2011 annual report - Otto Bremer Foundation

passina tribute to 51 years of service: Bill LipschultzThe year 1961 was a seminal year forthe Otto Bremer Foundation. Whilethe Foundation had been a legal entityas a charitable trust since 1944, this wasthe year that Otto Bremer’s assets weretransferred to the Foundation, in the amountof $4.6 million. This was also the year thatWilliam H. Lipschultz succeeded his father,Samuel Lipschultz, as trustee.The year 2012 marks the 51st year Bill hasserved as a trustee of the Foundation andthe year he will retire and be succeededby his son, Brian. Bill has lent a steady hand and broughtcontinuity and insight to a multitude of changes that haveoccurred throughout the years.Bill began his time at Bremer working alongside trusteesLarry Carr and Ben Ridder, who, with Samuel Lipschultz,were key architects in helping Otto Bremer design and beginto implement his vision for the Foundation. The trusteeswere responsible for overseeing the operationof a growing for-profit banking enterprise whileorganizing and executing a philanthropic missionin accordance with Otto’s wishes. Each trusteebrought important skills to the table in areas offinance, community relations and philanthropy.When he joined the Foundation, Bill was alreadya successful sales executive in the paper andpackaging industry. He was an entrepreneurwhose people skills and focus on the needsof all his stakeholders (customers, employees,investors) led to his prominence in the localbusiness community. He also invested time and effort innumerous charitable organizations, often serving in leadershiproles. All these pursuits helped to shape Bill’s approachto his work as a trustee as the Foundation grew and itsactivities evolved.Over the years, new trustees were appointed, includingRobert Reardon and Gordon Shepard, who, along with Bill,4 · ottobremer.org