My Nonprofit Reviews

Walt Zerrenner
Review for Unity Recovery Services Inc, Appleton, WI, USA
A close friend of mine, George Butz, accepted the role as Board President Unity Recovery Services. He knew that I was experienced with the governance of nonprofit Boards as I was serving on three of them. I assisted him with governance issues and as a result learned more about Unity Recovery Services. In December 2022 I retired from the Fox Valley Memory Project Board of Directors after ten years. George asked me to consider serving on the Unity Board as Vice President. Understanding the Unity Recovery Services Mission, Vision, and Passion, I agreed. I was nominated and elected at the Annual Meeting.
The Mission is to create opportunities for individuals in or seeking recovery from addiction. The Vision is to have a community where recovery is supported, encouraged, and respected. Their Passion is that everyone at Unity Recovery Services has a personal recovery story and want to share that experience with others. I am looking forward to working with this exceptional organization in the years ahead. Please visit the website at https://unitypeersupport.org/blog to learn more about Unity Recovery Resources and how you can become involved and support it.
Review for Fox Valley Memory Project Inc, Menasha, WI, USA
I joined the Fox Valley Memory Project (FVMP) Executive Coordinating Committee after attending the very first Memory Cafe in Appleton at the Atlas Coffee Mill. My wife had been diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimer's in 2009. We attended Memory Cafes until my wife had to go to a memory care facility in 2014. Susan and John McFadden brought the concept of memory cafes to appleton from seeing them work in Europe. They became a huge success and today there are memory cafes every week throughout Wisconsin. The FVMP became its own 501c3 non profit organization and has grown significantly with the leadership of the Executive Director and Board of Directors. I served on the Board for ten years and now serve as a volunteer. No organization does more with activities and programs for those living with early to moderate stage dementia and their caregivers than the FVMP. Please visit the FVMP website foxvalleymemoryproject.org to learn more and sign up for the newsletter.
Review for Fox Valley Veterans Council, Appleton, WI, USA
I initially volunteered with the Fox Valley Veterans Council seven years ago. I assisted with staffing the office for two days a week and meeting with candidates for the Veterans Emergency Fund. I was so impressed with the Council's work that I applied to serve on the Board of Directors. The Board accepted my application and I have served on the BOD for the past five years. The Council has distributed more than a million dollars to needy veterans and their families over the past ten years. The Council was also responsible for the early success of the Wisconsin Veterans Village, functioning as the BOD with a memo of understanding and conducting and participating in fundraising events. The Council organizes community activities for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. It also actively participates in the Flag Day Parade, Honor Pull and Blood Drives. I am proud to be a Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran and now work with an organization that does so much for veterans in the community.
Review for Beaming Incorporated, Neenah, WI, USA
When I first joined the Board in September 2019 I suggested that BEAMING host an Equine Memory Cafe. We held it in November 2019 and it was a huge success with 28 people in attendance. Memory Cafes are for people with early to moderate stage Dementia and their caregivers. In 2020 because of the pandemic, BEAMING held three virtual memory cafes using Zoom technology. In 2021 and 2022, we were able to offer on-site Equine Memory Cafes again. The Bader Foundation was so impressed with the success of the program that they gave BEAMING a two-year grant funding Equine Memory Cafes in 2023 and 2024. The Equine Memory Cafes are now held on the second Monday of every month. BEAMING horses bring everlasting smiles to those living with dementia and their caregivers.