Making Philanthropy and Volunteerism Your New Year's Resolution
by Rebecca Seymour
As we turn our calendars to 2025, many of us are looking to start the New Year off right by setting positive goals focused on our own personal growth and individual well-being. What could happen if we took these aspirations to the next level by also including charitable giving and community engagement in our New Year’s resolutions?
The Oconomowoc Area Foundation offers opportunities for us to join our resources together to make meaningful impacts within our community today and far into the future. Since our inception in 2002, we have awarded more than $5 million to more than 130 area nonprofit organizations.
In this spirit of new beginnings, join us on a journey of compassion, connection, and meaningful contributions and discover what can happen when we set out to do more for those in our community who really need it the most. Here’s a month-by-month guide with various initiatives for giving back within the Greater Oconomowoc Community:
January: The Gift of Shelter
We all know what a Wisconsin winter can be like. Start the year by giving the gift of warmth and safety to those in need. Donate new and gently used coats, hats and scarves, and blankets. Reach out to local shelters and organizations like Family Promise of Waukesha County, and The Women’s Center Waukesha and gather items on their wish lists to help individuals and families facing home insecurities. Visit www.familypromisewaukeshawi.org/wish-list and www.twcwaukesha.org/donate/donation-wish-list
February: Open Your Heart
Embrace the spirit of love in February by performing small acts of kindness throughout the month. February is also National Heart and Cancer Prevention Month. Help Tricia’s Troops Cancer Connection by gathering supplies for their Chemo Care Bags. The items provide comfort, relief and encouragement to new patients facing the fears and uncertainty of chemotherapy treatment. Visit www.triciastroops.org/get-involved/wish-list
March: Open Your Arms
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and Oconomowoc is blessed to have several nonprofits focused on supporting children and adults with special needs and their families. These organizations, including LifeStriders www.lifestriders.org, Journey21 www.journey21.org/waystogive and Zachariah’s Acres www.zachariahsacres.org have many volunteer opportunities for community members.
April: National Volunteer Month
April is National Volunteer Month – explore opportunities in our community where you and your family can share your time and talents. The Oconomowoc Area Foundation website offers information about how you can give back to your community. Visit our page of local nonprofit organizations to discover how you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of others: www.theoaf.org/about/who-the-oaf-funds
May: Lift Others Up
May is Older Americans Month and is the perfect time to support neighbors with spring cleaning, yardwork or offer companionship for those who need it. The Eras Senior Network connects volunteers to engage and support seniors and adults with disabilities. Visit www.eras.org. Other nonprofits helping seniors include Oconomowoc Silver Streak www.oconosilverstreak.org and the Oconomowoc Area Senior Center www.oconomowocseniors.org.
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Our community is fortunate to have several nonprofit organizations with resources supporting individuals and families, including GALS on the Go www.galsinstitute.com/gals-on-the-go-project, Family Service of Waukesha www.fswaukesha.org, and NAMI Southeast WI www.namisoutheastwi.org
June: Plant a Tree … Save the Bees!
National Pollinators Month in June encourages cultivating gardens with native, non-invasive pollen and nectar-producing plants. When these gardens bloom, they attract bees, birds, bats, and other natural pollinators. Support organizations that focus on wildlife habitat stewardship and conservation. We’re fortunate to have many to choose from … right in our own backyards! Visit the Wildlife in Need Center www.helpingwildlife.org, Tall Pines Conservancy www.tallpinesconservancy.org and Waukesha County Land Conservancy www.waukeshalandconservancy.org
July: Get Outside!
There are so many fun summertime activities and celebrations happening in our community! The Oconomowoc Area Foundation not only partners with local nonprofit organizations – we also help fund initiatives that offer beautiful gathering spaces for people of all ages. Take a stroll on the boardwalk along Fowler Lake in downtown Oconomowoc, sit for a spell in the shade of the new “OAF Front Porch” Gazebo at John and Lavinia Rockwell Park, watch a family-friendly movie under the stars at Fowler Park with Moonlit Movies www.moonlitmovies.org, or take the kids for a fun day at the Imagination Station, Ocon Rotary Splash Pad, and Skate Park. Strong communities thrive on shared experiences and mutual support – We couldn’t do this without you!
August: Health and Wellness
August is National Health and Wellness month – an opportunity to focus on your own health and wellness goals, as well as for others in your community. Volunteer at a local hospital or support organizations like the Lake Area Free Clinic, working towards better healthcare access for all. Visit www.lakeareafreeclinic.org/volunteer.
September: Open Doors
Education opens doors and is a powerful tool for empowerment. Help create a brighter future for children who need it most this fall by donating books and school supplies, volunteer as a tutor or mentor, or contribute to scholarship funds. The Oasis Project provides free professional tutoring to under-served children in Oconomowoc and the Lake Country area, visit www.oasisprojectwi.org. Help the Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund in its mission to support local high school seniors with dreams of attending college, visit www.oconomowocscholarshipfund.org.
October: Share the Spotlight!
October is National Arts and Humanities Month, encouraging us to explore how we can invest and engage in the arts and culture woven throughout our community. Oconomowoc offers a rich tapestry of arts celebrations and programming featuring visual and performing arts, as well as opportunities for community members to foster their own passions for the arts. Visit the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce for a listing of events and organizations at www.oconomowoc.org.
November: Gratitude in Action
As Thanksgiving approaches, share your blessings with those in need. Organize a food drive or donate to organizations like the Oconomowoc Food Pantry or Ashippun Bread Basket. Lend a hand with Blessings in a Backpack Waukesha County – the nonprofit provides food on the weekends for 3,600 area children who might otherwise go hungry. Visit www.waukesha.blessingsinabackpack.org/get-involved
December: Holiday Giving
End the year on a high note by embracing the spirit of giving during the holiday season. Participate in toy drives, donate to charities providing holiday meals, or volunteer at local shelters. Extend kindness and warmth to those who may need extra support during this festive season. Include the Oconomowoc Area Foundation in your end-of-year giving – You’ll be glad you did! www.theoaf.org/donate-now
Share your stories of how you embarked on this journey of compassion, connection, and meaningful contributions to your community on the Oconomowoc Area Foundation’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/OconomowocAreaFoundation
Happy New Year!
