Dear Friends,

Twenty-five years ago a small group of pillars within our community shared a vision. That vision was to create an entity that would enhance the quality of life within Portage County. Through their efforts, the Community Foundation of Portage County was born.

Back in 1982, this small group of people were long on ideas, but short on finances. Over the years, their vision inspired more people from all walks of life within our community to join their effort. And as the organization grew, so did the spectrum of ways in which the Community Foundation of Portage County has enhanced the quality of life that we have come to enjoy and appreciate living here in Central Wisconsin.

In twenty-five years that original vision has grown to such a degree that in the Foundation’s last fiscal year, more than $200,000 was distributed through grants and donor advised funds to be disbursed throughout our community. In fact, the amount distributed in the last fiscal year is more than the total assets of the Foundation just seventeen short years ago.

As the Community Foundation of Portage County celebrates the Silver Anniversary of its existence, it has attracted new visionaries within our community. These visionaries are focusing on ways to take this Foundation from Silver to Gold, and repeat the success story of the last twenty-five years.

Our strength as a community is our commitment to one another, now and in our future. We are optimistic that the next 25 years will be an amazing time as our collective gifts continue to grow and provide grants to shape the organizations and programs we love most about Portage County … our home.