Gerry and Don Oleson's recent announcement that they will foot the bill for the estimated $825,000 installation of artificial turf at Thirlby Field is a tremendous gift to the community at an economically shaky time. It underlines a faith in Traverse City today and in the future.
The project is the second phase of renovations to the football field. The Oleson Foundation previously gave $270,000, bringing the Oleson family's total support to the Regional Community Foundation's Fourth and Goal for Thirlby Field campaign to more than $1 million.
With the Olesons' donation, TCAPS will set up a reserve fund for future turf replacement. Artificial turf has an average life of eight to 12 years.
Plans for renovations to Thirlby Field have been years in the making through groups like Between the Fences and the Community Foundation's Fourth and Goal. Artificial turf finalizes field renovations, but money still is needed to pay off the previous phases.
Thirlby Field is home to Traverse City Central's Trojans, Traverse City West's Titans and St. Francis' Gladiators. Gerry and Don Oleson, who graduated from Traverse City Central High School in 1950 and 1951, played football there.
The Olesons -- family and foundation -- are longtime supporters of Traverse City and other area communities. Don's and Gerry's grandfather launched the family grocery business in 1926. Their father, the late Gerald Oleson Sr., opened his first supermarket on West Front Street during the Great Depression. He also started a barbecue fundraiser in 1955 for a then-fledgling Northwestern Michigan College that since has raised more than $1.5 million for campus projects. Oleson stores donate all of the food for the event. More than 10,000 people were served at this year's barbecue.
In 1962, Gerald Sr. and his wife, Frances, created the Oleson Foundation.
Today, the chain includes stores in Traverse City, Manistee, Charlevoix and Petoskey and also operates a 500-plus head buffalo ranch south of Traverse City that supplies the Oleson's stores and several Michigan restaurants.
Other Oleson Foundation grant recipients over the years include the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, City Opera House Heritage Association, Munson Healthcare, Inland Seas Association, Conservation Resource Alliance, Grand Traverse Heritage Center, Grand Traverse Pavilions, Michigan Special Olympics, TART trails, American Red Cross, Mt. Holiday, YMCA, Father Fred Foundation, United Way and Traverse Symphony -- to name just a few. The foundation's arm stretches out to surrounding counties as well
"We wanted to do this for Traverse City and for the area," Don Oleson said of the turf installation project. "Traverse City has been awful good to us, and still is."
The Olesons have been -- and continue -- to be very good to Traverse City and the Grand Traverse region.
Related Story: Brothers to pay for new turf at Thirlby
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