Lillian Brand’s nephew, William Brand Boeshaar, passed away at a young age while he was studying art at St. Ambrose University. Lillian never had a family of her own, so she chose to leave her estate in honor of William. Her nephew’s love of art led to a perpetual gift for young artists in the Quad City area.

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 who preceded her in death. These scholarships are: the Lillian L. Brand Scholarship, the Isabelle M. Brand Scholarship, the Lucille Brand Boeshaar Scholarship, and the William Brand Boeshaar Scholarship.

A grant from the Brand-Boeshaar Foundation made possible the 2005 Street Heat Program through the Family Museum in Bettendorf. This project involved the creation of an ‘Urban Tree,’ planted in green space 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.

Lillian Brand’s love for her nephew and for her community will continue to make the Quad Cities area a more beautiful place to live.