Evett J. Hartvig. WLF Executive Director
The Wisconsin Lions Foundation is beginning a new series highlighting members of the WLF staff. We’re proud to have such an amazing team working together to help others, and we’d love for you to get to know them, and their story.
First up in our series is Evett J. Hartvig, Wisconsin Lions Foundation Executive Director!
Tell us a little about yourself (hobbies, personal interests, who you are outside of work).
I am involved in Lions on a volunteer basis, as well as a full-time employee of the Wisconsin Lions Foundation (WLF). I enjoy being involved in the Lions Leadership Training Program and have facilitated many leadership workshops throughout the last 15 years. I have one granddaughter who is 12 years old, and my most favorite thing to do is spend time with her. I also enjoy playing bingo and in the summertime, I like to golf.
How long have you worked with Wisconsin Lions Foundation?
I started working at WLF on February 5, 1997, in a two-person office where I was the bookkeeper and secretary for the Executive Director.
How would you describe the Wisconsin Lions Foundation and what you do?
The Foundation is an organization made up of members who are Lions and Leos. Its sole purpose is to provide resources to individuals and Lion and Leo clubs to help their own communities through the five statewide projects…Lions Camp, Eyeglass Recycling, Vision Screening, Hearing and Diabetes Awareness. WLF’s mission is Reaching, Touching, and Improving Lives, and we at the Foundation do whatever we can to fulfill this mission.
How did you originally become involved with this organization?
I was contacted at my place of employment by the Executive Director at the time (February 1997), asking me if I would be interested in coming to work for the Foundation. His wife and I had a mutual friend who gave them my name as someone who might be interested because I live in Rosholt.
How did you find your way into your current role?
I basically worked my way up the ladder, along with some timely resignations.
What’s your favorite part about working with the Wisconsin Lions Foundation or your role?
I am so lucky to be working at such a beautiful location and doing something to help others that do not have the means or resources to help themselves.
What message do you have for someone interested in becoming a donor to Wisconsin Lions Foundation?
When making a donation to WLF, you have so many ways to make a difference…You can help give a disabled camper an awesome, one-week camping experience and memories that will last a lifetime; you can provide a person with a much-needed hearing aid; you can provide vision screening to a child so that a permanent loss of vision may be avoided; or, you can help provide resources for diabetes awareness that may help someone change their living habits and prevent the onset of the debilitating condition.
…For someone interested in becoming a volunteer/Lion?
Becoming a volunteer/Lion is one of the most gratifying things you can do. Taking part in any service projects Lions do, whether it’s locally, statewide, nationwide or worldwide, means you are doing something good for someone else.
In one word, describe the Wisconsin Lions Foundation and its Mission.
Awesome!
We hope you learned something about our Executive Director, Evett, and why the Wisconsin Lions Foundation and Lion’s missions are so important. We encourage you to reach out to Evett or any member of our WLF team if you are interested in learning more about what we do, and how to make your own impact!