ECDC Wausau

10/20/2026

What a beautiful story of gratitude and giving back!

At ECDC Multicultural Community Center–Wisconsin, we are so proud of Pamela Pieterse and her family. Watching newcomers build their lives, find opportunities, reunite with loved ones, and become contributing members of our community is what makes our work so meaningful.

**Pamela, thank you for your generosity and for remembering the kindness you received when you first arrived.** Your willingness to give back, no matter the amount, is a wonderful reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a difference.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to **United Way of Marathon County** for the support and resources you provide to families as they begin their new lives in our community. Your Community Closet is a wonderful example of how community partnerships make a lasting impact.

This is what community is all about—helping one another and passing that kindness forward. ❤️

**Together, we are building a stronger, more welcoming community!**

South Africa refugee Pamela Pieterse and her husband arrived in Wausau in September 2025, with very few belongings.

They didn’t choose Wausau as their destination and had no idea where they would end up until about a week before leaving South Africa.

“We had complete faith we would end up in the absolute right place, and we did! We love it here!” Pamela said.

Pamela, now an Executive Assistant at Aspirus, was introduced to our Community Closet when first arriving and was able to get clothing for herself and her husband. She is now paying it back by donating to United Way.

“While my donation may be small, I wanted to give what I could as a way of giving back. Your work is especially meaningful to me on a personal level,” Pamela said.

BRR!
The couple didn’t realize how cold it would be, especially at night. The coldest it ever got in South Africa in the winter was 39 degrees.

“We were completely unprepared for the winter here! But thanks to United Way Community Closet, we were kept toasty warm and were able to enjoy the most beautiful winter of our lives,” she said.

REUNITED
Her son arrived in Wausau this past February and her daughter and husband (along with their 17-month-old son) arrived just a few months ago.

“We are very thankful to be reunited after such a long time apart,” Pamela said.

THANK YOU, PAMELA for sharing your story and words of kindness!

Please consider donating to United Way and support more families like Pamela and our bold goal to lift 10,000 community members to financial stability.

https://www.unitedwaymc.org/donate

10/12/2026

Let's get ready for the Stability Starts Here Event on Thursday, see details below!

10/08/2026

**Honoring the Life and Legacy of John Noel**

ECDC Multicultural Community Center – Wisconsin joins our community in mourning the passing of John Noel, a generous community leader and a true friend to the refugee families who have made Stevens Point their new home.

Over the past five years, John and his wife, Patty, have made a lasting difference in the lives of our new neighbors. Through their generosity and commitment to providing safe, welcoming housing, they have given refugee families the opportunity to rebuild their lives, establish roots, and become part of the Stevens Point community.

John understood that welcoming new neighbors was more than providing a place to live. It was about compassion, dignity, and giving families a chance at a brighter future.

We are deeply grateful for John's friendship, generosity, and belief in the families we serve. His legacy will continue through the many families who now call Stevens Point home.

MCC-WI extends our heartfelt condolences to Patty and the entire Noel family.

**Thank you, John, for opening doors, welcoming our new neighbors, and making a lasting difference in their lives.**

[Read John's full obituary](https://spmetrowire.com/john-m-noel-78/)

09/17/2026

What an incredible night.

We were overfilled with joy to see so many of our partners, volunteers, supporters, and community members come together to celebrate and support refugees and the work happening right here in Central Wisconsin.

The success of this fundraiser is a reflection of a community that continues to show up. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, shared our mission, or helped make the evening possible. Your continued support makes a real difference for refugees as they build new lives, find stability, and work toward self-sufficiency.

A very special thank you to Donaldson Filtration Solutions, our Diamond Sponsor, for their generous $5,000 sponsorship and for the many ways they support our refugee community. Donaldson goes beyond simply providing employment opportunities. Their partnership helps refugees find meaningful work, build independence, establish stability, and take important steps toward rebuilding their lives. We are incredibly grateful for the way they continue to invest in the people we serve.

Thank you as well to Mayor Doug Ding and Mayor Mike Wiza for speaking and helping us celebrate the importance of community, partnership, and welcome.

We also want to recognize everyone who donated to our auction and helped make it such a success:

Forward Beverage • Evolutions & Design • The Chocolate Café • Taste of Jamaica • Miriam • Marzia • Sue Eby • The Children’s Imaginarium • Whimsy and Wonder Toys • Lemon Grass Asian Fusion • The Mint Cafe • Janke Bookstore • Polito's • Megan Newman • Jefferson Street Inn • Izayah King

Thank you for contributing your time, talents, and generosity to make the evening special.

A huge thank you to Chanel and Christina Anderson for sharing their incredible talents and performing for our guests. Your music added so much to the evening.

And finally, thank you to the Jefferson Street Inn for hosting us and helping create such a beautiful space for our community to come together.

We are incredibly grateful for everyone who continues to stand with refugees. Thank you for showing up, believing in this work, and supporting incoming Refugees on their journey to make Central Wisconsin their new home.

Photo Credits: Samuel Stevens Photography https://stevensphotosoffical.wixsite.com/mysite-1/about

09/09/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Donaldson Filtration Solutions for supporting our fundraiser as a Diamond Sponsor with a generous $5,000 contribution.

Donaldson’s impact on our refugee community goes far beyond their financial support. By opening doors to employment, Donaldson has helped refugees build careers, support their families, and establish new lives here in Central Wisconsin. Their commitment to welcoming and employing members of our refugee community makes a meaningful difference.

Thank you, Donaldson, for investing in our mission and, most importantly, in the people we serve. We are proud to have you as a partner in building a stronger and more welcoming community.

https://www.donaldson.com/en/

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

See you all today at 4pm

08/25/2026

Dear Community Members and Supporters,

With the Journey Home Gala coming up, we’re sharing an important update on the final deadlines for those who would like to attend or support the event.

Sponsorship Deadline: August 28
Ticket Deadline: August 31

The gala will celebrate ECDC Multicultural Community Center’s five years of refugee resettlement and community work in Central Wisconsin. The evening will include dinner featuring dishes from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Venezuela, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as an opportunity to recognize the people and organizations who have supported ECDC along the way.

If you’ve been considering attending or sponsoring the gala, now is the time to make those arrangements before the deadlines!

Event Details:
Date: September 10th, 2026
Time: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: 201 Jefferson Street, Wausau WI 54403

Tickets are available for purchase at ecdcwausau.org or using this link: https://givebutter.com/ecdc-5-year-anniversary-fundraiser-ucbonw

08/07/2026

Come and join us at the Annual Community Culture Fest and Backpack Bash - Thursday, August 13th!

06/23/2026

Thank you to the organizations, volunteers, community members, refugees, and local governance who attended our World Refugee Day event in collaboration with CAP Services, Inc.!

On World Refugee Day, we recognize the dignity, courage, strength, and resilience of refugees living in our communities. This year's theme, healthcare access for refugees, focused on community education and conversations around how to support the refugee community as they navigate losses in Medicaid and FoodShare in the coming months.

Thank you to Stevens Point Mayor, Mike Wiza; Portage County Executive, Eric Olson; and Chief of Police Edward Orgon at the Stevens Point Police Department for providing opening remarks and the World Refugee Day proclamation.