Marilynn W. Taylor/Wohlt Cheese Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Awards $233,000 in Grants

The Marilynn W. Taylor/Wohlt Cheese Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region awarded $233,000 in grants in fall 2025. Benefitting the residents of New London, the Village of Fremont, and nearby townships, this endowment fund supports community needs and provides scholarships for students to attend Lawrence University, Marilynn’s alma mater.  

This year’s support included awards to the following projects:  

• New London Community Fund – $25,000 to help build the endowed fund that will enhance the quality of life in the New London community in perpetuity 

• Nurturing Little Seeds Family Resource Center – $10,000  

• New London Public Schools – $50,000 to support the Lincoln Elementary School Lincoln Lookout Playground project 

• American Legion Auxiliary (Fremont) – $20,000 for the American Legion Hall kitchen renovation/upgrade 

• Fremont-Wolf River Emergency Medical Service, Inc. – $7,000 for a radio upgrade  

• Friends of Mosquito Hill – $50,000 to support the Mosquito Hill Nature Center pond platform replacement project  

• The Salvation Army of Waupaca County – $5,000 for temporary shelter relief for individuals and families experiencing homelessness 

• Weyauwega Arts Organization, Inc – $6,000 to support the Brubeck Brothers Quartet Performance and Youth Band Workshop at the Gerold Opera House 

• Washington Center Community Cupboard – $10,000 to support the purchase of perishable foods 

• Wolf River Theatrical Troupe – $50,000 for their infrastructure project 

The Marilyn W. Taylor/Wohlt Cheese Fund is an endowment fund that will award grants forever to reflect Marilyn’s charitable interests. Marilynn spent most of her life in Fremont, Wisconsin where her parents, Edwin and Sarah Wohlt, founded the cheese company in 1941. She took over the business in 1999, successfully running it for 16 years as a hands-on owner. Upon Marilynn’s death in 2017, the business was left in the care of her estate representative and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. Proceeds from the sale of the business established the charitable fund that makes its impact on the community today.  

“As Marilynn considered her employees to be like family, it was a top priority to sell the business to someone who would keep it running and retain all employees,” said Megan Schuessler, Vice President of Donor Services & Gift Planning for the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. “As stewards of this gift our role was to not only honor Marilynn’s wishes but to take special care to ensure her gift would benefit the community and causes she cared about most for many, many years to come.”  

If you would like to learn more about ways to leave your legacy, visit https://cffoxvalley.org/ways-to-give/ or reach out to Michelle Lippart Hardwick, Director of Gift Planning at 920.702.7622 or email mlippart@cffoxvalley.org.