Think for a moment about the last time you encountered someone experiencing homelessness. What did you feel? Did you ask yourself what the person experiencing homelessness might feel? During National Hunger and Homelessness Week, I hope we’ll take the answer to heart. Together, we can become a compassionate, creative Fox Cities that collectively solves homelessness. […]
On any given day there are an average of 350 people who are struggling with homelessness in the Fox Cities. We at the Community Foundation have been working with numerous nonprofit organizations in communities throughout the Fox Valley who are “boots on the ground” to help people who are experiencing homelessness, and they do this with the power of many […]
LEAVEN Fox Cities is among the latest local nonprofits to receive a grant from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, established by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities. In an incredible show of charity and selflessness during a time of challenges, hundreds of generous individuals, businesses and foundations have […]
Before the coronavirus pandemic, SAM 25, an emergency homeless shelter in Shawano County, purchased a “forever home,” a new location with double the space to meet their growing need. A capital campaign kicked off last year to fund the renovations, which were expected to be completed by November 2020. The Community Foundation for the Fox […]
Before Bob and Mary Karisny’s five grandchildren could start tearing apart their presents this past Christmas Day, they had some charitable business to attend to. This has been the routine at grandma and grandpa’s house for their two children, their spouses and the grandkids for the past 10 or so years. The Menasha couple’s Bob […]
The traveling version of the “(In)Visible: Homelessness in Appleton” exhibit from the History Museum at the Castle is getting around. Its most recent stop was at the Fox Valley Warming Shelter’s fifth annual Grateful Plateful fund-raiser at the Grand Meridian in Appleton Wednesday, Oct. 5th. The exhibit — an outgrowth of the Project RUSH survey […]
There’s nothing like a two-for-one deal to make you feel good about a shopping trip. Charitable giving has its own version of a two-for-one deal with challenge grants. For a challenge grant, a lead donor offers a given amount to support, but only if others contribute an equal amount. Contributors are motivated by knowing their […]
After Project RUSH sent 125 volunteers into the streets to interview 600 people who were homeless or on the verge, the Fox Cities Housing Coalition had their own story to tell. A grant from the Community Foundation’s Basic Needs Giving Partnership allowed them to tell it widely and well. A $10,000 grant made to the […]
A $272,142 grant from the Basic Needs Giving Partnership will help Riverview Gardens expand its ServiceWorks program to employ homeless people doing additional cleanup work in downtown Appleton beyond what city crews normally do. Working with Appleton Downtown Inc. and the City of Appleton, Riverview Gardens, a job training program and urban farm on a former Appleton […]
One of the best parts of my job is being able to connect our donors with a community need that matches their interests, values, beliefs and convictions. The Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley had changed its name to Homeless Connections and needed to use this time of rebranding to draw attention to the growing needs of […]
