Swenson family establishes fund

The Curtis Swenson Family has established a $25,000 donor advisor fund administered by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.  The primary purpose of the fund is to benefit the New Richland Public Schools and Library.  Born on December 27, 1939, Curt Swenson began his schooling at the one-room schoolhouse nearest the family farm in New Richland.  As a distinguished student at New Richland High School, graduating in 1957, he earned a National Merit Scholarship and graduated from Macalester College with a degree in economics.  Curt believed that the quality of his education beginning in that one room schoolhouse through his high school years laid the foundation for his successful career.  As a gifted writer, his early years began in radio, television and news reporting for United Press International.  Later, he moved into corporate public relations in Minneapolis and New York.  In 1987, Curt founded his own public and investor relations consulting firm in Minneapolis.  Upon retirement, he sold the firm and moved to Sarasota, Florida where he volunteered in public schools helping children learn to read.  As a philanthropist, Curt's charitable giving included the performing arts, food banks, Head Start children's learning programs and Macalester College.  Curt Swenson died in May, 2021 at the age of 81.  He instructed his estate to make distributions to benefit education and specified that special consideration be given to the public schools of New Richland.  It is with pleasure and pride that Curt's family honors his intention with the donor advisor fund for local education.