April 27, 2023 – At their meeting this week, the Collinsville-Maryville-Caseyville Rotary presented a check for $5,000 to the Collinsville Area Community Foundation to support the William “Bill” Metzger Memorial Fund.
Bill was a former president of CMC Rotary who passed away last year after a lengthy illness. The memorial fund will be used to support scholarships and possible community grants.
William “Bill” Metzger
“Bill Metzger was a life-long member of CMC Rotary,” said CMC Rotary President Teresa May, “Bill spent his life volunteering and serving the community. When we lost him last year, we lost not only a friend, but a tremendous advocate for serving the community.”
The money was raised at a trivia night fundraiser held earlier this year for the purpose of honoring Bill’s life and community-centered endeavors. CMC Rotary plans to make it an annual event.
“The club knew we wanted to do something to memorialize Bill’s commitment to service in the community,” said May, “We decided to hold our first St. Patrick’s Day themed trivia – Bill’s birthday was on St. Patrick’s Day – to raise funds for the Collinsville Area Community Foundation for the Bill Metzger Scholarship fund, or a community project. We are so proud to present our first check of $5,000 to the CACF in Bill’s name.”
CACF President Kai Redmon and Bill Metzger were among the founding members of the Collinsville Education Scholarship Foundation at its inception in 2010. The two were part of the group who transitioned the scholarship program into the Collinsville Area Community Foundation in 2021. Metzger was dedicated to the foundation’s mission of supporting scholarships and community projects. He personally shouldered many tasks to ensure the newly expanded foundation and its 501(c)(3) were operational and immediately serving the needs of the Collinsville community.
“On behalf of the Collinsville Area Community Foundation, our deepest appreciation of CMC Rotary’s support in memory of Bill Metzger,” said Redmon, “Bill was so devoted to Rotary and it is wonderful to see how the CMC Rotarians are supporting scholarship opportunities in the Collinsville area, while keeping Bill’s memory and service to Collinsville at the forefront of this and future donations.
Bill was also a founding board member of CACF, and instrumental in supporting the community he lived-in and loved. Again, thank you, to CMC Rotary for their generous donation in Bill Metzger’s memory and on-going support of CACF.”
Bill’s mother, Lois Metzger, was on-hand to receive the donation in his honor. Mrs. Metzger and Bill’s children – Brett, Cole and Darcy – have created a scholarship that reflects his love of the Kahoks, support of academic excellence and community service. The scholarship is open to Collinsville High School students who will attend a four-year university. The Metzger family and CACF will announce the first recipient in early May 2023.
Support Local Scholarships & Community Projects
The William “Bill” Metzger Fund is supported through the Collinsville Area Community Foundation. CACF is a public charitable organization as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions and gifts are tax deductible. Donations and bequests are accepted from and disbursed to individuals, groups or businesses. To learn more and to make a donation to the scholarship fund, visit the foundation website.