Sixteen nonprofit groups receive funding

The Waupaca Area Community Foundation awarded more than $80,000 in grants to 16 nonprofit organizations at its annual Celebration of Giving Sept. 22 at the Waupaca Ale House.

The grants are awarded from the WACF’s Waupaca Area Community Fund, which is supported by proceeds from its annual gala and other contributions. Grants were awarded to:

American Red Cross-Greater Waupaca Area, $7,500 for disaster services for Waupaca communities including preparedness, response and recovery for fire and disasters.

Auxiliary of Riverside Medical Center, $1,400 for concussion testing kits for student athletes in the Waupaca and Weyauwega-Fremont school districts.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox Valley Region, $5,000 to match 30 at-risk youth with positive adult role models to meet at least one hour a week throughout the community.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox Valley Region, $5,000 to match 20 at-risk youth with positive adult role models who will meet weekly at the Waupaca Recreation Center.

The Bread Basket, $2,000 for taxi rides for individuals to participate in the weekly meal program.

CAP Services-Stevens Point, $5,000 for supplies for the Fresh Start program, providing at-risk 16- to 24-year-olds the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency diploma while learning construction skills for future careers. The focus this year is environmental education through the development of an Eco-Park at Eastgate Subdivision, helping participants learn skills important to future job growth.

CAP Services-Stevens Point, $5,000 for Ministry Dental Center, which provides dental care and education for Waupaca families living in poverty.

Financial Information Service Center (FISC), $4,000 to provide parent and child financial education workshops for families in the Waupaca area.

Fox Valley Literacy Council Inc., $4,000 for adult literacy services in Waupaca, where the demand for services has increased from 15 to 27 clients over the past year.

Golden Sands RC&D Council Inc., $4,000 to increase forester education to small parcel land owners and create five to nine new forest and wildlife plans in Waupaca County over the next three years.

Opera for the Young Inc., $1,500 for performances of “The Magic Flute” in two Waupaca-area schools.

Project Backpack, $5,000 to expand a program that buys backpacks and storage totes and fills them with nutritious food and snacks to send home on Fridays with students in need.

Tomorrow’s Children, $7,500 to purchase 30 tablet computers for students at the charter school for 5- to 17-year-old emotionally traumatized children in a 24-hour secured home-like setting.

University of Wisconsin Extension – Waupaca County, $6,000 to provide education and access to locally grown healthy food to 600+ third-graders in seven school districts.

Waupaca Area Food Pantry, $4,575 to replace the front doors to the food pantry to be more accessible to clients with wheelchairs or walkers.

Waupaca Community Arts Board, $5,000 for the Bach Festival, Oct. 1-5.

Waupaca County Healthy Beginnings, $2,000 to provide supplies and incentives to a monthly parents-as-teachers model program for high-risk families. The program provides education, socialization, parent-child activities and a meal for families in a group setting.

Waupaca County Healthy Beginnings, $3,000 for home visits by certified parent educators to at-risk families.

Weyauwega Arts Organization, $3,000 to produce original music revue depicting local historical stories of the Gerald Opera House, engaging students from Weyauwega-Fremont and Waupaca school districts. The performances will honor the 100th anniversary of the opera house, Oct. 29-31.

The WACF also welcomed new board members Tim Neuville, Caroyl Hart and Steven Johnson, and honored retiring board members Christine Faulks, Archie Overby, Jack Rhodes and Steve Shambeau.