Blog
Norah Miller steps into community engagement at LACF
La Crosse Area Community Foundation is excited to welcome Norah Miller as this year’s Community Engaged Fellow! Originally from Menomonee Falls, Norah attends the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, where she is studying marketing with minors in international business and sustainable business. At UWL, she serves on the board of Students for Sustainability as…
Quarter 2 Mini Grant Awards
The frigid weather is finally behind us and the sun is giving Vitamin D that is life-giving, warming, and energizing! As the pollinators and plants move into the next season, so does our competitive grantmaking. For Quarter 2, we received over $400K in requests and had approximately $100,000 to distribute for this round. However, that…
More than a game: Honoring Robin Finco
A life of compassion, character, and the game he loved When Fran and Billie Finco lost their son Robin unexpectedly in the summer of 2023, their world stopped. “It was a hemorrhagic stroke — he called 911 himself,” Billie said. “Within 24 hours, he was gone.” In the days that followed, the outpouring of love…
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…
Stronger communities start with stronger connections
The role of bridging social capital in creating a more resilient community At La Crosse Area Community Foundation, we often talk about the importance of connection. That’s because connections — between neighbors, between different groups of people, and between ideas — are what help communities grow stronger. One way to describe that kind of connection…
LACF and Viterbo University award Certificates in Nonprofit Leadership Development
Sixteen area nonprofit leaders have earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership Development, a joint program of the La Crosse Area Community Foundation and Viterbo University. The 2024-2025 cohort gathered on April 30 at Viterbo to present their capstone projects and celebrate their achievement. Held monthly from September through May, the program combines interactive workshops, real-world…
Finding my place
When I boarded the flight from India to the United States, I carried more than just suitcases — I carried dreams, worries, and a deep desire to belong somewhere, somehow, far from everything familiar. As an international student, we face additional barriers when seeking professional opportunities. It’s not uncommon for doors to close even before…
What today’s philanthropy trends mean for tomorrow’s nonprofits
How to adapt your strategy and deepen your impact Philanthropy today is shaped by urgency, innovation, and a redefinition of what it means to do good, and nonprofits that understand and adapt to these shifts are seeing deeper engagement and greater results. While relationship-building and stewardship remain core, how those things happen is evolving. Five…
The quiet power of kindness
Kindness begins with a gift; nonprofits turn it into action “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Plato At La Crosse Area Community Foundation, we have the privilege of spreading kindness thanks to our generous donors and community members. There are programs in our community that are making a difference…
Simple genius: The lasting legacy of Roland Beranek
Roland “Rollie” Beranek wasn’t flashy. He didn’t care for fancy clothes or big crowds. In fact, it took him two years to say a word to his neighbor Barb Erickson. But once Rollie decided you were part of his circle, you were in for life — and in for a good laugh, a deep lesson,…