The Lower Columbia College Foundation has named The Wollenberg Foundation as the 2022-23 Benefactor of the Year. Benefactor honorees have a history of providing financial support to the foundation, and/or significant volunteer service to the college. Most notably, contributions from honorees have substantially impacted college programs, students, and the community.

“It is with great pleasure that we announce and honor The Wollenberg Foundation as this year’s Lower Columbia College Benefactor of the Year,” said Jenny Isaacson, LCC Foundation Board Chair. “Members of the Wollenberg family have been among the most influential business leaders and philanthropists in our community, dating all the way back to 1926 when Harry Wollenberg and Monroe Wertheimer co-founded Longview Fibre Co. The Wollenberg family continues to impact our community and our college through their generosity,”’ she added.

For over 30 years, The Wollenberg Foundation has supported LCC with gifts totaling nearly $950,000. The Wollenberg family is passionate about early childhood education and helped establish Lower Columbia College’s Head Start Program. In addition, they have supported the LCC Library and General Scholarship Fund, and made unrestricted gifts. Due to their generosity in supporting the LCC’s Rose Center for the Arts project, the Wollenberg Auditorium in the Rose Center was named in honor of the family.

Like the beginnings of Longview itself, the Wollenberg family is rooted in timber. Their storied history in the community began in 1926, when Harry L. Wollenberg was recruited by longtime friend Monroe Wertheimer to help establish the Longview Fibre Company.

Harry was the first of three generations to serve as the company’s CEO. Harry’s son, Richard P. (Dick) Wollenberg, was CEO from 1978-2001 and sadly passed in 2014 at the age of 98. His wife, Leone (Lee) Wollenberg, served on the LCC Foundation Board from 1981 to 1993, including service as president. She died in 2006. Their son, Rick Wollenberg, served as CEO from 2001 until 2007 when the company was sold. He and his wife, Barbara, are carrying the family’s community legacy forward today. It has inspired their generous giving. They credit Rick and David’s father and grandfather for passing on the value of community. The family’s foundation is headed by Rick, his brother David Wollenberg, and cousin Chris Wollenberg.

“The Wollenberg Foundation is a charitable foundation established by Harry Wollenberg in 1952. A majority of our funding is for education, including early childhood education such as the Head Start program which is essential for lifelong success,” shares Rick Wollenberg. “It is a real privilege to help support all generations of community members by providing educational opportunities for all,” he added.

“We appreciate this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary support of the Wollenberg family, and for their continued generosity in our community,” said LCC President Chris Bailey.