Oshkosh Area Community Foundation

06/06/2026

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🏊🏼‍♀️ Today, June 6, is opening day at Po***ck Community Water Park. Thanks to the 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘗𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘈𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 within your Community Foundation for providing financial assistance to help families enjoy the water park all summer long.

City of Oshkosh - Park Services & Events

06/05/2026

🐻 Visit the Menominee Park Zoo on Wednesday, June 10, for a day full of free family fun and hands-on learning,!

National Black Bear Day Highlights:
• 10 a.m. – Wildlife Wednesday featuring animal ambassadors from the NEW Zoo
• 10 a.m.–1 p.m. – Face painting
• 11 a.m. + 1:30 p.m. – Black Bear Keeper Chats
• 11 a.m.–1 p.m. – “Bear-y Cool Bear Craft” with guest artist Deb Konen
• 12–1 p.m. – Story time with Oshkosh Public Library
• 12:30–1 p.m. – Make-your-own paw print keepsake

This free community event is funded in part through the 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘶𝘣𝘰𝘯 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 at your Community Foundation, helping expand access to educational experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and a deeper connection to wildlife and conservation.

Be sure to stop by the Zoo’s Black Bear Exhibit to say hi to Mr. Reeves! Part of the North Highlands Forest habitat area introduced in 2024, the exhibit was made possible through the generosity of Tom and Penny Harenburg. Through their fund at the Community Foundation, they also help keep Zoo admission free for everyone to enjoy.

Friends of the Oshkosh Zoo

06/04/2026

Three concerts. Three communities. One incredible day of free live music. 🎶🇺🇸

On June 8, V3NTO will bring free performances to Green Lake, Ripon, and Oshkosh — all in a single day. Audiences will experience a program as American as it gets, featuring Copland’s "Fanfare for the Common Man," "This Land Is Your Land," "If I Had a Hammer," and contemporary works that showcase the creativity and power of brass trio music.

It’s all part of the Green Lake Festival of Music’s 2026 season theme, “Connections,” celebrating the artistic partnerships, educational relationships, and community collaborations that have shaped the festival since 1979. V3NTO has performed with the festival before and has strong ties to this region.

Our sincere thanks to donors to the 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴 at your Community Foundation, whose generosity helps support free, high-quality arts experiences that bring people together across our communities.

📅 Monday, June 8 — Open to the public
• 10:00 am · Green Lake Caestecker Public Library
• 12:00 pm · Ripon American Legion
• 3:00 pm · Evergreen Retirement Community, Oshkosh

06/03/2026

The Oshkosh Experience (TOE)—a program of the Winnebago Area Literacy Council that combines English language learning with real-world community experiences—was on the move again This time with a visit to the Oshkosh Public Library! 📖🦁

The class included both seasoned library users and first-time visitors, and everyone enjoyed discovering the many resources, programs, and opportunities the library has to offer.

TOE helps older adults build practical English skills while gaining confidence and independence in everyday life. Participants practice vocabulary and conversation in the classroom, then apply those skills during outings throughout Oshkosh.

Programs like TOE help refugees, immigrants, and Adult Basic Education learners strengthen connections, navigate their community, and feel more at home in Oshkosh.

Thank you to the generous donors to the 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺: 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘖𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 at your Community Foundation for making this meaningful work possible. 💙

06/02/2026

Celebrating a well-deserved honor! 🎉

The City of Oshkosh - Park Services & Events recently recognized Tom and Penny Harenburg with a Community Partnership Award, a fitting tribute to their extraordinary generosity and lasting impact on our community.

For nearly 20 years, the 𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘨 𝘡𝘰𝘰 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 at your Community Foundation has helped make the Menominee Park Zoo one of Oshkosh’s most treasured community assets by ensuring free admission for all. Free access to the zoo was especially important to Tom, who grew up nearby and cherished childhood visits there. More than one million visitors have enjoyed this special place at no cost thanks to their generosity.

Their impact goes far beyond free admission. The Harenburgs have also helped bring beloved exhibits to life, including the otter, eagle, black bear, and fox exhibits. 🦅🦊

Congratulations, Tom and Penny, on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for helping create joyful memories for our community for generations to come! 💙

06/01/2026

Caring for the land means caring for our future.🌱 At Boerson Farm in Green Lake County, a dream of owning farmland became a reality—and today, that story is part of a much bigger movement.

Through partnerships, education, and shared learning, Foxhead Regenerative Agriculture Project is helping farmers protect soil, water, and working farmland for generations to come. 🚜💚

Because of support from donors like you, farmers have greater access to land, stronger support networks, and the tools to steward the land that sustains us all.

👇🏼 See comment below for link to the full story.

05/29/2026

Thrilled to see the Remarkable van in action! 🚐🌟

Remarkable, Inc.’s new wheelchair-accessible van is already helping open doors to greater connection, enrichment, and opportunity. Transportation can be a major barrier to community access, but thanks to generous support from the 𝘉𝘰𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 at your Community Foundation, more youth and adults will be able to participate fully in community life.

This much-needed vehicle will support Remarkable’s Day Service and Youth Service programs, making it easier for participants to explore farms, museums, zoos, parks, and nature preserves, and volunteer with local nonprofits.

Most importantly, this van helps remove a barrier to belonging, ensuring more individuals can participate, connect, and thrive alongside their peers. 💙

05/28/2026

Good nutrition does more than fill a plate. It helps older adults stay healthy, independent, and connected. 🍽️💚

Thanks to the generosity of donors to the 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘕𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥, Green Lake County Aging and Disability Resource Center received a grant to purchase food warmers, insulated delivery bags, hand trucks, and food packaging supplies to support its Home Delivered Meals Program—helping deliver meals safely to more than 100 homebound seniors across Green Lake County.

This important program provides more than nourishment. Meal deliveries also offer a friendly check-in and wellness connection for seniors who may otherwise face barriers to healthy food and social interaction.

To the donors who make grants like this possible, thank you for helping older adults in our community remain safe, healthy, and cared for. 💚

05/27/2026

3️⃣ days and counting until the CARRnival for Kids on Saturday, 5/30, at Father Carr's Place 2B. This free carnival, which runs from 10:00am - 4:00pm, is supported by your Community Foundation. 🎈

05/26/2026

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re grateful to share another powerful story from Catalpa Health —this time from a parent’s perspective. 💚

“A parent’s worst fear is when they don’t know what to do with their child. They recognize that their child is struggling, but they can’t be that person that their child needs.”

In this video, Laura shares insight, honesty, and encouragement for families navigating a child’s mental health journey. Her story is a reminder that asking for help is a sign of strength and that support can make a meaningful difference for both children and their families.

This video was made possible through the Digital Marketing Grant Program at your Community Foundation. Catalpa Health is one of nine nonprofits to date that have received professional consulting support through the program, which helps organizations strengthen their outreach and connect with the community through thoughtful, engaging digital content.

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