It was 80 degrees and sunny, and that felt perfect for our most recent Community Lunch Hour. Our Director of Donor Services and Programs, Marlee Samuels, hosted a timely conversation about finding ways to connect through local events and volunteer opportunities in Portage and Waushara Counties.
Community Opportunities
Whether taking in the music at Freedom Fest or setting up for Celebrate Plover, there’s a place for everyone to get involved. Our guests, Steve Kunst (Village of Plover), Lori Alguire (Waushara Area Chamber of Commerce), and Carissa Check (Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau) showed that connection can be as simple as a trip to county fair, a community run, or volunteer sign-up.
Highlights from our panel:
- Steve Kunst: Celebrate Plover brings over 12,000 people together for food trucks, music, and fun over two days. It’s the best fireworks show in Central Wisconsin!
- Lori Alguire: Waushara County’s Freedom Fest draws crowds double the size of Wautoma’s population. And that’s just one weekend. Nearly every town in the county hosts a summer event that celebrates its community.
- Carissa Check: The Green Circle Trail is a beloved part of summer life in Stevens Point. With an endowment at the Community Foundation, this is a treasure and a long-term investment in outdoor recreation and well-being.
Stories shared show the Community Foundation’s role in celebrating all of our communities, with grants, partnerships, and common goals. Take Lake Pacawa Park. It’s a place where families gather for events and tournaments. It’s also a place made stronger through a $50,000 grant from the Community Foundation and continued partnership for new amenities like the pickleball courts. Or the Wild Rose Historical Society and Museum, a Community Foundation Visionary Grantee, who is renovating its exhibits to improve visitors’ experiences.
Every town, every story, every summer event has layers of connection like this. And the Community Foundation is proud to play a small part in this community network.
Ways You Can Make an Impact This Summer:
- Share this blog post and video with your networks to get the word out there.
- Volunteer, whether it’s with the Ice Age Trail or local fire and EMS support, there’s room for you to help. Reach out to Steve, Lori, or Carissa to learn more.
- Support a fund, from youth sports to historical preservation, giving to a mission fund or endowment helps these efforts stick around for the long haul.
- Show up, sometimes, the best thing you can do is be present. Cheer for the musical act. Buy a brat from a local vendor. And show your community how much you support it.
Want help finding where to start? Reach out to our partners and visit their websites to learn more:
Village of Plover | Steve Kunst
- Website: ploverwi.gov
- Website: comeovertoplover.com
- Email: skunst@ploverwi.gov
- Phone: 715-345-5250
Waushara County Chamber of Commerce | Lori Alguire
- Website: wausharachamber.com
- Email: wausharachamber@gmail.com
- Phone: 920-787-3488
Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau | Carissa Check
- Website: stevenspointarea.com
- Email: info@stevenspointarea.com
- Phone: 715-344-2556