Reg Wydeven is an attorney at McCarty Law in Appleton. He is a member of the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.

By Reg Wydeven, Community Foundation Board Member 

Community Foundation service area map

The Community Foundation continues to make our community a better place. From my first interactions with the Community Foundation when working with my estate planning clients to now being a Board member, I am continuously and pleasantly surprised at the generosity of our community, particularly during difficult and uncertain times, such as the pandemic.

The Fox Cities is a region made up of multiple municipalities. One thing the Community Foundation excels at is not only supporting different municipalities and nonprofits, but also bridging those municipalities together into a greater community.

Nelson Crossing

The best example I can think of is the Nelson Family Crossing, which is a bicycle and pedestrian walkway that crosses the Fox River between Kaukauna and Little Chute — literally bridging the two communities.

A big part of the funding for this project came from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund at the Community Foundation. I doubt that walkway would have come together without the support from the Nelson Family Fund.

I have seen through my work with my clients how Community Foundation staff strive to make sure their donors’ needs are met. Does someone want to support a certain cause or specific charity? The Community Foundation makes that happen.

If a client wants to help multiple organizations, the Community Foundation can streamline that process. The Community Foundation makes charitable giving easy — whether it’s a one-time gift or establishing a fund to benefit a charity in perpetuity.

I’d advise anyone looking to make a lasting difference to sit down with one of the Community Foundation’s helpful and passionate staff members to see how they can ensure your gift has a greater and longer-lasting impact.