Virginia Sims Bare Family Fund

This fund was established by Virginia S. Bare's husband and children to honor her memory and provide support to people suffering from pulmonary fibrosis.

Focus Area

• Primary Focus: Pulmonary fibrosis (especially Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - IPF)
• Supported Activities:

- Patient care
- Patient access to care
- Medical research
- Clinical trials
- Treatment and services
- Training of medical professionals
- Emphasis: Highly compassionate, highly expert care

Fund Establishment

Bare (husband) and children Joanna D. Bare, Suzanne E. Bare, Jonathan L. Bare, and Michael A. Bare, following Virginia S. Bare's death on April 17, 2019, due to pulmonary fibrosis exacerbated by acute cases of flu and pneumonia.

About Virginia S. Bare (1942-2019)

• Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas
• Parents: Dillon Odell Sims and Elizabeth Bowe Sims
• Education: Hot Springs High School; English major at Rhodes College (then Southwestern); Master's Degree in English from the University of Wisconsin
• Career: Briefly taught high school English; had a cable television interview show
• Passions: Family, reading, decorating, antiques, gardening, the arts
• Community Involvement:

- Past violinist and past president of the Board of Directors of the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra
- Regular decorator at Christmas in the Mansion and the Art of Tablesettings at the Rahr-West Art Museum
- President of the Museum's Association and Board member
- Manager of the Museum's Art Cart

• Traveled extensively and enjoyed historic places and natural splendor

Geographic Scope

No geographic restrictions mentioned; appears to support pulmonary fibrosis-related work broadly.