Community pride, Fox Cities spirit

Photo by Post-Crescent Media/Gannett Wisconsin Media

Wow. Has there ever been a week in the Fox Cities like the one we just experienced?

• August 14: Business and community partners, nearly 900 golfers and volunteers together raised $2.12 million during the U.S. Venture Open — one of the largest charity golf outings in the state — to invest in real poverty solutions that improve the lives of thousands of people in northeast Wisconsin. Partnership at its best.

• August 8-11: A wildly successful, first-time Mile of Music festival gave a huge economic boost to venues in downtown Appleton. Festival proceeds will go into two charitable funds in the Appleton Education Foundation to provide more music opportunities in Appleton public schools, and to provide seed money for projects that keep the downtown strong, vibrant and creative. Mile of Music came together in an incredibly short timeframe and I’m convinced that it couldn’t have happened in any other place but Appleton. Kudos to the entire planning team, sponsors, partners, business owners, musicians and volunteers. Passionate, caring, collaborative spirit at its best. 
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  Photo by Post-Crescent Media/Gannett Wisconsin Media

  August 7: Neighbors begin helping neighbors to clean up after tornadoes knocked out power to 50,000 homes and caused major damage throughout the area. A good friend of mine who works in the customer service area at We Energies said her coworkers thought the customers in the Fox Cities were the nicest, most understanding they’ve ever helped during this kind of damage. Waiting in line to watch Mile of Music shows (with that same good friend from We Energies) at Lawrence Memorial Chapel last Friday night, people waved, cheered and gave “thumbs up” to the steady stream of utility trucks driving by to deliver crews who worked diligently through the nights to restore power to thousands. Kindness and compassion at its best.      

I’m feeling incredibly proud to live here. How about you?

Tammy Williams is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications with the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. Email her at twilliams@cffoxvalley.org.

The Community Foundation is a U.S. Venture Open community partner and a venue and arts and culture education sponsor for Mile of Music.