Cameroon Garden Dedication Event

Please join the Riverside International Friendship Gardens in dedicating our newest garden, the Cameroon Garden, on Thursday, October 10th at 1:30 PM at the Riverside International Friendship Gardens in Riverside Park. The Cameroon Garden is located on the west side of the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau in Riverside Park in Downtown La Crosse.

Date: Thursday, October 10th, 2019
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Cameroon Garden, Riverside International Friendship Gardens, Riverside Park
 
The public is welcome. Tours of the new garden will be provided following the ceremony.
 
The Cameroon Garden honors our Sister City Kumbo, Cameroon. The garden celebrates the rich cultural traditions of Cameroon and provides a gathering place where the “Three Rivers” meet. It features colors found in the Cameroon flag, and artwork specially designed and crafted to honor Cameroon's unique culture and history. It is designed to serve as a model for community and international service.
 
Guest speakers will include:
 
  • Attorney Chuck Hanson, President, Riverside International Friendship Gardens
  • Tim Kabat, Mayor, City of La Crosse
  • Tami Woods, President, Rotary Club of La Crosse
  • Sister Eileen McKenzie, President, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
  • A representative from Kumbo, Cameroon
The public is also warmly invited to an additional tour at the garden from 5:00 - 6:00 PM, followed by a celebration hosted by The La Crosse Friends of Cameroon at the Radisson Center (2nd and Jay Streets).  The celebration will include music, drumming, dancing and light refreshments.  
 
The new Cameroon garden was made possible thanks to generous donations from community members and area businesses; and through the efforts of area Rotary clubs who collaborated on this project in celebration of 100 years of Rotary in our region.
 
Donations for the new Cameroon Garden are appreciated and can be made online or by submitting a check to:
 
Rotary Works Foundation
Growing Hearts Across the World Fund
P.O. Box 1571
La Crosse, WI 54602-1571
 

All support is appreciated! Call 608-791-GROW (4769)  with questions. 

Check the Facebook page for updates. 
 

Growing Hearts Across the World

In celebration of 100 years of Rotary in our region, area Rotary clubs partnered with the International Friendship Gardens, the La Crosse Friends of Cameroon, the City of La Crosse, and others to develop a garden in honor of the Sister City relationship between La Crosse, Wisconsin and Kumbo, Cameroon. The effort is called “Growing Hearts Across the World.” The garden will be located in Riverside Park in La Crosse, adjacent to the International Friendship Gardens, in a prominent location where the Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse Rivers meet. The attractive garden design reflects the culture of Cameroon and is “visitor friendly” with ample seating in an overlook setting. 

The Growing Hearts Across the World campaign includes: 
 
  • Cameroon Garden: The creation of a new garden at Riverside International Friendship Gardens honoring Kumbo, Cameroon
  • Hearts to Schools:  90% of donations made to Hearts to Schools will fund books, iPads, and laptops for rural schools in Cameroon; while the remaining 10% will be used to fund maintenance for the Cameroon Garden. 

Artwork

The Cameroon Garden features a variety of works of art created specifically for the garden. Learn more about the artwork here.

FAQs

Why a Garden? 
As background to this project, it is important to note the following core values which have served as area Rotary clubs’ guiding principles since our inception 100 years ago: service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership. Our Clubs’ membership consists of a network of friends, neighbors, leaders and problem-solvers. Utilizing this network to come together to make positive, lasting change in our community is what Rotarians do. By adopting a project on the North End of Riverside Park, our club will focus on these core values. Lastly, this project will be inclusive of many organizations, thereby building community with the City of La Crosse. 

Why Cameroon? 
Years ago, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (“FSPA”) developed a relationship with the Republic of Cameroon. Cameroon is a coastal country in West Central Africa. Over the years, the relationship which began with the FSPA has grown into an officially recognized “Sister City” relationship with the city of Kumbo, Cameroon. Today, all of the countries with which La Crosse has a Sister City relationship are recognized in the Gardens, except for Cameroon. These include: Luoyang, China; Epinal, France; Friedberg, Germany; Dubna, Russia; Forde, Norway; and Bantry, Ireland. 
 
Where will the Cameroon Garden be Located? 
The Cameroon Garden is located on the west side of the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau in Riverside Park in Downtown La Crosse. 
 

Who will Care for the Garden Long-Term?
Maintenance will be undertaken as a joint effort by the International Friendship Gardens Committee and the La Crosse Parks Department.

Who is Leading the Project? 
The project was initiated and is being led by the Downtown Rotary Club of La Crosse in collaboration with the International Friendship Gardens Committee. Have questions or comments? Submit them below. 

What is Rotary? 
Rotary is an international service organization. Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to:

  • Promote peace
  • Fight disease
  • Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
  • Save mothers and children
  • Support education
  • Grow local economies

In 1919, The first La Crosse Area Rotary Club was founded in 1919 as the Rotary Club of La Crosse. Today, we have eight more area Rotary Clubs: La Crosse East, La Crosse Valley View, La Crosse After Hours, La Crescent, Caledonia, Onalaska, Onalaska Hilltoppers and Holmen, with more more than 520 members. In addition, the La Crosse area now has seven high school Interact Clubs (Central, Logan, Aquinas, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem and Caledonia) with more than 140 active members. These clubs all operate independently, with combined efforts through the Rotary Works Foundation, and all are committed to Service Above Self!

How Can I Help? 
If you would like to support the project, you can make a monetary or in-kind donation. All forms of support are welcomed and appreciated! 

Why Others are Supporting the Project 

I support Growing Hearts Across the World because making a public and meaningful connection with a country who does not have a big voice or presence shows that we care about all people here in La Crosse. It speaks to the very essence of Rotary in a way that many people will experience.  
-Eva Marie Restel
 
I support "Growing Hearts Across the World" because...it combines support for the arts, promotion of our community, education about our sister city in Cameroon, a celebration of 100 years of local Rotary service, and on-the-ground support for the children of Kumbo. 
-Catherine Kolkmeier
 
I gave to the Growing Hearts Across the World Campaign for two reasons. The first is because I love how it publically promotes the acceptance of cultural diversity in our community. And secondly, this project has local and international impact which perfectly aligns with Rotary and its causes.  
-Jodi Widuch
 
I support Growing Hearts Across the World because it tics so many boxes: contributing to the physical beauty of La Crosse while teaching about and honoring the culture of far away friends, working on a project that is collaborative—providing fellowship and unifying our area Rotary clubs, dramatically improving the education of Cameroon children….and showing anyone watching that many hands do, indeed, make light work.  
-Sue Durtsche
 
I support Growing Hearts Across the World as a tribute to Sister Mark.  Sister Mark was at our club meeting last year where she was presented with a Paul Harris award.  Her work at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Shisong, in Cameroon has made a huge difference in the dental care and procedures the people in her town and the surrounding area are able to receive. When I told her of the plan to add Cameroon to our international garden she was overjoyed at the prospect. Sister Mark is an inspiration to me and many other people whose lives she has touched.  
-Kathryn Sexauer
 

Naming Opportunities

Several naming opportunities are available for elements within the new Cameroon Garden. Once named, a plaque will be placed at the element to recognize the donor. Contributions from individuals and businesses are invited!
 
  • Benches facing the river: $5,000
  • Benches near the center pool: $3,000
  • Planting and flower beds at grade throughout the garden: $5,000; $2,500; $1,500
  • Bridge over rain garden connecting central garden with entry path: $5,000
  • Raised Berm with plantings and site for sculpture element: $5,000
  • Raised planting beds for vegetables and decorative plantings: $1,500; $1,000; $750
  • Rain gardens to filter rain water before flowing to the river: $3,500; $2,500; $2,000
  • Rain barrels with traditional Cameroonian decoration: $500
 
Sculpture Elements naming opportunties
 
  • Raffia palms at entrance to Cameroon Garden - yet to be determined
  • Mami Wata in pool at the center of the garden - $15,000
  • Fon sculpture inside entrance to Cameroon Garden - $12,000
  • Turtle, Lizard, and Soccar Ball in pool at the center of the garden - $1,500 each
  • Fireside Family Storytelling near the shore, overlooking the river - $25,000
  • Children dancing and drumming - $25,000
  • Entry arch with traditional Cameroonian carving - $25,000
  • Sense Pass King placed on raised berm - $12,000
  • Water Pool Structure  $10,000

Ways to Donate

By Check
Donations can be made to:
 
Rotary Works Foundation
Growing Hearts Across the World Fund
P.O. Box 1571
La Crosse, WI 54602-1571
 

All support is appreciated! Call 608-791-GROW (4769)  with questions. 

Community Partners

A big “thank you” to all of our community partners! Without you, this project would not be possible. 
  • La Crosse-area Rotary Clubs 
  • International Friendship Garden (La Crosse Sister Cities)  
  • La Crosse Friends of Cameroon  
  • The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration 
  • Mayor Kabat and the City of La Crosse
  • ISG 

Contact 

Questions, comments, or suggestions? Contact Chuck Hanson, Project Chair, at CEH@haleskemp.com or Lee Rasch, Fundraising Chair, at Leerasch42@gmail.com. Or, call 608-791-GROW (4769). 
 
 
Sponsors