President & CEO of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Receives Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Distinguished Service Award

For 25 years, Curt Detjen, President & CEO of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region has led with a deep commitment to strengthen the place many of us call home. Under his leadership, the Community Foundation has grown into a nearly $700 million community resource that connects donors, nonprofits, and community partners with shared aspirations to create lasting impact.

Known for his ability to listen, convene, and inspire collaboration, Curt has helped shape a culture of philanthropy that defines the Fox Valley. The 2025 Distinguished Service Award recognizes and celebrates his leadership and dedication to the enduring partnerships that continue to strengthen and uplift our entire community.

Curt’s influence on the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center began during his time with the City of Appleton. He played a role in bringing the vision of a world-class performing arts center to life. Since then, he has continued to champion the arts, support community connection, and ensure access to enriching experiences for generations to come according to the leadership of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

“I appreciate being thought of for this Distinguished Service Award, and I accept it as a servant for this community that we all love, and that I have had the opportunities to work with so many wonderful people to build and grow,” shared Curt during his acceptance speech.

Curt’s relationship with the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center began in 1995 when he was leading community and economic development for the City of Appleton. Not quite 30 years old, he was given the assignment to review Aid Association for Lutheran’s (AAL’s) proposed gift of the former Zwicker block versus the City of Appleton’s comprehensive plan calling for a College Avenue location for an exhibition and/or performing arts development. Curt and team concluded the College Avenue site was preferred, and feasibility planning commenced.

Within a couple of years’ time, the table in Curt’s office was filled with meeting notes and feasibility studies, community meeting materials, City Council and ARA progress updates. All this work was promising but not yet enough for a project to commence.

Enter Walt Rugland. Walt had recently returned to Appleton to join AAL and willingly joined the planning committee. “Walt was an actuary and amazing visionary. He convinced AAL to honor its 100th anniversary with a lead gift to launch the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center effort,” shared Curt. “I remember that meeting at AAL with then CEO, John Gilbert. We got the commitment, along with the requirement that it be successful and open by November 24, 2002 – AAL’s 100^th anniversary date. That was summer of 1999, and we needed to get going fast!”

John Bergstrom was recruited to lead the project and quickly assembled his team, and soon the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center campaign was launched. Storefront businesses were relocated to make room for the new center; an architect was hired along with the Boldt team to complete the build, and Grand Chute hotels supported a room tax increase for the project. “It was a tremendous undertaking, and so many were called upon to make this a priority because the community needed them,” said Curt.

During this planning process, Curt was introduced to the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. Two donors, years earlier, had left a million dollars apiece that was being stewarded by the Community Foundation to be used for building a performing arts center if that should ever come to be, and these gifts created urgency and inspired confidence that kept the project going during the planning stages. This prompted Curt to want to learn more about stewarding gifts, helping people leave their legacy, and the ways the young Community Foundation was building a strong foundation for philanthropy in the Fox Valley region. These interactions with the Community Foundation led him to join the team 25 years ago, and he continues to be inspired by the generosity of our community.

“So many wonderful donors channeled donations through their charitable funds in the Community Foundation and still do,” said Curt. “Through the Keystone Campaign, we have numerous written instructions from fundholders to direct gifts after their lifetimes to support the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.”

O.C. Boldt once mentioned to Curt that a community needs to keep itself fresh with new ideas, be open to various points of view, and invite the innovators and stories from outside the community to challenge your thinking inspiring us to be better and do better. This is something that has always stuck with Curt as he applies it to the mission of the Community Foundation. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center has also been doing this for years. “I am so proud of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and feel great pride every time I step foot in the Center,” said Curt.

Continuing to be inspired by O.C. Boldt’s wise words, Curt shared, “I want you to come talk with me and my colleagues at the Community Foundation. As leaders and collaborators in our community who deeply understand community needs, we will be sure your dreams and aspirations have a home and will happen. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is proof of this. As the Community Foundation celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, thank you for the privilege of being your trusted community partner.” Together, we flourish.