Lewiston, MN – What started as a ceremony to present Ron Wanek, Founder of Ashley Furniture and 1959 Alumnus of Lewiston Altura High School, the inaugural “Distinguished Alumni Award” ended with a transformational gift of $1 million dollars to the Crossings Center.
The Crossings Center, a non-profit youth, family and community event center in Lewiston, MN hosts a weekly Summer Concert Series every Wednesday night in conjunction with the Lewiston Area Farmers Market & Family Night Out.The event draws hundreds of people to the area for quality live music, wood-fired pizza, family activities and the farmers market. Wednesday’s event was the final concert of the season and was paired with a “Back-to-School” event hosted by the Lewiston Altura School District. More the 1,500 people came out to enjoy the evening and ended up sharing a very big surprise with the Crossings Center founders as the Wanek family and representatives from Ashley Furniture presented them a check for $1 Million Dollars from the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation, Inc. to be applied toward the current expansion and renovation project underway at the historic farmstead. The surprise presentation came after Ron was recognized as the first annual recipient of the “Distinguished Alumni Award” for the Lewiston Altura area.
Ron Wanek is the founder of Ashley Furniture. He and his wife Joyce and their family have grown Ashley Furniture into the #1 and largest furniture manufacturer and retailer in the world. Ron was born and raised on a farm located between Lewiston and Altura and graduated from then Lewiston High School in 1959. “A passion for making furniture and a driving work ethic and great courage make him a shining example for all of us,” stated Joel Hennessy, co-founder of the Crossings Center. “We believe that in order succeed now and in the future, we must look to the past, remember who we are as Americans, and learn from exceptional people that have risen to the top…Ron is certainly one of those people and that is why he was nominated and selected as our first “Distinguished Alumni Award” recipient.”
The Crossings Center is owned and operated by Christian Crossings, Inc. Founders, Joel Hennessy, Brian Prudoehl and Bill Lanik started the non-profit organization in 2004 as a music ministry focused on helping youth organizations in southeast Minnesota. In 2007, from proceeds of the music ministry, the organization purchased property in the heart of the city of Lewiston to be developed as a safe place for area youth to gather and learn. Over the years via mostly volunteer labor and donations, the property has developed into a unique “catalyst” for youth, families and rural America. The Crossings Center has risen from the ruins of an old abandoned farmstead into an active, engaging, 18 acre facility focused on overall community wellness. A historic dairy barn anchors the property which now features Lewiston’s Veterans Memorial Park, community gardens, a greenhouse, an orchard, vineyard and berry patches. A playground, activity areas and a sport court and emerging fitness/wellness center compliment expansive outdoor covered areas for gatherings of all sorts. The newest addition to the property is an 1894 brick one-room schoolhouse rescued from the bulldozer and relocated to the property to serve as the hub of a new area history center. A large beautifully landscaped area in front of the schoolhouse has been dedicated as a Memorial to Educators and Distinguished Alumni of the area. The Waneks were instrumental in making that project possible and have continued to increase their support of the organization leading up to today’s transformational gift.
For more information about the Crossings Center and how you can participate in the current “Generations!” Renovation and Expansion Campaign, Contact: Joel Hennessy, joelh@christiancrossings.org, 507.254.3948
Press release courtesy of Crossings Center
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