The Loop

Twenty-five years ago, Appleton’s strongest advocates for education conceived of a nonprofit that could take in private gifts and use them to support educators’ best ideas as a partner of the tax-supported school establishment, but independent in its decision-making. Recently I read through a list of the very first grants the Appleton Education Foundation (AEF) […]

Did you know that black women in our area are five times as likely to die in childbirth? That’s according to the state’s Department of Health Services. Factors that lead to these life-threatening disparities include the quality of health care, chronic conditions and structural racism and bias, according to the CDC. In Brown County, Black […]

“If you need this book, it is for you.” Author Carmen Maria Machado dedicates In the Dream House, her award-winning, innovative memoir of domestic abuse in a queer relationship, to anyone who needs it. At Diverse & Resilient Appleton, we hosted a pair of discussions where LGBTQ+ community members gathered to discuss the book, share education […]

The six children of John and Ann Gillen grew up watching their parents not only sharing their time and talents with the community, but also consistently sticking up for the underdog. “If it was a friend of ours who was in a tough spot, they were always willing to help,” says daughter Lisa Murphy. “If […]

Kathy and Richard Block have made education both a profession and a passion. Although they have since retired, they believe that continuous small steps in learning are the path to make a difference in the lives of others. They established the Small Steps Scholarship within the Clintonville Area Community Foundation to encourage individuals who would […]

Many of our donors are passionate about history and supporting museums and historical societies in their communities and beyond, and we manage the donors’ funds at the Community Foundation to help preserve these historical gems. You may want to visit a few and learn about our treasures of the past. You might be familiar with […]

The newest thing at the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park north of Suamico takes the long view. A canopy walk measuring nearly a third of a mile takes visitors as much as 22 feet above the zoo grounds on slat bridges right out of the Adventures of Tarzan. The zoo received help in achieving this […]

What makes Waupaca a special place to live, work and play? The answer can be found in its people, working together to bring this already thriving community to a whole new level of cultural attractiveness. In this episode, we hear from people making a big impact thanks to generous donors. Listen and subscribe to our […]

The Waupaca Area Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling a record $170,822 to 18 area nonprofit organizations from the Waupaca Area Community Foundation Fund to help enhance the quality of life in the greater Waupaca area. “We’re grateful for the continued support from members of the Waupaca area community since their generosity allows us to […]

The pandemic pushed Kimberly Public Library to get creative in our mission to serve the community. We had to look for new ways to gather and connect patrons in safe and accessible ways. In the fall of 2021 and with funding from a grant from the Bright Idea fund within the Community Foundation (now called […]