An effort to create a permanent source of funding for community needs in New London has reached its first fundraising milestone of $200,000 contributed by 71 donors. For two years, Joe Van Alstine and Lori Dehlinger Van Alstine have been connecting with community leaders, businesses, organizations and individuals to raise awareness and support of their work to establish a New London Community Fund. “This is our hometown, and we want to give back to ensure a promising future,” Van Alstine said. “This marks a significant step towards fostering a stronger New London for generations to come.”

The couple has partnered with the Appleton-based nonprofit Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region to manage the New London Community Fund, a permanent endowment that will generate charitable grant dollars to benefit the community. The fund, which can be thought of like a community savings account, will be a lasting source of funding dedicated to supporting charitable organizations improving the lives of everyone in the New London area. A process will be developed for distributing grants from the fund to charitable organizations focused on community improvement.

Van Alstine said he was inspired by a story about the Community Foundation’s founder, Walter L. Rugland, who asked a farmer why he plowed a field under to lie fallow for a year. The farmer replied, “The land has been very good to us and, if we don’t give some of it back, it probably won’t keep helping us.”

Fundraising is ongoing to continue building the fund. Donations of any amount are welcome and are tax-deductible. To contribute, send a check made payable to New London Community Fund, 4455 W. Lawrence Street, Appleton, WI  54914 or give online at www.cffoxvalley.org/give-newlondon. If interested in giving securities, real estate, insurance, business interest or personal property, or to learn more about how to get involved, call 920-830-1290.

New London Community Fund reaches $200,000 thanks to support from:

• Scott & Nancy Bleck
• Jon Brown
• Cline & Hanson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
• Community First Credit Union
• Mike & Georgette Coppersmith
• Dale Gas and Oil
• Joe & Lori Dehlinger Van Alstine
• Sandy Dufrane
• Festival Foods
• First State Bank
• Fox Communities Credit Union
• Janet Frederick
• Mike & Katie Frederick
• Janet Gloede
• Dr. Steven & Sue Ann Goedderz
• Griebenow Eyecare
• Herrling Clark Law Firm Ltd.
• Chad & Julie Hoerth
• Bill & Debbie Krostue
• Marilynn W. Taylor / Wohlt Cheese Fund*
• Master Electrical Services, LLC
• Mathewson Monuments
• Bill Jr. & Dorothy Millard
• Jim A. Miller
• John & Judy Mimier
• Bob & Terri Murphy
• New London Lions Club
• Nicolet National Bank
• Doug & Tina Noel
• Patricia Osmuss
• Radtke-Rhone Insurance Agency, Inc.
• Riverside Tool & Carbide, Inc.
• Kent & Kathy Rusch
• Jeff & Kerstin Schlueter
• Schmidt Family Charitable Fund**
• Mark G. Schmitt
• Chris Schumacher ^1
• Shamrock Club of New Dublin
• Clint & Jean Skewes
• Roger & Sue Steingraber
• Susie L. Steingraber
• ThedaCare Medical Center New London ^2
• Thrivent Financial Badgerland Group
• Tri-County Overhead Door
• Betty A. Van Den Broek Fund*
• Graham & Barbara Werner
• John Westover
• Mark & Carol Wilfuer
• Eric Witczak
• Bob & Jane Witczak
• Wolf River Trips, Inc.
• Wolfrath’s Landscaping, LLC
• Brian Yerkey ^3

*a fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region

**a fund within the American Endowment Foundation

^In memory or honor of:

1. In memory of Pat Van Alstine

2. In honor of Scott Bleck’s 3-year term on board of directors

3. In memory of Barbara Yerkey

What does a Community Foundation do? Glad you asked! Learn more here.