 The Rutger family owner of Rutgers Bay Lake Lodge in Deerwood have been an instrumental part in the community for many years donating time and money to charitable causes. Today the Brainer Lakes Area Community Foundation recognized the Rutgers for their incredible work with this year's Philanthropy Award given out at their yearly dinner. The Brainer Lakes Area Community Foundation works with many partners throughout the year making the selection process for the award sometimes difficult. We make the award to people once again who have been giving of either their time, talent or resources to the community so it doesn't always have to be money. One year we honored a businessman who does a lot of pro bono work for nonprofits in our community and other times it's people who have been very generous and given a lot of money to you know charities and their university and things of that nature. The Rutger family most notably donated $75,000 to Rippleside Elementary in Akin and Crosby Elementary to support their libraries. Because of these donations the two schools now have some of the best reading programs in the state. Reading and literacy skills is something that has become a priority in the Rutger family. I had a great time in Rotary in our Brainerd Club and it just through that became a real priority. The Read Allowed program, Jim Trelease book, encouraging parents to read to their children when they're little and just all the statistics showing the literacy, what it what it does for people as they grow up. The Brainerd Lakes Area Foundation has helped give out close to five million dollars in grants during its 20 years of existence and the foundation says they're just getting started. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland news please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.