Hello! My name is Brenda LaTour and I recently joined the Community Foundation as a Donor Services Coordinator. I am responsible for streamlining and supporting the Community Foundation’s five geographic affiliate foundations in Brillion, Chilton, Clintonville, Shawano, and Waupaca.

I was born and raised in Kaukauna, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse with a Business Administration degree, and have made my home in Appleton. I have two amazing daughters – Jenna (19), an elementary education major at UW-Green Bay and Anna (16), a junior at Appleton East High School.

In September 2019, I married my husband, Steve, and was blessed with becoming the stepmom to his five wonderful children – Aaron (22), Ryan (20), Jacob (17), Nathan (16), and Madeline (14). I have a passion for detail and organization so being the “Chaos Coordinator” of our large, blended family has brought me great joy. In September 2021, our family suffered a tragic loss when Steve passed away as the result of car accident. Our lives will forever be missing the presence of a wonderful husband and an amazing father.

Outside of work, I enjoy attending our kids’ sporting events, cooking, baking, walking, reading, diamond painting, building jigsaw puzzles, family game night, campfires, and traveling the United States in search of wonderful bakeries and coffee shops in every town I visit.

I have spent most of my career working in wholesale food distribution, while becoming very familiar with the cooperative business model. Most recently, I held the position of marketing manager, offering me the opportunity to develop several years of experience with project coordination, database management, event planning, and communicating the cooperative’s brand to current and potential owners.

Witnessing the value and impact the Community Foundation and our neighboring affiliate foundations are making is very intriguing to me. I truly welcome being able to learn about, and be a part of, the goodness happening in our area because of the support of so many generous donors.

I have a passion for caring for others and a lot of love to give. So, as my daughters and stepchildren become more independent as young adults, I look forward to the opportunity to volunteer in the community and spread the love I have to offer with anyone who needs it. One of my favorite quotes is “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away.”

Witnessing the love our donors have for the community around us and the stewardship they commit to is something amazing to participate in!

What does a Community Foundation do? Glad you asked! Learn more here.