Lifting up others through service
by Rebecca Seymour
The Oconomowoc Area Foundation is pleased to welcome Curt Downes to its Board of Directors. Curt and his wife, Carrie, grew up in Brookfield and moved to Oconomowoc in 2015.
Curt and Carrie love the “small town feel” of Oconomowoc and sense of community. They enjoy taking advantage of the many restaurants in the Lake Country area, and concerts at the Rhodee Memorial at Oconomowoc’s City Beach, especially watching their daughter Sarah perform with the Oconomowoc American Legion Band.
Curt is a Realtor with Mahler Sotheby’s International Realty. His involvement in nonprofit organizations extends back to the late 1980s when his mom started the ALS Association of Wisconsin. Curt held the first fundraiser for that organization and continued on being a Board Member and member of the Leadership Team for many years.
“Watching my mom take the initiative, rightly so as she was trying anything for my dad, to start and run the ALS Chapter of Wisconsin was extremely inspiring for me. Even after my dad lost his fight, she continued on for many years to help other patients and families dealing with the diagnosis of ALS,” explained Curt.
Curt also serves on the boards of the YMCA at Pabst Farms and the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce. Supporting and giving back to the community have been an important part of Curt and Carrie’s married life.
“I feel that we are here to serve, not be served. I consider it a privilege to be serving on the OAF Board of Directors. I love being able to give back to my community,”
