February 11 is national Make a Friend Day! The Wild Women in the Kitchen Fund within the Community Foundation is an example of how people can become friends and create an even deeper impact in our communities. Above: Serving lunch at a Habitat for Humanity site.

Guest Loop Author: Beth Bax

Back in 1998, nine women started a monthly cooking club, Wild Women in the Kitchen, where we rotated preparing and serving luncheons for each other.

After 24 years we are still together & still celebrating our friendship with food and fun. In the past two decades not only have we produced three cookbooks (for our own use), but we have also become dear friends, confidants, cheerleaders, travel companions, party planners and so much more.

We’ve buried our parents, married our children, volunteered for causes close to our heart, and even had time to set up a fund at the Community Foundation.

Annually we gather to discuss what was important to us during the past year, then match our fund charitable donation to that local cause.

Past gifts have included support for new car seats for Vida Medical Clinic (formerly Mother & Unborn Baby Care), a new refrigerator for Riverview Gardens, as well as general support for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley, 5-Stones, Fox Valley Memory Project, and Be The Magic. Some of these were given in memory of friends or family members. It gives us great pride to be part of the Community Foundation!

The “Wild Women:”

Michele Asp                   Gayle Buth                    Becky Lindberg
Joan Baptist                   Pam Duffy                    Chris Richter
Beth Bax                         Ellen Kewley                Margi Voissem

Interested in exploring a family fund? We have a variety of flexible fund options. Check them out here.