November 7, 2019 – West Bend, WI – Local philanthropist and former grocery and restaurant owner George Prescott has been elected to the inaugural class of the Wisconsin State Hall of Fame Boys and Girls Club.
Prescott, 72, said he’s busy these days with about a dozen grandkids was honored to receive the award. said
“Working with Jay and feeling the success that comes out of this entity is just beyond believe,” he said.
Dressed in blue jeans and a red sweater and sneakers Prescott was soft spoken and humbled by the award.
According to Jay Fisher, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club, there were 22 people nominated for the award and six were selected.
“The standards for the award were for people who served on different committees and boards and really stood out in the community,” he said.
The Boys and Girls Club is West Bend is 21 years old and has served about 60,000 kids.
“We’re so lucky and what makes it happen is connections,” said Prescott. “We call on the people to make it happen and they outperform.”
Prescott was inducted with others including former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, former Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and philanthropist Marty Stein.
“This award is so big it makes me feel little,” said Prescott. “We just did what we had to do to make this happen; I feel proud.”
The initial Hall of Fame Award was presented over the summer in Madison. Prescott was out of town at the time so Fisher said the Boys & Girls Club Board presented Prescott with the award in July.
“Obviously George has spent time here,” said Fisher. “He’s donated a lot of dollars, his name is on the building and he really helped get the Boys and Girls Club started with Sharon Ziegler and this wouldn’t be possible without George.”
Prescott is still part of the Board of trustees.
“He’s done more for the Boys and Girls Club in this community as anyone has in the state of Wisconsin,” said Fisher.
The Boys and Girls Club opening in West Bend in 1998. A gym was added in 2003 and an addition with an art room, kitchen and technology center was completed in 2016.
In 2001 when Prescott owned the Pick ‘n Save stores in West Bend a customer, Janice Weninger spent $1 on the Megabucks lottery and won part of the $20.3 million jackpot.
The store owners also received some money from the Wisconsin Lottery for selling the ticket. Prescott spread the wealth to his employees and even made a donation to the Boys & Girls Club.
Below is a story about George Prescott and the Boys & Girls Club in 2010
George Prescott presents lessons in Parkinson’s Around the Bend May 29, 2010 By Judy Steffes
George Prescott made a guest appearance at the Boys & Girls Club last Friday to give kids an education on Parkinson’s disease.
The children at the club hosted a nickel carnival and all proceeds were donated to a Parkinson’s charity in honor of Prescott.
The former owner and chief executive officer of Prescott Supermarkets, Inc. and current owner of Timmer’s Resort on Big Cedar Lake is a strong supporter of the local Boys & Girls Club.
Prescott spoke for about 15 minutes, talking about when he first received the diagnosis in 2001.
“My wife would bug me because my left arm had no control. I initially blamed it all on an old motorcycle accident but then the doctor told me I had Parkinson’s,” said Prescott.
Children at the Club, who ranged in age from 7 to 11, asked a variety of questions and Prescott’s answers were simple but direct. “I take 15 to 20 pills a day,” he said, “some supplements, others medication.”
Prescott talked about exercising and getting down on the ground with a foam roller. “It’s mostly on my left side and I’m right-handed, but I can tell it’s starting to affect my penmanship.”
Prescott spoke briefly about the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Few youngsters in the room were familiar with Fox. Prescott mentioned how Fox’s tremors were so bad his children would call him ‘shaky daddy.’
Other questions ranged from ‘does it hurt’ to ‘do you tilt?’ One little girl asked his name, to which Prescott responded confidently, “I’m George. George the grocer.”
Another asked how old he was. “I’m 62 and going to be 63 in September. How old are you and when is your birthday?” he asked the little girl.
Then about 80 hands went into the air; everybody wanted to tell Prescott their birthday.
A couple of final questions had students naming other people afflicted with Parkinson’s. One little boy said Hitler, another mentioned Johnny Cash and then proceeded to sing Cash’s “Cry Cry Cry” in about as deep of a baritone as a 7-year-old boy can muster.
Then a final question, “Are you rich?” said a little voice from the back of the room. Prescott played it cool and said he was wealthier than average and “yes I have a bit of money.”
After receiving dim stares he humbly said he was a millionaire. A boy in the back of the room shouted in wry fashion and with an innocence of youth, “Oh yeah, RIGHT!”
Prescott, who arrived without an entourage, earring or body art – some of the standards held by trendy, higher profile millionaires – took the comment in stride.
He then opened his wallet and donated a crisp $100 bill to the nickel carnival.
After the Q&A, club director Jay Fisher joked with Prescott.
“We start ‘em young here at the Boys & Girls Club, George – ‘How old are you and how much are you worth.’”
