NEW LONDON, WI (WTAQ) – The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region was the recipient of an unexpected gift worth over $5 million dollars.
Wohlt Creamery LLC of New London, which is worth about $5.8 million dollars, has 60 employees, and plenty of cheese, would qualify as an “unexpected gift.”
“The cheese factory donation was very unusual for us,” explains Curt Detjen, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. “In fact, it’s the first time the Community Foundation has ever been named to receive an operating business.”
It all started with Marilynn Taylor of New London, who had owned the business since 1999. Her parents, Edwin and Sarah Wohlt, founded the cheese company in 1941 and she took over once her father became ill.
Taylor would run the company for 16 years until her passing on February 25, 2017 at the age of 71.
Upon her death, the company was given over to the Community Foundation.
“Marilynn Taylor donated her entire estate to the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Regions to establish a charitable endowment to support her community and her charitable interests,” says Detjen.
Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery purchased the cheese factory from the foundation last year and the deal was finalized in August.
All of the employees were retained by Ellsworth Creamery and Wohlt Cheese has been kept intact.
The money from that sale will go into the community as Taylor had desired.
Portions will go to scholarships for students of Lawrence University, her alma mater, while other various amounts will go to community needs in New London, Fremont and other nearby cities and towns.
“That was pretty typical of Marilynn to have everything taken care of, she always had her bases covered, but it is quite a pleasant surprise,” says New London Mayor Gary Henke.
New London’s city council will have the final say on what the money goes towards, but the mayor has some ideas himself.
“We’re looking at a new library, so it could be used for that project or expanded recreational programs,” he says.
July 2019 is when the first grants will be distributed.
