Support Birch Creek
When you contribute to Birch Creek, your gift touches and often helps change the lives of promising young musicians. You may be inspired to give because music has personally graced your life and you want to pass the gift along. You may give to celebrate, honor, or memorialize the life of someone you love. You may give an annual gift or through a matching program with your employer. You may want to include a bequest in your will or a deferred gift in your estate planning.
We welcome your help in keeping music alive at Birch Creek!
Recurring Gifts: Become a Tempo Partner
Recurring gifts provide support for Birch Creek and offer the greatest flexibility for donors. Schedule a donation from your credit/debit card OR set up automatic withdrawal from your bank account to recur monthly, quarterly or annually. Please indicate your recurring donation when you complete the form online or call (920) 868-3763 for more information.
Gifts through May 1, 2025, are listed in the Program Book. Tempo Partner gifts received after then are listed below.
Updated through November 21, 2025.
TEMPO PARTNERS
Anonymous (3)
Sam and Vicky Carmen
Molly Chann
Bruce and Chris Fenner
Charles McKee
Bob Lindahl and Wilma Van Arragon
Nancy E. Hughes
Todd and Sheryll Rockway
Bob Shogren
Sarah and Mark Woerfel
Play it Forward Annual Fund
The support of our donors helps us continue to fulfill our mission: to engage and nurture promising young and adult musicians through immersive, performance-based instruction in a professional, mentoring environment. By empowering them to achieve their full potential, we foster excellence in musical education and performance, and enhance our reputation as a leader in the field.
The Play It Forward Annual Fund is the organization’s annual fund used for operational expenses and is the fund that bridges the gap between tuition paid by families and the true cost of program delivery. Did you know that every student automatically receives $2,700 in reduced tuition because of your support to this annual fund?
Actual Cost of a Student’s Education: $5,100
Play It Forward Annual Support: $2,700
Student/Family’s Cost: $2,400
We want to ensure that our tuition fees are affordable to most families by covering the gap between the cost of educating a Birch Creek student and the family’s out-of-pocket costs, while also raising additional tuition assistance dollars to help those for whom even our subsidized tuition is a challenge.
Donation Levels
Leadership Circle: $10,000 and above
Director’s Circle: $2,500 to $9,999
Faculty Circle: $1,000 to $2,499
Encore: $250 to $999
Mentor’s Circle: $100 to $249
Bravo: $1 to $99
Annual Fund Gifts In Support of Birch Creek Received Since May 1, 2025
Gifts through May 1, 2025, are listed in the Program Book.
Annual Fund gifts received after then are listed below. Updated October 10, 2025.
Leadership Circle – $10,000 and above
Paul Aspinwall
Steven and Jackie Kane
Charlotte Lukesa
MMG Foundation
Nicholas Family Foundation
Sargent Family Foundation
Director’s Circle – $2,500 to $9,999
Anonmous (4)
David Burke and Wendy Lukes
Dave and Vonnie Callsen
Sam and Vicky Carmen
Laurey and Phil Clampitt
Dwight and Linda Davis Foundation
First Business Bank
Fran Dutton
Bob and Nancy Gellman
Gould Family Fund of the Door County
Community Foundation, Inc.
Marian Hislop CHaritable Lead Trust
Dave and Mel Johnson
Dick Johnson
Gloria Jones
Jim Kinney
Rick Malkemus and Lisa Tetzloff
Charles McKee
Mary Moster
Robert and Carol Sorrentino
Suzi Spanbauer Schmidt Jones
Sue Vineyard
Faculty Circle – $1,000 to $2,499
Anonymous (2)
David and Susan Anderson
Mary Pikul Anderson
Nancy Barton
Greg and Becky Britton
Don and Deb Chapman
Cindy Case and Jim Clarke
Rob Davis
Door County Coffee & Tea Company
Door County Community Foundation
Joan Guthridge
Francine Hartman
Gloria Hartman
Hislop Family Foundation
Greg and Mary Holub
Edward and Eileen Krall
Steve and Kathy Kuhn
David and Carrie Link Charitable Fund of the
Door County Community Foundation
William and DIane Miller
Allan Nottke and Marica Kirtland-Nottke
On Deck Clothing Company
Marti Thompson
Jim White
Encore – $250 to $999
Anonymous (4)
Theo and Jan Abrahamson
Carla Byrnes and Sara Oswald
Rich and Eileen Beaver
Tom and Penny Beernsten
John and Alice Belmont
Jane and Gerry Berg
Thomas Bonnie
Jim and Pat Blair
Jeffrey Bonvallet and Larua Fisher-Bonvallet
Nancy T. and David A. Borghesi Fund
Scott and Lyn Brunswick
Janet E. Bulin
Jim and Barbara Bunning
Cindy Case and Jim Clark
Molly Chann
Donald and Beverly Chappie
Peter and Beverly Conroy
Greg and Lorna Cote
Chris Cramer
Peter and Myra Cristall
Donna Danielson
Virginia Eades
Tom and Andrea Esau
Matt and Ellen Feldman
Lynn and Linda Ferrell
Jim and Barbara Flint
Jack and Sue Follick
Fred and Barb Frey
George and Bernie Freeman
Garrett and Patricia Gardi
Steven and Mary Gomoll
Timothy and Barbara Graul
Joan Guasta
Tom and Carol Guyette
George and Judy Harmon
Terrence Heidenreiter and Jeanne Rabel
Karl and Lynn Huber
Nancy Hughes
J and H James Foundation EJ-DAF at the
Chicago Community Foundation
Dennis and Donna Joannides
Ron and Carol Jochimsen
Albert Johnson
Steven and Dawn Johnson
Debbie and Gary Jones
Stephen and Wendy Kase
Jack and Myrna Kaufman
Klug Family Fund of the Door County
Community Foundation
Ben and Lee Kordus
Martin Krebs
Carmen Lang
Gerald L. Lecy
David and Pat Long
Paul and Mary Luce
Greg Macola and Mary McEnerney
Ron and Pam Maloney
Scott and Christine Miller
Bill and Nancy Moore
Fred and Christi Moritz
Raymond and Claire Moulis
John and Nancy Munch Charitable Fund of the Door County Community Foundation
David and Gail Nelson
Dennis and Sandy Pearson
Pecha Family Foundation
William Poplarchik
Sylvia K. Pratt
Margaret E. Prescott
Peggy Prindle
Ellsworth and Carla Peterson Charitable
Foundation
Marina Polianska
Jeanne E. Reichert
Kate Rericha
Ron Roxmarynoski
Todd and Sheryll Rockway
Randy Sannes
Kay Schmidt
Gary and Bev Schultz Charitable Found of the
Door County Community Foundation
Michael Scianni
Ken and Nancy Serwinski
Carl and Barbara Shakal
Brian and Amy Stephens
Dean and Juliet Swinton
Gabriel Tawil
Laurie Tremain
Steve and Patty Vickman
Christ and Robin Walker
James and Wendy Walker
David Wolowitz and Tammie Grossman
Mentor’s Circle – $100 to $249
John and Sherry Adams
American Funds
Anonymous (9)
Axos Cleaning
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
Brian and Bonnie Bender
Ken adn Janet Berggren
Joel and Sherry Billett Kitchens
Rev. Anthonly Birdsall
David and Barbara Boes Family
Clinton Booth Seely
Mike and Marge Bork
Barbara Buckingham
Roger and Doris Butz
The Brookby Foundation
Karen Cowan
Thomas Crowley
Thomas DeMint
Henry and Nancy Devereux
Bob and Liz Dickson
Gracia Drew
Buzz and Sue Enroth
Bruce and Chris Fenner
Jane and Michael Ferris
Fidelity Charitable
Dave and Audrey Gasch
Susan Gebhardt
Joe Goldberger
The Hancock’s
Barbara and James Hansen
Mary Harrington
Marian Hart
Joseph Hetherington and Molly Mason
Kathleen Herman
John Hnilicka
Jim Holland
Erin Horan
Fergus and Bonnie Hughes
Lynn Kaczmarek and Mack Bonk
Judith and Thomas Kapellen
Julie Ketter
George and Doris Kimball
Joel and Sherry Billett Kitchens
David Koehler and Barbara Kraemer
Paul and Dianne Larson
Tim and Lorie Markus
Michael Morgan
Mike and Babs Mortl
Toma nd Jan Myers
Ted Pappas and Fe Quejada
Lynn and John Pullan
Terry J. Schneider
Laura and Eric Schulz
Carol Scott
Carol Shipley
Bob Shogren
Thomas Strong
Susan Sturm
Steve and Lisa Sveum
James P. Szantor
Dorothy Tevoert
John and Joan Tierney
Paul and Nina Trigg
Dave, Bev and Wes Urschel
Vangard Charitable
Kevin Van Ess
Steve and Patti Vickman
Andrea Wagoner and Roger Ruggeri
Brian and Joan Wake
Linda Walker
Amy Wallace
Jay and Sally Whitfield
Stanley and Jane Whiteman
Phillis Wilson
Hendrik Wolst
William Wuesthoff
Bravo – $1 to $99
Donna Altepeter
Anonymous (2)
Jeff Benson
Stacia Beyl
George Braden
William and Nancy Carpenter
Ricardo and Marilee Castañeda
Robert Cleasby
Lynn Conway
Robert and Mary Cook
Elizabeth Cwik
Door County Master Gardeners Association
John ande Yvonne Dwonch
Michael Dybas
Paul Greenlaw and Elizabeth Ocokoljich
Sheldon Gulinson and Carol Sobel
Shelley and Olwen Hansen
Doug and Barbara Henderson
Dawn Holsen
Jim and Pat Hughes
Andrea Kinsey-Jauquet
Bradley Koehler
Koerner Kehias Family
Mary Jo and Jon Kolb
Marvin Krull
Mary Lalor
Diane Lang
Ruth Langehough
Daniel and Joan Liss
Joseph and Maarde McConnell
Jim and Sally Mergener
Sarah Muench
Robert Mitchelland Marianne Morton
Karen Moeller and Tony Trout
Mike and Babbs Mortl
Stephen A. Saindon
Donna Satterfield
David and Marilyn Scherer
Dayton and Ann Sederquist
Richard Schultz
Bob and Chris Snyder
Richard and Annette Steinke
Scott and Janet Stolarick
Ron and Jan Wanek
James and Susan Thorsen
Sarah and Mark Woerfel
Ron and Jamie Zingler
Concert Sponsorship
Support student education by becoming a concert sponsor.
Sponsorships support concerts at Birch Creek that directly correlate with our academic programs, and sponsors have the benefits of program book recognition, media mention, complimentary tickets and reserved seating. Call our office if you are interested in sponsoring a concert: (920) 868-3763.
Concert Sponsorships through May 1, 2025, are listed in the Program Book. Concert Sponsorships received after then are listed below. Updated through November 21, 2025.
Anthony and Priscilla Beadell
Door County Medical Center
Jim and Barbara Flint
Steven and Mary Gomoll
Stephen and Wendy Kase
On Deck Clothing Company
SuziSpanbauer Schmidt Jones
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
Endowment
The Birch Creek Endowment establishes a firm financial base that ensures the stability of Birch Creek, its educational programs for young musicians and concerts for the community long into the future.
The Endowment, managed by the Door County Community Foundation, consists of four funds:
Building for Tomorrow Fund – used for capital expenditures
Lifetime for Education Fund – supports essential educational components such as faculty salaries, musical instruments, library acquisitions and guest artist fees
Now and Forever Fund – supplements donations for day-to-day operations
Scholarships Forever Fund – partially underwrites student tuition through scholarships
A minimum gift of $5,000 is required to establish a sub-fund within one of these four Funds. The donor’s principal is not touched and new gifts may be added to increase its value at any time. Once a sub-fund reaches a principal value of $20,000, lasting naming rights become available and include the naming of faculty chairs, academic programs and buildings. Birch Creek will work with donors to reach a $5,000 minimum over time, and to help their sub-fund grow thereafter to attain naming rights benefits. A few options for giving could include the required minimum distribution from an IRA and gifts of stock.
For information on setting up a sub-fund in the Birch Creek Endowment, please call Bob Shogren at (920) 868-3763. Smaller gifts in any amount are welcome at any time and are permanently placed in one of four General Funds of the Endowment as designated by the donor.
Endowment Contributions since May1, 2025
Contributions received prior to May 1, 2025 are listed in the program book. Current as of November 21, 2025
ENDOWMENT
Building for Tomorrow Fund
Kaye M. Wagner Memorial Sub-fund
Lifetime for Education Fund
Greg and Becky Britton Sub-fund
Greg and Becky Britton
Howard and Mariam Erickson Jazz I Drum Faculty Chair Honoring Bob Chmel Sub-Fund
Ben and Lee Kordus
Bill and Marti Thompson Jazz I Trombone Faculty Chair Honoring Audrey Morrison Sub-
fund
Martin Krebs
Now and Forever Fund
Alan and Virginia Eades Sub-fund
Mary Harrington
Kaye M. Wagner Memorial Sub-fund
John and Sherry Adams
Scholarships Forever Fund
Paul Aspinwall Scholarship Sub-fund
Phyllis C. and James J. Ingwersen Scholarship Sub-fund
James Dutton Merit Scholarship Sub-fund
Anonymous
Dave, Bev and Wes Urschel
Richard and Jan Johnson Sub-fund
Dick Johnson
Ralph Pratt Scholarship Sub-fund
Sylvia K. Pratt
Johnathan Tobias Music Initiative
Sue Vineyard
Dorothy Tevoert
TRIBUTES
Memorials
In Memory of Sharon Cobb
Doug and Barbara Henderson
In Memory of Charles Dickenson, Jr.
Fidelity Charitable
In Memory of Charles and June Esau
Tom and Andrea Esau
In Memory of Francis Merle Hartman
Elizabeth Cwik
Jane and Micheal Ferris
Francine Hartman
Kari Kenefick
Mary Lalor
Shelley and Olwen Hansen-Blake
William Poplarchik
Steve and LIsa Sveum
In Memory of Bob and Donna Koehler
Thomas Bonnie
Brad and Mary Koehler
David Koehler and Barbara Kraemer
Joseph and Marde Mc Connell
Gary and Virginia McCurdy
Mike and Babbs Mortl
Donna Satterfield
In Memory of Pat Malkemus
Anonymous
Susan Caldwell
Fidelity Charitable
Bob and Liz Dickson
Joan Guasta
Barbara and James Hansen
Marian Hart
Pecha Family Foundation
Thomas Strong
In Memory of Jeanne Maxon
Anonymous
Tom and Judy DeMint
Susan Gebhardt
In Memory of Jane Mezera
Tom and Andrea Esau
In Memory of Jane Riester
Patricia Dzurick; Ann and Jim White
In Memory of Fred Sturm
Susan Sturm
In Memory of Kaye M. Wagner
John and Sherry Adams
Stanley and Jane Whiteman
Honors
In Honor of Mona Cristensen’s Retirement
Donna Altepeter
Tom and Penny Beernsten
Jim and Pat Blair
Carla Byrnes and Sara Oswald
Jim and Barbara Flint
Steven and mary Gomoll
Seven and Dawn Johnson
Stephen and Wendy Kase
Steve and Kathy Kuhn
David and Pat Long
Raymond and Claire Moulis
Kate Rericha
Steve and Patti Vickman
David Wolowitz and Tammie Grossman
In Honor of Jodie DeSalvo
Ken and Janet Berggren
In Honor of Fran and Jim Dutton
Janet E. Bulin
In Honor of Mark and Ann Lee
John Hnilicka
SCHOLARSHIPS
Theo and Jan Abrahamson
Drs. James and Nancy Barton
Mike and Marge Bork
Molly Chann
Robert and Mary Cook
George and Judy Harmon
Joseph Hetherington and Molly Mason
Kathleen Herman
Dennis and Donna Joannides
Dick Johnson
Koerner Kehias Family
Rick Malkemus and Lisa Tetzloff
Tim and Lorie Markus
Ron and Pam Maloney
Marian Miller
Bill and Nancy Moore
Marina Polianska
Bob and Christ Snyder
Dorothy Tevoert
Andrea Wagoner and Roger Ruggeri
Sarah and Mark Woerfel
IN-KIND
Bea`s Ho-Made Products
Door County Ice Cream Factory
Door County Master Gardeners Association
EconoFoods
Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery &
Market
Main Street Market
Eric and Michelle Naese
Piggly Wiggly
Scaturo’s Baking Co. & Café
Seaquist Orchards Farm Market
Sweetie Pies
Michael Thomas
Christ and Robin Walker
Wood Orchard Market
The Legacy Circle
Guardians of the Future
2024 Legacy Circle Program and Membership Book
The Legacy Circle was created to help guarantee Birch Creek’s financial stability far into the future. A planned gift is a resource upon which Birch Creek can rely for years to come. Large and small, these gifts are vital to the success of Birch Creek’s future. Many donors have found that time spent considering what to give, as well as when and how to structure their contributions, can help them make more meaningful gifts while meeting personal planning goals as well.
“I have placed Birch Creek in my will.”
For more than fifteen years, Door County resident Charlotte Lukes has demonstrated her close involvement with –and commitment to – Birch Creek through estate planning that will continue her support of Birch Creek in the future.
Please call Bob Shogren at (920) 868-3763 for more information.
Many Birch Creek donors utilize one or more of the following planning options:
Will Bequests
Charitable Remainder Unitrusts
Retirement Packages
Life Insurance Policies
Charitable Lead Trusts
Gifts of Real Estate
Capital Gifts
Over the last several years several exciting projects were initiated and completed that updated and stabilized the infrastructure of our campus. This effort required multiple grantors and donors to help us reach our goals. Their support helped us overcome infrastructure inefficiencies while continuing to provide a safe environment for our students and the public.
Your support is essential and critical! Become a part of keeping the magic alive in the barn and all over campus. Just choose Play It Forward from the drop-down menu on our online donation form, or note infrastructure on your check. At any time, you may call at (920) 868-3763 for ways to help.
Then … wait for the changes to begin!
Projects include:
Rebuilding the barn’s North upper wall
New theater stage lighting in the concert barn
Upgrading electrical service and burying power lines
Bringing high speed internet to the property for business operations and instruction
Installing a campus master keying system
Purchase and installing a new generator
Renovate living quarters with a full bathroom in the upper granary
Measuring room acoustics and building acoustic bistro tables and window seats to enhance sound absorption in Juniper Hall
A new well to provide back up to a 50 year old well
Migration of all business operations to the Cloud
Redesign of the organization’s website
Provide the equipment and technology to Live Stream concert videos to parents
New theater house lighting in the concert barn.
New vinyl flooring in the Teaching Assistant residence hall
Strengthened wi-fi signal across campus
Cement slab adjacent to the dining room for outdoor seating
Outdoor pavillion covering the outdoor dining areas
Sidewalk from west accessbile parking to gazebo and concert barn and to the public restrooms
Advertise in Our Program Book
Business owners and organizations are invited to partner with Birch Creek by advertising in our program book.
The digital program, which you can open and browse through, is a flip book which includes ads (with links to each advertiser’s website), donor recognition, Birch Creek history, concert schedules and features on programs and outreach. Birch Creek advertisers also receive a print ad in the physical program book which is distributed to thousands of concertgoers throughout the summer and fall at Birch Creek. Contact our Marketing Manager at (920) 868-3763 or marketing@birchcreek.org for questions regarding ad space in next season’s program book.
We hope you enjoy the Birch Creek Digital Program Book. Try our links – advertisers, faculty, concerts and more!
