The Loop

We saw an incredible year for charitable giving in the Fox Valley region, as highlighted in our 2014 Report to the Community for the year ending June 30, 2014. Grants awarded: a record $15.9 million granted to nearly 900 nonprofits. Contributions: second-most in our 28-year history with more than $31 million given by 1,900 generous individuals, […]

This week I, along with several of my colleagues, had the opportunity to represent the Community Foundation at the Council on Foundations’ Fall Conference for Community Foundations in Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to learning about the current landscape of community philanthropy and hearing from dynamic speakers, we were also celebrating a birthday. Actually a big […]

This week I participated in a Latino Simulation during a Community Health Action Team (CHAT) meeting. CHAT is a group of community leaders from several sectors who come together regularly and conduct “plunges” about specific issues that arise in our community. From the in-depth learning come some specific action plans. The Latino Simulation arose from […]

It’s a story we’ve shared before. The seemingly typical neighbor next door who works hard, lives simply and then surprises everyone with a large gift to charity upon their death. The millionaires next door in this particular example were George and Gussie Balck of Combined Locks and Arthur and Mary Leske of Neenah. Gussie and […]

Community leaders have been working tirelessly in recent months to secure the financial gifts necessary to invest in a Boys and Girls Clubs in Menasha. Contributors to the multi-million-dollar project include businesses and people who care about the future of young people in our community. And then there’s Frank Shattuck. Frank, a prominent Neenah architect […]

The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region presented an issues forum on at-risk youth as part of its annual luncheon, featuring Rachel Lloyd, a leader in fighting commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of girls and co-producer of the ground-breaking Showtime documentary “Very Young Girls.” The facts regarding this issue in the Fox Valley are disturbing […]

For many years, the Community Foundation has partnered with United Way Fox Cities to offer an annual training workshop for nonprofits about things like board development, fundraising and strategic planning. This year we’re thrilled to welcome Schenck SC as a partner. I’m personally excited about the workshop focus: marketing! Space is still available at our Sept. 16 workshop […]

Since May, I’ve hosted 18 Community Conversations on behalf of your Community Foundation that have aired on the nonprofit radio station 91.1 The Avenue and appear on its website.

Can you believe it is back to school time already? For most students this is a very exciting and busy time of year.  For college-bound students this can also mean a bit of apprehension.  New surroundings, new friends, new teachers and classes, and a financial burden that comes along with their goal for an education […]

With Mile of Music kicking off tomorrow, I have to say I am getting pretty excited.  I have always loved all types of music. Playing percussion in band as well as leading as a drum major were passions of mine in high school, and I am not one to turn down a free concert on […]