WAUSAU — John and Patty Noel, co-founders of Wisconsin based Compass Properties, on Tuesday afternoon donated $20,000 to Wausau area Boys & Girls Club to help continue the organization’s efforts to provide healthy, nutritious snacks and meals to the 2.500 area youth in its four Wausau area locations.

“We want to thank the Noels and Compass Properties for their continued support of the Club, “ said Brian Stezenski-Williams, Executive Director.  “Their generous donation will help us provide nearly 10,000 meals to kids who may otherwise go hungry. “

“Nearly 50 percent of students in Wausau come from families eligible for free/reduced lunches and that number continues to rise,”  Stezenski-Williams said.  “We started our food program in 2002 with after school snacks and lunch on non-school days and during the summer.  It soon became clear that the need was greater, so we expanded the program to include breakfast & dinner.”

According to Stezenski-Williams, the Club provides more than 50,000 free, healthy meals (breakfast, lunch, after-school snack, dinner) each year.   The Club also has a Healthy Lifestyles program that encourages members to help in the kitchen, learn about cooking and build the skills needed to lead a healthy lifestyle.

?Both John & Patty Noel were born in the Wausau area and attended Newman High School.  Their Compass Properties company is actively involved in the Wausau community, and their properties include Third Street Lifestyle Center and  CitySquare Office Center.  Mayor Rob Mielke attended the check presentation and personally thanked the Noel family for their contribution to the community.

John Noel also challenged other local businesses to step up and make a contribution.

“Giving back to our local communities has always been a key value for us and our company,” John Noel said.  “Here in Wausau,  we want to make sure the Club can continue to serve kids who need a little lift in their lives. The need has never been greater, and we encourage others to support this important program to make sure no kid has to go to bed hungry.”