Her nephew’s love of art led to a perpetual gift to young artists.

Lillian Brand’s nephew, William Brand Boeshaar, passed away at a young age, while he was studying art at St. Ambrose University. As Lillian never had a family of her own, she chose to leave her estate in honor of her nephew to a cause that would help future artists achieve their dreams.

Today, the Brand-Boeshaar Foundation supports art projects and annually grants four scholarships to support art education. Each scholarship is named after one of the members of Lillian’s family, with whom she resided and preceded her in death:

• The Lillian L. Brand Scholarship

• The Isabelle M. Brand Scholarship

• The Lucille Brand Boeshaar Scholarship

• The William Brand Boeshaar Scholarship

One of the art projects of the Brand-Boeshaar Foundation Fund served as the inspiration for the design of this publication.

A 2004 grant made possible the 2005 Street Heat Program through the Family Museum in Bettendorf.

The project involved the creation of an ‘Urban Tree,’ pictured at left, in new greenspace on Harrison Street in Hilltop Park in Davenport. Area students worked with local artists, welders, and engineers from the City of Davenport to erect a permanent piece of art.

Students gained hands-on experience working with skilled tradesmen, while being able to express their artistic creativity. Plus, they were paid for their time and efforts, which gave them true work experience.

Lillian Brand’s love for her nephew and her community will literally make the Quad-City Area more beautiful every year for a long time to come.

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