New Ulm Area Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the formation of the Dr. James & Jane Seifert Fund. Based on their strong and lifelong commitment to New Ulm, Jim and Jane supported a wide variety of causes. Their children have decided to honor that tradition. They have chosen NUAF to help administer a $200,000 community endowment fund because of the broad focus of the Foundation’s four pillars: arts, education, economic development, and historic preservation. The Seifert family also valued the established granting processes, track record of success, and breadth of experience and expertise of the Foundation’s board of directors.
Dr. Jim Seifert practiced dentistry in New Ulm for 45 years. He loved the City of New Ulm and the value of public service, which led to decades of service as Mayor, a member of the City Council, Public Utilities Commission, and Police Commission. He, along with many others who had a similar vision, helped modernize and improve the City from 1960-1980. He was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, the Rotary Club, the Sertoma Club (recipient of the Service to Mankind award), a lifelong member of St. Mary’s parish, and a lay representative to the National Council of Catholic Bishops. Jim was a founding leader for the Fr. Alexander Berghold Memorial on 5th North St.
Jane graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Business Administration. She spent much of her life working for the betterment of New Ulm. In the early 50’s Jane started the “Good Buy” shop at the Loretto Hospital (now named the New Ulm Medical Center), which offered clothes for those in need. From there, Jane’s broad idea of community-led to her service on the boards of the New Ulm Library, the Oak Hills Living Center, Co-chair of the original Oak Hills Capital Campaign, Chair of the Regional Branch of the American Association of University Women, committee member on the State of Minnesota Region 9 Human Needs Board, member of the St. Mary’s Council of Catholic Women, and Vice President of the New Ulm Diocese Pastoral Center. For these and many other contributions Jane received the Sertoma Service to Mankind award.
About New Ulm Area Foundation, Inc.:
New Ulm Area Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation and community foundation supporting the quality of life within the geographic reach of ISD 88. The Mission of New Ulm Area Foundation is to address the needs of the community by growing the endowment funds and providing grants from the earnings of those funds. The Foundation focuses its grant funding in the areas of the arts, education, economic development, and historic preservation. The Foundation consists of four named funds: the Somsen Fund, Macklin Fund, Nuvera Fund, and now the Dr. James & Jane Seifert Fund. In addition, there are also scholarship funds (including the Charlotte Raymond Anderson Teaching Scholarship Fund), operations, and general endowment funds. Additional information about NUAF can be found at NewUlmAreaFoundation.org