Community Emergency and Event Management Radios

City of Appleton Awarded a $4,027.50 Grant from the Community Vision Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region to Enhance Community Safety 

Mayor Jake Woodford

The City of Appleton received a $4,027.50 grant from the Community Vision Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region to purchase ten two-way radios to enhance public safety and provide a better communication experience at local community events. 

“The radios are loaned to Appleton area and Fox Cities nonprofit organizations to bolster their emergency response capabilities and improve coordination among volunteers, participants, and the wider community, ultimately fostering a safer environment for all,” said Jake Woodford, Mayor of Appleton. “This resource empowers these nonprofit organizations to conduct safer, smoother, and more secure public gatherings.”

Since deployment, the radios have been actively used to support multiple large-scale community events, including Soulful Holiday Village, Latino Fest, Celebrate Diversity Community Cookout, and the Building for Kids Children’s Day Parade. As a public safety resource, the radios have helped event organizers and volunteers provide improved communication, reduced confusion, and greater confidence during weather monitoring and event operations.  

Lindsay Fenlon

Conversations were also held with the Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Leadership Initiative to explore incorporating event safety planning into their Nonprofit Leadership curriculum.  

“Our Nonprofit Leadership Initiative delivers high-impact, mission-critical training that equips nonprofit organizations and their staff with key insights and actionable strategies. We are thrilled to partner with the City of Appleton to build awareness and strengthen organization readiness around safety within event planning,” said Lindsay Fenlon, Vice President of Community Engagement for the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. “This grant supports a shared community resource that maximizes safety, emergency planning, and belonging across Appleton and the Fox Cities.”

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The Community Vision Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region seeks to fulfill community needs and advance the well-being for all in Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca, and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties. The fund combines dollars from generous donors, which enables us to accomplish much more together than we could alone.  

Guided by our Community Foundation values, we aim to act as a trusted and supportive partner to our local charitable organizations using a process that is designed to be accessible and responsive to changing community needs. The Community Vision Fund provides grants in five focus areas (arts and culture; community and neighborhood development; environment; financial stability and well-being; and nonprofit effectiveness) involving staff and community volunteers from our Board of Directors in our decision-making. For more information, contact Lindsay Fenlon, Vice President of Community Engagement at 920.702.7640 or email lfenlon@cffoxvalley.org.