Grant Stories

  • Come for Supper feeds more than hunger

    A weekly community meal in La Crosse By the time the doors open at 4 p.m. Tuesdays, people are already waiting outside Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in La Crosse. They come for a meal, yes, but also for something harder to name. They come for a place where they are greeted, respected, and welcomed exactly…

    Read More

  • $25,000 grant supports diaper access for area families

    La Crosse Area Community Foundation has awarded a $25,212 grant to The Parenting Place to support its community diaper bank, helping meet a growing and urgent need among families across the Coulee Region. The grant comes as demand for diapers continues to rise. Nationally, one in two families with young children struggles to afford enough…

    Read More

  • The stories we share

    Hamilton Literacy Resources project brings books home and people together When the School District of La Crosse’s elementary library team planned to bring author and illustrator Angela Dominguez to area schools this winter, they saw an opportunity to make reading a community celebration. Thanks to a microgrant from La Crosse Area Community Foundation, that idea…

    Read More

  • A grant that helps veterans find their way back

    Foundation support strengthens outreach for the La Crosse Area Veterans Mentor Program A recent microgrant from La Crosse Area Community Foundation is helping the La Crosse Area Veterans Mentor Program reach more veterans in need — and the families who love them. With foundation support, the organization is upgrading its website, software, and training tools…

    Read More

  • Measuring what matters: How a local sculpture connects Onalaska

    Made possible through a grant from La Crosse Area Community Foundation, Onalaska Art Keepers brought “Calibration” — a graceful, light-catching sculpture by local artist Luke Achterberg — to life at the city’s southern gateway. The project celebrates creativity, community pride, and the joy that comes when neighbors join together to make something beautiful for everyone…

    Read More

  • Building a better path

    How the Mental Health Coalition is reimagining justice for people in crisis When someone in crisis encounters the justice system, the difference between care and punishment often comes down to understanding. For too long, people living with mental illness have been met with handcuffs instead of help — landing in jail cells that were never…

    Read More

  • Guided by scent, powered by community

    How La Crosse’s K-9 unit supports community and dementia care When a person with dementia goes missing, time matters. Confusion, memory loss, and vulnerability, especially in extreme temperatures, can quickly turn a wandering incident into a crisis. That’s where La Crosse Police Officer Riley Carroll and his K-9 partner, Nash, come in. K-9 tracking: A…

    Read More

  • Grant expands inclusive opportunities for neurodivergent individuals

    La Crosse grant supports creative inclusion for neurodivergent youth La Crosse Area Community Foundation today announced a grant that will fund more inclusive experiences for youth and young adults who are neurodivergent. The $10,000 grant is funding Islands of Brilliance’s La Crosse-based Brilliant Fellows program, where trained facilitators lead creative workshops designed to build connection,…

    Read More

  • Fall 2024 Competitive Grants Announcement

    Snow has quickly followed the dropping leaves and changing temperature. At this time of year, we get to welcome autumn and a season of gratitude. The end of 2024 is near, and we are excited to share La Crosse Area Community Foundation awarded $111,555 in quarter four. When you review the full list of grants…

    Read More

  • Grant Funds Outdoor Skills and Character Pop-up Camps

    Free pop-up camps to be held throughout La Crosse County More than 350 local youth will be able to attend free outdoor skills and character day camps this summer. La Crosse Area Community Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to the Gateway Area Council, Scouting America, to create and host the camps across several communities in…

    Read More