, describes the meaning behind the award, “The Blue Door Award was created several years ago to recognize donors and volunteers who have gone above and beyond in serving the Boys & Girls Club. The Blue Door is a visual representation of the great futures for our youth that lie behind every club door. The Door represents opportunity.”

The Boys & Girls Club had the honor of presenting Len & Mary Ironside as this year’s Individual Donor award recipients. “Len and I are so honored to be in the company of this year’s as well as prior award recipients,” Mary said. “The growth and development of the BGC reflects the personal and financial commitment of many members of our community since its inception.”

Len and Mary have been involved in the club for many years through generosity and leadership, and have stepped up as strong leaders of the recent Building Futures Together campaign.

StrongBridge Wealth Advisors was honored for their support to our club through their substantial sponsorships to club events and their advocacy to the youth in our organization. Matt Colemer, private wealth advisor expressed, “It was a surprise and an honor to receive the corporate donor of the year award. We are so happy to support the club, an organization that does so much for the children in our community.”

The final presentation of the night was to recognize Kurt Heuer and Phil Brown, both generous supporters of the Boys & Girls Club as well as Building Futures Together Campaign Co-Chairs. Kurt Heuer said, “I am honored and humbled to be a Blue Door Award recipient. Supporting our youth and making sure they have every opportunity to grow in positive ways has always been a priority for me, personally, and professionally.”

The duo’s passion and positive leadership have  helped keep the club doors open and driven the joint capital campaign with the YMCA.

“This year’s award winners have been instrumental in building more doors of opportunity for our youth through their support of our capital campaign and ensuring those doors will continue to be open for all youth to have a chance at a great future, “ said Board Chair Jill Kurszewski.