Last Friday was a big day for us at the Community Foundation and for the Fox Valley. Several of our charitable funds made it possible for us to offer a dollar-for-dollar match up to $50,000 for the Salvation Army – Fox Cities’ Match Day December 1, and once again we exceeded that amount!  

YOU DID IT!  $52,118.14 RAISED!

Choua and Ryn, Jen and Katie, Megan S and Megan M, and David and Annette were among the many Community Foundation and community volunteers ringing at the 23 Red Kettle locations in the Fox Cities December 1.

It’s the largest match day of the Red Kettle campaign in the Fox Cities this year, and we warmly thank everyone who donated to the red kettles throughout the Fox Cities to help our communities flourish.

Kristal Knudtson, Director of Development & Marketing Communications said, “The partnership the Community Foundation and The Salvation Army Fox Cities is crucial for our largest fundraiser of the year! We want to thank the donors who work with the Community Foundation to be able to have the largest match day during the Red Kettle season and thank those donors who gave their resources to help meet this year’s match.”

Kristal Knudtson

A total of $52,118.14 was raised to meet needs, and was matched by Community Foundation donors an extra $50,000, bringing the total to $102,118.14! Knudtson says the donations will go for their all-year-round programs from January through December, not just in November and December. “And that puts a smile on our faces and in our hearts; most importantly a smile on our clients’ faces and in our clients’ hearts,” she says.

These red kettle donations will be used by the Salvation Army to provide year-round services such as its daily meal program, food pantry, transitional housing, and rent/utility assistance. The organization also provides toys, food baskets, and gifts to families in need at Christmas.

“We are happy to help so many people who want to leverage grant dollars from their charitable funds with the Community Foundation to provide this significant match amount at the red kettles,” said Curt Detjen, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “It’s one example of how the Foundation helps its donors share in a way that can inspire others to give and make a positive difference, too.”

A huge thanks to 13 generous donors with funds at the Community Foundation who committed to matching all donations raised that day up to $50,000:

Estelle Ray Reid Fund
DeKeyser Family Fund
Ellen J. and Warren E. Franzke Fund II
Fred & Theo Grupe Charitable Fund
Col. Harold L. & Esther Graef Hamilton Fund
Quentin Kuenzli Charitable Fund
Joseph and Phyllis Linder Family Fund
Mel W. and Dal C. Rausch Fund
George and Jessie Rushton Charitable Fund
Salmon Foundation Fund for Salvation Army of the Fox Cities
Winton A. and Ruth M. Schumaker Fund
Alexander and Lucille Rudolf Family Fund
Phyllis I. Wormwood Fund

Thank You!

There’s still time to make a huge impact by doubling your charitable gifts! We’ve collected all of the local nonprofits offering matching gift campaigns this month, and you can check out our Community Grants Opportunity tool and add your donations to the cumulative community totals.

Calumet County Salvation Army will hold its second Red Kettle Match in Brillion this Saturday, December 9 from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. at Tadych’s Marketplace Foods (formerly Econo Foods), thanks to The Robert & Patricia Endries Family Foundation, one of our supporting organizations, which will match up to $10,000 for donations