On Friday night, June 20, 2025, families, including parents, children, grandparents, and other relatives, gathered for an enjoyable evening at B.A.B.E.S., Inc.’s “Takin’ It Outside” event. Hosted at Appleton Memorial Park, this free, family-friendly gathering was sponsored by the Community Vision Fund, a fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

“The Community Foundation is proud to sponsor this event because we know how important it is for families to connect to resources, and to each other,” said Carolyn Desrosiers, Director of Community Engagement for the Community Foundation. “We value the upstream approach that B.A.B.E.S., Inc. uses.”

“Takin’ It Outside” is an outdoor event designed to support the emotional well-being of families. Attendees enjoyed a summer afternoon filled with engaging games and activities, along with delicious food provided by Osorio’s Latin Fusion, which created a family and budget-friendly menu specifically for the event. Participants also had the chance to learn about nonprofit resources and were entertained by Mischief & Magic, followed by a screening of the popular Disney movie “Encanto.”

“Takin’ It Outside is a great opportunity for families to enjoy one another. It’s family fun; parents engaging in positive play with their children… building great memories, and reducing stress (stressors),” said Pastor Mahnie William, Executive Director for B.A.B.E.S., Inc. “B.A.B.E.S. endeavors to prevent child abuse by strengthening the family. Takin’ It Outside in one building block in our service delivery model to support local families.”

B.A.B.E.S., Inc. offers a Child Abuse Prevention program that provides family-strengthening services for individuals up to the age of 27. All programs and services are provided at no cost. The organization believes that preventing child abuse requires community support and education for parents. To achieve this, B.A.B.E.S. provides safe, no-cost respite care, educational support, and counseling for young families.

To learn more about B.A.B.E.S., Inc. visit www.babeshelp.org.