Gift from Conrad Johnson Estate Benefits Rosecrance Endowment

Rosecrance received a generous donation from the trust of Rockford resident C. Conrad Johnson, who was recognized as the oldest living man in the U.S. at 110 years of age.

The $25,000 gift was placed into Rosecrance's endowment, which helps secure the organization's foundation into the future.

Johnson, one of 10 children, was born in Sweden in 1904. At age 19, he came to the U.S. and moved to Rockford after about a year of living in Chicago. He was a self-made man who started and ran a successful remodeling business. Johnson was an early house flipper. He would fix up the homes and then sell them.

Longtime friend LaVerne Larson, who managed Johnson's trust and had known Johnson since childhood, said Johnson made conservative, smart investments throughout his life and wanted the money he made to benefit organizations that work with children.

"He was a good-hearted soul," Larson said. "I tried many times to convince him to give his funds away while he was still alive, but he would always say, 'no, no, no."'

Johnson left money to several other area organizations, including the Swedish Historical Society of Rockford, Barbara Olson Center of Hope and The Salvation Army.

"Rosecrance is so honored to be included in the gifts that Mr. Johnson left to his community. I only wish we'd had the opportunity to thank him in person," said Anne Boccignone, Rosecrance's vice president of development. "We are so grateful to Mr. Johnson and others like him who remember us in their wills. The legacy of support that he shared with us will help ensure our ability to serve families."

Special Focus Turned to Growing Rosecrance Endowment

Rosecrance is truly blessed to receive strong support from the community year after year so it can continue providing necessary substance abuse and mental health treatment services to people who need them the most.

As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2016, Rosecrance wants to make sure those services are provided for many years to come. That's why we're making a concerted effort to grow our endowment, and directing gifts for that purpose can help.

Rosecrance's internal board policy directs that all bequests be put into the endowment. Our board members are committed to growing that fund to help secure Rosecrance's financial future.

An endowment provides an organization with security to weather any financial ups and downs," said Anne Boccignone, Rosecrance's vice president of development.

Any gift-not just bequests from wills and trusts-can be designated for the endowment. For instance, Rosecrance received four substantial gifts during the last fiscal year that all went into the endowment. Two gifts were from existing donors, and two gifts came to us from new donors.

Contact Sally Draper at 815-387-5608 or sdraper@rosecrance.org for more information about the endowment or details on how to help Rosecrance in its mission of providing help, hope and recovery to children, youth, adults and families.