Category: General

The late Former Wisconsin governor and U.S. senator, Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day. By David Horst environmental grant manager It’s Earth Day today, and it might surprise you to learn this celebration of nature and stewardship of the Earth is well into middle age. This is the 49th Earth Day. As Wisconsinites, we can […]

By David Horst, Environmental Grants Manager, Community Foundation I have to admit that when the full extent of human suffering COVID-19 would bring became apparent, the work I’ve been doing at the Community Foundation on promoting development of more multi-use trails seemed about to become insignificant, or maybe “nonessential” in the current vocabulary. The Community […]

The Fox Cities offer clean air, good water and plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors — if we choose to take advantage of them. The 2016 Fox Cities Leading Indicators for Excellence (LIFE) Study reports that from 2012-14 our air quality rated as good 72% of the time, moderate 27% and unhealthy just 1%. […]

Most Fox Cities residents can say truthfully that their children are above average. Graduation rates are higher here than the averages statewide, and are improving. Wisconsin ranks third nationally in graduations. Competencies in math, reading and science, also exceed state averages in the Fox Valley, all according to the 2016 Fox Cities Leading Indicators for […]

The Legend of the Lost Emerald, a PBS Wisconsin Education educational adventure video game, was created with the support of Fox Valley donors and won a gold medal at the 2022 International Serious Play Awards Program. The award honors outstanding commercial and student products, which incorporate game elements and were created for use in education […]

In May 2024, 18 nonprofit leaders embarked on a transformative twelve-month journey through our Leadership Institute. This year-long series of modules was designed to enhance their confidence and capabilities in critical areas such as leadership, management, technical skills, and governance. Covering topics from marketing and board governance to fundraising, finance, and ethics, this dedicated group […]

For over six decades, the Trout Museum of Art (TMA) has been a pillar in the visual arts, shaping cultural experiences and fostering creativity in the Fox Cities community. Now, as it begins a new journey, TMA is set to redefine its future with the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility and community space. TMA […]

Thanks to our generous donors, the Community Foundation is administering a 2024 scholarship program that will offer over $1.7 million in post-secondary scholarships for college students, nontraditional students, and graduating high school seniors from more than 70 high schools, in addition to scholarships for K-12 art/music lessons.   In 2023, our scholarship program awarded $1.4 million […]

On Wednesday, December 4 Fox Valley Technical College was alive with excitement and hope as 15 remarkable women graduated from the Starting Point Program, a cornerstone of the Women’s Fund’s work. This milestone marked not just the culmination of their journey through the program but also the beginning of new chapters in their lives, brimming […]

Encompass of Green Bay’s Child And Classroom Advocate Program received a $57,000 grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation. By Debbie Ashmann, director of fund development, Encompass Imagine living with trauma every day. This is a way of life for 40 percent of Encompass families. They have […]

BRILLION, Wis. – Robert and Patricia Endries of Brillion have turned business success into successful philanthropy. Their charitable foundation has awarded more than $8 million in its 30-year existence, $3 million of that since joining with Community Foundation in 2005. The Robert & Patricia Endries Family Foundation concentrates its giving on the needs of the […]

It’s good to share! Today we’re excited to highlight an episode from Appleton Engaged, a compelling podcast from the City of Appleton. Much like Voices from the Valley, which is dedicated to amplifying diverse voices within our communities, the Appleton Engaged podcast lifts up the individuals, organizations, and resources that contribute to making our community […]