Morton Downtown Beautification Fund in Memory of Witzig’s Store

Honoring a Legacy, Enhancing Our Community

The Morton Downtown Beautification Fund was established in 2015 by members of the Gene Witzig and Harold Witzig families to honor the memory of these two remarkable men and their family’s enduring contributions to Morton. For 84 years—from 1910 to 1994—Witzig’s Clothing Store was a downtown landmark and a fixture in the Morton business community.

The Witzig family had a deep passion for the vibrancy and appearance of downtown Morton—not just for their own storefront, but for the entire business district. This fund was created to continue that legacy by providing annual grants for projects that enhance the beauty of Morton’s downtown.

What This Fund Supports

Grants from this endowment help maintain and improve the downtown experience by funding projects such as:

  • Flower boxes and beds

  • Seasonal flowers and plants

  • Upkeep of flower containers

  • Public art installations

  • Wayfinding signage

  • Bike racks

  • Other approved beautification efforts within the area designated as “Downtown” by the Village of Morton.

These enhancements create a welcoming and attractive environment for residents and visitors alike—just as the Witzig family envisioned.

The Story Behind the Fund

Witzig’s Clothing Store was more than a business—it was a community institution built on hard work, family values, and pride in Morton. Established by the Witzig family in 1910, the store remained in business for more than eight decades, serving generations of Morton families.

Following the passing of Gene Witzig in October 2015 and his brother Harold Witzig in January 2016, the family established this fund to honor their memory and their shared commitment to making Morton’s downtown beautiful and vibrant.

Make a Gift to Continue Their Legacy

Your contribution to the Morton Downtown Beautification Fund will help keep our downtown a place of pride, charm, and community connection.

To make a tax-deductible donation to this endowment fund, you can:

  • Donate by check: Make it payable to Morton Community Foundation and mail it to 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL 61550. Please write “Witzig’s Downtown Beautification” on the memo line.

  • Make a tax-advantaged gift of stock…Visit our stock gifting page by clicking HERE.

  • Give online by clicking the button below.

Are you a Caterpillar Employee or Retiree?

The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to offer the year-round Matching Gifts Program to support their employees, U.S. retirees and board of directors in their contributions to worthy causes. Eligible Caterpillar participants may request an annual total maximum 1:1 match of $10,000 USD each calendar year to eligible charities to which contributions are tax deductible. The Morton Community Foundation is an eligible charity. So, if you are an eligible Caterpillar participant, you may submit any donations to this fund for an equivalent match, up to your total maximum of $10,000 per year. CLICK HERE to link to the Caterpillar Foundation’s Matching Gift website.