Making the Most of Our Time Here

John Herlache, chairman of the board of the Door County Community Foundation, congratulates Anne Emerson on her Philanthropist of the Year recognition at the July 18 Celebration of Giving event. Photo by Katie Sikora.

At the Door County Community Foundation’s Celebration of Giving, Anne Emerson accepted the 2012 Philanthropist of the Year Award. She was welcomed to the podium July 18 with applause and a standing ovation from almost 200 Door County philanthropists, graciously accepting the award with recognition of other local activists, community love and a few tears.

As she was being recognized, Emerson took time to mention others who follow her lead to pour their time and energy into the community. By giving of themselves, they create a tree of life that keeps Door County connected, branching out and bearing fruit.

“That’s what this is really all about,” Emerson said at the Celebration of Giving event. “Living thankfully and making the most of our time here.”

Emerson came to Door County when she was 25 and stayed, married her heart-of-gold husband and had two children. She and her mother opened Edgewood Orchard Galleries in Fish Creek.

Her impact reaches beyond her family and gallery, however, as Emerson helped form the Friends of Gibraltar group to benefit the school and helped raise over $3 million for the Door Community Auditorium. She’s also been part of creating two cookbooks – An Artist’s Food for Thought and An Artist’s Food for the Soul – the sales of which raised nearly $200,000 for local charities and organizations.

But as Bret Bicoy, president and CEO of the Door County Community Foundation, said, recognizing Emerson at a luncheon isn’t the only way she should be honored by the community. Like Emerson, we all have the capacity to do great things, and with a little effort and vision we could give to the community like she does.

“We all share this common gift: we have the privilege to live in Door County,” Bicoy said at the event. “What can we do for this place we love?”

The Door County Community Foundation is a charity that focuses on enhancing all aspects of the local community by investing in other charities with visions to enhance Door County.