Benefit concert in NR a delight

Genuine delight.

The Blue Ringers concert and dance sponsored by the Finly’s Wings philanthropic organization  the evening of Saturday, July 29, was a welcome evening of fellowship and fun for Joanie Olson and her daughters, all of whom came. Along with them were a few friends and about 15 members of the Olsons’ extended family.

“It made me feel truly good to see my daughters enjoying the music, dancing with their cousins and friends, and mingling with the crowd,” recalls Olson. An estimated 250 people or more gathered for the event which went from 8 p.m. to midnight. Finly’s Wings covered the cost of booking the band; everyone attending was invited to make a donation  to be given to the Olson family.

Olson is a member of the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton school board, lifelong Janesville area resident, and Spanish Language Arts teacher for 20 years at NRHEG. Late this past spring, Lyncon, her husband of more than 21 years, died suddenly of a heart attack at age 49. She and her five daughters, Emily, 20; Faith, 18; Alison, 17; Katelyn, 15; and Mallory, 10, not only had to face that immeasurable loss, but the task of planning, preparing for, and attending an unexpected–unanticipated–funeral. 

The Finly’s Wings organization arranges a concert most summers, making all arrangements and paying for all costs. A person or family is selected to receive the free will admission money paid by those who attend. 

For Olson herself, a highlight was touching base with many of her former students who came to support her: With about 50 new students each year over the 20 years of her career at NRHEG, Olson has touched the lives of at least 1,000 NRHEG youth.

“It was heartwarming to see them and find out where their lives have taken them,” recalled Olson. “I loved hearing their stories and having them describe their memories from Spanish class.”

A surprise for the evening was a gift from New Richland resident Brenda Kampen, who had acquired a large print of a painting by well-known Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Kahlo achieved fame in the 1940s and ‘50s for her stylized self portraits. Kampen presented the print with the intent that it could be displayed in the NRHEG Spanish language classroom.

Olson expresses her thanks to everyone who attended the evening’s event, and to the Finly’s Wings organization. “They do so much for the NRHEG community,” she says. “A person just can’t say enough about the caring spirit, the kind hearts and the generosity that motivate them to keep making our community a better place.

“My family and I are truly grateful and humbled to have been chosen as the beneficiaries for this event.”