Drawberts support university’s service to region

High school sports medicine outreach, single-parent scholarships, Blugold Fellowships and athletics all have received support through a gift of $75,000 from John and Helen Drawbert, Altoona. The high school sports medicine outreach program provides certified athletic trainers for area high school sports programs and career-related experience for UW-Eau Claire’s student athletic trainers. (Read about one graduate assistant trainer who's benefited from the Drawberts' generosity.) The Single Parent Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to university students who are single parents of dependent children, giving those students the opportunity to earn a degree and to better provide for their families. The Drawberts’ gift also includes general support for Blugold athletics and for a Drawbert Blugold Fellowship.

Q&A with John and Helen Drawbert:

Occupations: John is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and knee and shoulder surgery. Helen is heavily involved with community work, including the Altoona school board, Western Wisconsin Advocates for Adoption and other volunteer agencies.

UW-Eau Claire Connection: John has been the team physician for UW-Eau Claire for the last 16 years. He is a member of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation board of directors and an instructor for the university’s athletic training program. Helen is a charter member of Women For Philanthropy, a group formed to raise money for single-parent scholarships at UW-Eau Claire.

Why we believe in financial supporting causes that are important to us: It is very important to us to give back to the community that has been so supportive of our efforts and livelihood. Having a positive effect on causes we feel are important is the least we can do and provides a deeper meaning for what we do in our careers.

Why we support UW-Eau Claire and its Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign: Eau Claire is a great city, and part of its uniqueness lies in the fact that we have such an excellent university here. UW-Eau Claire provides opportunities — athletically, culturally and intellectually — that otherwise wouldn’t be available here. We realize that university funding is going to be reduced now and in the future because of state budget issues, and it’s important that we maintain the level of quality we currently enjoy at UW-Eau Claire.

What we hope will be the impact of our contributions: We hope our contributions will have a positive effect on the university in terms of providing some educational opportunities. The athletic training graduate assistant program we sponsor, for example, allows graduate students to help take care of area high school athletes and it provides training for the university’s students in the athletic training program. We also hope the scholarship money we provide allows single parents the opportunity to continue their education.

Why we would encourage others thinking about making a gift: We would encourage others to think about making a gift to support UW-Eau Claire. If they feel that Eau Claire has been a community that has had a positive impact on their lives, then this is the time to give back. Giving to UW-Eau Claire will not only help the university, but it will help the city of Eau Claire and the surrounding area improve as well.

Read more donor and recipient stories.