ID

UW-Eau Claire Foundation, Blugold Real Estate Foundation receive Paragon Award

Story Categories
Eau Claire Community
Authored on
UW-Eau Claire Foundation, Blugold Real Estate Foundation receive Paragon Award
Published on:
Intro text

Visionary projects coupled with community-focused collaborations helped the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation and the Blugold Real Estate Foundation earn special recognition from a group of its peers.

Sections

The Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp. presented its Paragon Award to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and the Blugold Real Estate Foundation for the positive economic impact that The Sonnentag and other related projects have brought to the Eau Claire community.

The award, sponsored by Royal Credit Union, is presented each year to entities that have a positive impact on the community by creating quality jobs, helping increase the tax base, educating the workforce and utilizing innovative technologies and products. This year’s award was presented at the ECA Economic Development Corp.’s annual recognition event.

“I’m incredibly honored to accept this award on behalf of the entire team,” says Curt Krizan, president of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and executive director of the Blugold Real Estate Foundation. “From the Confluence Project to The Sonnentag, we’ve received tremendous support from our community and civic partners, business leaders and residents. I personally want to thank everyone for their support in making these projects come to life.”

Krizan says he was humbled to read the positive comments detailed in the nomination that led to the honor. The nomination detailed how the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and the Blugold Real Estate Foundation have a long tradition of partnering with leaders across the community to help create jobs, develop unique community partnerships and create venues that benefit all in the Chippewa Valley.

The Sonnentag, which is the largest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design V4 gold-certified recreational center in the nation operated by a public university, opened one year ago. The 225,900-square-foot facility is estimated to have generated $38 million in construction wages and benefits to dozens of firms and hundreds of workers who helped build the facility. John and Carolyn Sonnentag created the vision and donated $70 million in land and cash to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation to help make the facility a reality.

For the media
For the media
Image download

You may also like

Students and dean in nursing SIM lab
Workforce Innovation Grant reaches successful conclusion
In 2021, UW-Eau Claire received a $9.4 million Workforce Innovation Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. As the grant comes to an end, Interim Chancellor Michael Carney thanks those involved for what he called the unbelievable accomplishments that were achieved.
Art student and faculty making stained glass on a long table
Art & design students, faculty bring a new view of trees to McIntyre Library
The art & design department at UW-Eau Claire is once again making the scene around campus more beautiful and meaningful through public art. An upcoming multipanel, stained-glass installation on the library's first floor depicts trees and wildlife, paying tribute to the university's Tree Campus USA designation.