The Whitewater Community Foundation has presented the spring 2026 grants, which include $500 for Studio 84, $485.58 for the League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area, $750 to Clyde’s Closet, and $750 for the Fairhaven Foundation on behalf of the Fairhaven Pollinator Garden.
“These organizations are doing important work to benefit the Whitewater community. Providing this funding to fuel their efforts and make a difference in the lives of our residents is our key purpose,” said Virginia Coburn, chair of the Community Action Grant committee for the Whitewater Community Foundation.
Following is more information about each grant:
Members of the Whitewater Community Foundation board of directors were delighted to visit Studio 84 and present a Community Action Grant check for $500 to help fund their ongoing Second Saturdays community art event. From left are Lynnette Gmur, Studio 84 director, Virginia Coburn, WCF board member, Karina Pittro, Studio 84 artistic mentor, and Kat Mawhinney and Kristine Zaballos, WCF board members.
Second Saturdays have long been a community opportunity to create art. Hosted by Studio 84 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Saturday of each month, there’s a fun new activity to dig into every time. Studio 84 provides the art supplies, the ideas and direction, and the space to explore and get messy. All ages and abilities are welcome; no registration required. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information visit studio84inc.org.
Members of the League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area visited the Whitewater Community Foundation office to receive a Community Action Grant check for $485.58 to sponsor the travel expenses for author James Bonella for a community event that will take place on 9/16/26 at the Whitewater Public Library. Bonella will be discussing his book, “An Eye for An I: Growing up with blindness, bigotry and family mental illness.”
The LWV of Whitewater Area is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government and influencing public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area.
The Whitewater Community Foundation was delighted to visit Clyde’s Closet, a little free pet pantry located at the headquarters of Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue near Whitewater Lake to present $750 to be used towards pet supplies and the cost of constructing a garden shed to store and protect the pet supplies. Virginia Coburn, WCF board member, presented the check to Mandy Lewis, founder, owner and president of the board of directors of Clyde’s Closet and Albert’s Dog Rescue.
Clyde’s Closet aims to ensure that no pet or pet owner has to go without the necessary resources they need to thrive, and that no pet is surrendered to a rescue or shelter for lack of resources. For more information, visit albertsdoglounge.org/clydes-closet.
The Whitewater Community Foundation recently visited Fairhaven Senior Services to present its foundation $750 to be used for signage for the new Fairhaven Pollinator Gardens. The high-quality signs, which will denote the common and Latin names of the plants in the garden, will be easily visible to residents of Fairhaven and their guests.
Located blocks away from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Fairhaven Senior Services offers intergenerational programming that very few other senior living facilities can. For more information, visit fairhaven.org. For more information about the Fairhaven Pollinator Garden, visit facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583432195592.
“The Foundation remains committed to funding projects that foster community engagement. We encourage more local organizations to apply for our upcoming grants and continue making a positive impact,” said Coburn.
Organizations interested in pursuing a Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant should contact info@whitewatercommunityfoundation.org. Details about the Community Action Grants can be found at https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/community-action-grants/
The next grant requests are due October 31, 2026.
The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.
More information about the Whitewater Community Foundation can be found at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org and on Facebook.
The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.”
Editor’s Note: The above was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.
