Representatives for the Basic Needs
Giving Partnership from both U.S. Oil and the J.J. Keller Foundation
Inc. are, left to right, Brian Keller, Jim Keller, Marne Keller-Krikava,
Bob Keller, Sarah Schmidt, Bill Schmidt and Tom Schmidt.
The Basic Needs
Giving Partnership is ready to go to work here in Winneconne and
hopes to match a $25,000 grant fund in the next calendar year.
-Submitted photo |
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Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Wants ‘Basic Needs Giving
Partnership’ to Work for Winneconne
Matching
grants through U.S. Oil and J.J. Keller promising for basic needs
The U.S. Oil Open Fund – serving basic needs in the Fox River
Valley – has been at work in Oshkosh during this past year and the
results have been astounding. Oshkosh Area Community Foundation
President and CEO Eileen Connolly-Keesler wants to see those same
results soon for the Winneconne community and is calling for
sponsors to consider raising $25,000 for a designated basic needs
fund for the Winneconne area, with assurances for two matching
grants.
“Last year, Oshkosh sponsors contributed $188,000, and the U.S.
Oil Open Fund matched that with $250,000 to establish the U.S. Oil
Open Fund for Basic Needs in Oshkosh through the Oshkosh Area
Foundation,” Connolly-Keesler said. “As a result, beginning in 2009,
10-percent of that fund balance will be distributed annually to
provide basic needs grants for local, non-profit organizations,” she
said. “J.J. Keller then matches this, doubling the amount of grant
funds available for basic needs programs in the community each
year.” Oshkosh is receiving $85,000 in grant monies this year alone.
This fund is further supported by an annual golf outing, the U.S.
Oil Open, set for August 12, 2009.
Connolly-Keesler believes that $25,000 to start a Winneconne fund
is a realistic goal for our area and too important not to take
advantage of. “This is a tremendous gift for communities,” she said.
“If Winneconne is capable of raising $25,000 this year, the U.S. Oil
Open Fund will match that – establishing a full $50,000 in the fund
for year-one alone. Ten percent ($5,000) of that can be spun off by
next December and J.J. Keller will match that – giving Winneconne
$10,000 in grant opportunities in the first year alone. It’s almost
a no-brainer.”
Connolly-Keesler said these grant matching opportunities exist
through 2010 and now is the time to act. “In today’s troubled
economy, support for basic needs is more important than ever,” said
Connolly-Keesler. “The Foundation is ready to begin talks with local
businesses and community members to get the ball rolling. We will do
whatever it takes to generate interest.”
Connolly-Keesler stressed the Oshkosh “area” focus of the
foundation, noting the Winneconne Public Library, the Winneconne
Historical Society and the Winneconne Community School District are
all part of the OACF. “We are ready to continue to better serve
Winneconne,” she noted. “No donation is too small. If you give $5 or
$5,000.00, it’s matched. You simply cannot go wrong and now is the
time to dig deep while the opportunity still exists.”
For more information on OACF or the US Oil Open Fund please visit
www.oshkoshareaaf.org or call Connolly-Keesler directly at 426-3993.
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