The Menasha Corporation in Neenah celebrates its 175th anniversary by donating $6 million to nonprofits. May 21, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A company with Fox Valley roots for 175 years is giving back to the community.
As part of its 175th anniversary, Menasha Corporation says it will grant $6 million to nonprofits in 2024, of which nearly $4 million will be donated to organizations in the Fox Valley.
During a ceremony Tuesday, Menasha Corporation President and CEO, Chris Drees, announced the Fox Valley grant recipients.
Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond and Neenah Mayor Jane Lang also proclaimed May 21 as ‘Menasha Corporation Day’ for both cities.
The local grant recipients are:
- Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services
- Elisha D. Smith Public Library
- Trout Museum of Art
- Jefferson Park in Menasha
The four grant recipients support causes that fall in areas where Menasha Corporation Foundation focuses its support: Safe & Healthy Citizens, An Educated Society, Community Betterment, and Environmental Sustainability.
Library director, Brian Kopetsky, says they will put the grant money toward its $8 million renovation project.
“We’re kind of floored, to be honest, we’re surprised that Menasha Corp. was as generous as they were and we are looking forward to what we’re going to be able to deliver to our community with this project,” Kopetsky said.
Menasha’s public library is named after Elisha D. Smith, founder of the Menasha Woodenware (now Menasha Corp.), who donated land and money to build it back in 1898.
“It’s one of those things that is really neat to see that we have someone who was one of the founders of our community, is carrying through to today and we’re honoring that memory, a lot of the things he believed in are things we built into the mission of the library so it just honors the memory and honors our community,” Kopetsky said.
The remaining donation dollars will be distributed across all of Menasha Corporation’s locations in the United States and includes $350,000 in honor of the company’s anniversary and approximately $2 million in typical annual donations.
Awarded Manufacturer of the Year in 2024 by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Menasha Corporation is the third oldest continuously operating company in Wisconsin, and the 76th oldest family business in America. Today, it employs more than 7,800 people in 108 facilities throughout North America and Europe. Headquartered in Neenah, Menasha Corporation employs more than 1,500 employees in 12 facilities throughout the state of Wisconsin.
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