Diane Ballweg

Diane Ballweg is a native of the Madison area, having grown up in Waunakee, attended Edgewood High School, and graduated from both Edgewood College and the U.W. with degrees in education. Her life revolves around a variety of interests and commitments. She is proud of her family's steel construction business, Endres Manufacturing Company, that is moving into the fourth generation of management. Diane is the founder and president of the philanthropic arm, the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation. An active pilot, she initiated the Aviation Program at Edgewood High School in 2000 and teaches juniors and seniors to fly. As a musician, she now is active on several arts boards, including The Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin School of Music Advisors, and WYSO. And as a philanthropist, she serves on several development committees including the Edgewood College Board and the Wisconsin Historical Society Foundation Board and their Capital Campaign Board and Chairs the Porchlight Campaign Committee.

Traveling and meeting new people is one of her passions. Diane and her daughter, Kate, made a commitment to visit all seven continents together before Kate graduated from high school. A final trip to Antarctica achieved that goal. As a pilot, the two women accomplished a self-fly safari in Africa. Diane also led a delegation of women artists from the state of Wisconsin to our sister state Chiba, Japan on a goodwill mission representing Gov. Doyle to Gov. Domoto, and other cultural trips to Europe and Russia.

She is the recipient of the 2000 Dominican Award for Service to Humanity, the 2004 MCF Asset Builder Award, the 2005 Governor's Award in Support of the Arts, the 2005 AFP Philanthropist Award, and she was the cover story for the December 2006 Wisconsin Woman Magazine.

Diane believes in investing in the future. That includes worthy programs that will improve our communities, and in individuals who will become inspiring leaders. She has made donations to AFFW because it fulfills both of these goals: investing in worthwhile programs and good people. She is a proud member of their Executive Committee.