Category: General

These (pink) feet were made for walking. Walking for a great cause! The Community Foundation team is cheering on participants of local virtual fundraising walks/runs or participating in them. This year’s re-imagined American Heart Association Heart Walk was Sept. 26-Oct. 3, raising funds for lifesaving science that can teach us all how to live longer […]

For 25 years, the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region has been helping women and girls to find the courage to better themselves. The local woman who was the subject of Thursday’s 20th Women’s Fund Luncheon – its first virtual version – was the epitome of courage. Author and Appleton native Johanna Garton was […]

The Community Foundation receives and manages cash donations to the Stock the Shelves drive for the Post-Crescent’s Community Stock the Shelves Fund. Stock the Shelves has raised and granted $2 million since the Community Foundation and The Post-Crescent started partnering on the appeal in the year 2000. By Patti Habeck Executive Vice President Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin […]

“I don’t want to be tens of thousands of dollars in debt,” says Alex Aschenbrener, a Gresham High School student, looking ahead to his future. Now he doesn’t have to be. Today we “dropped*” our second episode of Voices From the Valley: A Podcast of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, and you […]

In this episode we cover the resettlement of people from Afghanistan seeking refuge and starting a new life in our communities. It’s difficult for us to imagine the trauma these newcomers had to experience in their country, and they didn’t plan on being uprooted and evacuated to the U.S. Now, the first of many have come here, and more are coming.  Here’s […]

“This is a terrible disease. I had no idea,” says George Butz, who is his wife Martha’s caregiver. “Our husbands, they’re our protectors. That’s my role now. It gets overwhelming just trying to take care of everything,” says Deb Depies, who cares for her husband Mike. Both Mike and Martha have dementia, and need care […]

An increasing number of families in our area are in a desperate search for an affordable, safe home to buy or rent, or for a way to prevent eviction from their current home. An estimated one of every three households in our region struggles to afford basic needs like shelter, food, technology, transportation and health care. Even when residents have an […]

Did you know that engaging children in arts activities can teach team-building skills and provide a positive and constructive outlet and build their self-confidence? Here at the Community Foundation, we are dedicated to supporting art activities that bring our communities together and provide creative opportunities for people of all ages. Research shows arts-rich communities stimulate […]

In this episode, we’re talking about including and empowering our neighbors and family members with differing abilities and exploring the power of inclusion in our communities through Special Olympics. Our guests today include parents, coaches, volunteers, and of course the incredible athletes who inspire us all with their determination, courage, and sportsmanship. These game-changers are flourishing […]

The growing need for emotional support is urgent, especially during the past two years. In this episode we’re going to talk about a program in the Fox Valley called e-CPR, and, like CPR, it can be a lifesaver. E-CPR is a community education workshop that teaches people how to support another person experiencing an emotional […]

There’s a shortage of more than 119,000 rental housing units in Wisconsin, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. It says that a typical Wisconsin household needs to make a combined annual income of almost $36 thousand dollars to afford a two-bedroom rental home. The Appleton Housing Authority’s programs are making a positive impact […]

It’s estimated that there are over 85,000 people in the tri-county area of Northeast Wisconsin who cannot afford even limited oral health care. And according to the Dental Association, about a third of all children in the state of Wisconsin have untreated tooth decay. The dental community wanted to do something about that. For the […]