University News
Scholarship Established for Milan Residents at Western Illinois University
December 21, 2015
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Western Illinois University will benefit from two long-time Milan (IL) residents who had a vision for the future and a passion for education.
Western will receive $25,000 in scholarship funds for Milan residents through gifts from the Grant W. Brissman and Virginia M. Brissman Foundation, a private foundation managed by the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend.
"I am grateful for the support from the Brissman Foundation through the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend," said Brad Bainter, executive officer of the Western Illinois University Foundation. "The wonderful vision Grant and Virginia Brissman had to help youth will assist in perpetuity those who wish to study and graduate from Western Illinois University."
The mission of the Brissman Foundation is to improve the quality of life in Milan by funding work to enhance youth development, foster community development, support cultural activities and invest in ways to relieve the suffering of underprivileged people.
"The Brissman family wanted to encourage people from Milan to get a good education and have the opportunity for education locally," said Kelly Thompson, director of programs at the Community Foundation. "They hoped people would be able to find well-paying, meaningful work to allow them to stay in the region and contribute to the community."
Grant Brissman was a graduate of Rock Island High School and the former Brown's Business College. He was a pioneer Milan business owner, starting Brissman's Auto Supply in 1948. The business served Milan and the surrounding communities for almost 30 years before he retired in 1978. He was also a founding director and shareholder of Blackhawk State Bank in Milan, where he served on the board of directors for many years.
Virginia Brissman worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Company for 40 years before retiring in 1977. They had been married for 60 years when Grant died at age 88 in 2004. Virginia died at the age of 94. The foundation was established through their estates and the Community Foundation provides administrative and grant-making services for the Brissman Foundation.
For more information about the Brissman Foundation scholarship at Western, contact WIU-Quad Cities Director of Development Paul Plagenz at (309) 762-3999 or PG-Plagenz@wiu.edu.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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