Nelson Family Fund Awards over $2.5 Million in Grants to Northeast Wisconsin Organizations

David and Rita Nelson (Photo courtesy of the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund)

(WTAQ-WLUK) — Almost two dozen nonprofit organizations and local municipalities in Northeast Wisconsin have received a boost in funding.

On Tuesday, the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region — better known as the Nelson Family Fund — announced it awarded 22 grants, totaling more than $2.5 million.

Grant amounts ranged from $3,600 to $500,000.

The Nelson Family Fund was created seven years ago and has provided over $27 million in grants since its inception. Rita was a teacher and David served as the chief financial officer for the Post-Crescent in Appleton and the Green Bay Press-Gazette. He also invested in radio stations and other businesses.

As De Pere residents, the Nelsons made provisions during their lifetimes for a planned gift to benefit Northeast Wisconsin. After they died, the Nelsons left more than $100 million from their estate to create the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund. It was one of the largest charitable gifts in Wisconsin history.

Ann Engelhard, donor services manager for the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund at the Community Foundation, said in a news release.

It’s a privilege and responsibility to carry forward David and Rita’s wish to impact the region by supporting this year’s projects and experiences. Over the last seven years, the fund’s become a valued partner to the nonprofit agencies seeking to enhance the region’s quality of life. As we have seen with past grants, we are confident these organizations, projects, and programs will be transformational to the region.

This year’s grant recipients are as follows:

• Friends of High Cliff State Park – $500,000 for remediation and restoration of the Lime Kiln Trail.
• Friends of the Fox River Trail – $250,000 to support trail expansion and pavement upgrades.
• City of Kaukauna – $250,000 for the Grignon Mansion Community Park Project.
• City of Kaukauna – $240,000 to replace boardwalk and make other trail updates at 1000 Islands Environmental Center.
• City of Menasha – $200,000 to enhance Jefferson Park, designated for the Boat Launch.
• Thompson Center on Lourdes – $200,000 for their Celebrate Life Capital Campaign, which will secure and refurbish a long-term facility.
• Community Early Learning Center – $100,000 for technology and furnishing upgrades to conference rooms used for professional development training, presentations, and virtual meetings.
• First Five Fox Valley – $100,000 for their Fox Valley Family Resource Center.
• Fox Valley Literacy Council -$100,000 for a research initiative gauging literacy needs in the area.
• Appleton Historical Society – $100,000 to support the purchase and renovation of a historic building, providing space for public displays, exhibitions, community programs, and archives.
• Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve – $100,000 to support sustainable trail restoration and infrastructure.
• Divine Savior Holy Angel High School – $75,000 for the Rita E. Nelson Family Scholarship Fund.
• Brown County Historical Society – $51,000 to support restoration projects at the Hazelwood Historic House.
• United Way of the Fox Cities – $50,000 to support the launch of the Fox Valley Data Exchange.
• Mosaic Family Health – $50,000 to support the foundational work of building a Health Equity Hub.
• Appleton Community Music – $50,000 to support the Mile of Music Festival.
• Us 2 Behavioral Health – $50,000 to support the purchase and renovation of an office building in Appleton, allowing the organization to expand its services.
• Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation – $20,000 grant to increase the endowment for their David L. Nelson Scholarship Fund, supporting students pursuing a career in media.
• Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes – $20,000 for a land survey at the East Service Center in Appleton, allowing the organization to strategically plan their outdoor spaces, and for the purchase of outdoor education supplies.
• Patriot Racing Project – $20,000 for the restoration of the sailboat Stjanra, which will increase the organization’s capacity to engage veterans to participate in weekly sailing races throughout the Bay of Green Bay.
• SCORE Fox Cities – $10,000 to support BIZ Talk, a radio show dedicated to educating people about small businesses and nonprofits in the Fox Cities area.
• Green Bay Firefighters Historic Preservation Foundation – $3,600 for the purchase of two historic Green Bay firefighter helmets.