Menomonie, WI — In an electrifying evening of community-driven giving, over 100 residents gathered at Lucette Brewing Company on Wednesday, July 30 for Philanthropy Unplugged—a one-of-a-kind event where participants collectively raised and awarded $50,000 to five impactful local nonprofits. An anonymous donor stepped up during the event to increase the grant prizes to a total of $60,000.

The five finalist organizations, selected in advance through a competitive application process, each had the opportunity to share their mission and pitch a project to the crowd. After hearing from all five, the audience voted to determine how the funds would be distributed.

At the end of the night, the following organizations walked away with grant awards:

• Stepping Stones – $30,000
• Arbor Place, Inc. – $10,000
• Menomonie Theater Guild – $5,000 (matched by an anonymous donor for a total grant of $10,000)
• The Community Tables – $2,500 (matched by an anonymous donor for a total grant of $5,000)
• Shirley Doane Senior Center – $2,500 (matched by an anonymous donor for a total grant of $5,000)

“Philanthropy Unplugged is about more than dollars, it’s about connection, collaboration, and the power of people coming together to make a difference,” said Georgina Tegart, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Dunn County. “This event showed that philanthropy doesn’t have to be formal or complicated; it can be fun, fast, and incredibly meaningful.”

The event was made possible by the generosity of participants who believe in the strength of local nonprofits and the value of community-led solutions.

Photos and highlights from the evening will be available soon at http://facebook.com/cfdunncounty

To learn more about Philanthropy Unplugged, visit https://cfdunncounty.org/philanthropy-unplugged

Contact The Community Foundation at 715-232-8019 or [email protected]