Category: Donors’ Stories of Giving

During this week designated to celebrating philanthropy, the Fox Valley is saying good-bye to one of its most remarkable philanthropists. Doug Salmon and his wife, Carla, have invested heavily in scholarships for students with financial need — particularly single parents, first-generation college students and others with significant barriers to completing their education. Their Doug and Carla […]

Larry Sawyer and Debra McDowall have high hopes that the Fox Valley remains strong and vibrant, especially for the next generation. “We do feel we owe our community a debt of gratitude, as it has been so kind to us,” says Larry, who married Debra 40 years ago. The retirees live in Grand Chute and […]

Anyone driving past the odd point of land on Quinney Street in Kaukauna saw a rundown park with a malfunctioning water feature. But a group of high school students saw an opportunity for a fun school project that would make a difference for the community. Kaukauna High School social studies teacher Tim Roehrig challenged his […]

Fox Valley Memory Project’s On a Positive Note chorus entertained an audience of nearly 200 for their spring concert finale on Sunday, March 31., thanks to a $2,000 grant from the Tom and Jean Orbison Charitable Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. By Jill H Grambow, Executive Director of Fox Valley […]

A $100,000 grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation will soon result in a new exhibit to help visitors understand and appreciate our Wisconsin maritime heritage. By Kevin Osgood, Executive Director, Door County Maritime Museum & Preservation Society The Door County Maritime Museum is expanding our Sturgeon […]

This week we celebrated with our friends at Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs on their ribbon cutting for their expanded 68-bed facility in Appleton. The shelter had outgrown its space and, in 13 months, Harbor House reached its “Building Hope” Capital Campaign goal of $4 million. The expansion included a significant increase in the number […]

When Greta Hammond took a charitable interest in the Hearthstone house it was largely familiarity. Greta grew up on River Drive in Appleton and went past the historic house on Prospect Avenue and Memorial Drive — the world’s first home powered by a central hydroelectric plant — at least twice a day. “I’ve always had a […]

Linda Blohowiak shares why she created the Henn Family Fund within the Shawano Area Community Foundation. What inspired you to give back to your community? I inherited money from my parents. My parents were very generous people and I wanted to honor them by using some of the funds to give back to the community […]

The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region recently hosted its annual Himebaugh Legacy Circle appreciation at The Hillside at Plamann Park in Appleton. This giving circle was created in 2007 and now has more than 340 members who carry on their legacy of giving by planning a future gift to the Community Foundation. During the event, Curt Detjen, President & CEO of […]

The Kudaka Family Hispanic Scholarship Fund was established in 2012 at the Community Foundation to support Casa Hispana’s Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to Hispanic/ Latino students in our communities pursuing a post-secondary education.    Originally established by UMOS (United Migrant Opportunity Services), and now a core program of Casa Hispana, this quiet scholarship program […]

By Ann Engelhard, Vice President, Donor Services & Gift Planning, Community Foundation The Thompson Center on Lourdes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mental, physical and emotional well being of older adults in the community.  Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a breakfast at the center highlighting its growth and programming. The center […]

The Fox Valley has lost a generation, its greatest generation. Not five months after the passing of construction giant O.C. Boldt, we lose Dr. John Mielke, a retired cardiologist who gave us his heart. Dr. Mielke died Wednesday morning. He once said he didn’t believe people should retire, but rather retire into something. The list […]