Your Top FIVE to THRIVE

January 2025

#1 Women United Awards $51,500 to Area Nonprofits

Women United is supporting the community with $51,500 in grants to nonprofits working to lift women, their families and the community to financial stability. Recipients received the funds at the end of December. Women United funds these grants from dollars raised at the annual Power of the Purse signature event.

Save the date, the 2025 Power of the Purse is set for Thursday, June 5.

2024 Grant Recipients

• Childcaring, Inc: Good Start Grants
• UWSP Wausau: Two scholarships.
• Northcentral Technical College: Two scholarships.
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Northcentral Wisconsin: Stock feminine hygiene and other products in their hygiene pantry at “The Nest.”
• Safe Kids Marathon County: Purchase car seats to distribute to families.
• Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area: Kid Cuisine Program. Teaches the importance of nutrition and healthy cooking skills on a budget.
• Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes, Inc: Financial Assistance for Women who want to become troop leaders (Establishing Equity in the GSLE for Female Girl Scout Volunteers.)
• The Babies’ Place: Period Poverty.
• United Way of Marathon County: Community Closet

#2 Community Closet Volunteer of the Month MATT HATTENHAUER!

Pictured above, Matt Hattenhauer organizes clothing at a Mobile Community Closet at the Community Partners Campus last January.

Congratulations to Community Closet January volunteer of the month Matt Hattenhauer!

Not only is he the tallest volunteer and can reach all the clothing racks, but his newfound passion is contagious.

“I’ve lived in Wausau for over 25 years and am a retired medical professional. Prior to retirement, life was very busy, but now with a new stage of life in process it has allowed me the opportunity to explore new ways to serve others.

I’ve found the Community Closet to be a welcoming place for volunteers and clients. Providing good wearable clothing is just one important way to bring compassion and dignity to fellow members in our community. Katy and the staff have done a wonderful job of putting together a vital asset for the greater Wausau area and I have enjoyed being part of the process.”

Thank you, Matt!

We Need YOU



We just opened our schedule for the closet’s First and Third Thursday program where groups of up to eight can volunteer as well as learn more about the closet.

Get your group together, pick your day and spend a few hours sorting clothes, checking stock on the racks, and learning about our bold goal to lift 10,000 community members to financial stability by 2033.

Click Closet Volunteer Schedule and look for the date that will work best for you and your group.

Spots fill up fast!

#3 Emerging Leaders Compete for a Cause, Raise Funds to Support Schools

Pictured above, members of Emerging Leaders pose with fun props during their Compete for a Cause fundraiser. Dollars raised support Emerging Leaders’ annual school grants.

A little bit of friendly competition, silly games and a lot of laughter took place at Emerging Leaders’ Compete for a Cause fundraiser.

The event took place September 19 at Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. Teams consisting of local companies were pitted against each other in “minute-to-win it” type games. Funds raised support Emerging Leaders’ annual school grants.

“The event was created to directly support the impact focus of Emerging Leaders, which is to empower those entering the workforce to achieve financial stability by building job skills and accessing resources that help them thrive,” said Emerging Leaders Chair Jill Jochimsen.

The group awarded $4,000 in school grants in early December 2024.

School clothes closets, a startup popcorn business, and transportation were just some of the projects that received funds. 

#4 End-of-Year Celebration - Are You a Sweepstakes Winner?

If you donated at least $1 per week (or $52 or more per year) you were automatically entered into our campaign sweepstakes drawing!

Winners will be announced at our annual End-of-Year Celebration, Thursday, January 30 at the Elks Lodge in Wausau. The grand prize is $7,000 cash! Second place is $3,000 and third place is $1,000.

If you aren’t one of the lucky cash winners, there are six other chances to win. Check out our sweepstakes poster to see what you could be receiving.

All sweepstakes prizes are paid for by sponsors. We would like to thank UMR a United Healthcare Company, EO Johnson Business Technologies and The Dirks Group for sponsoring the 2024 prizes. 

#5 Dr. Joseph F. Smith's Support, Legacy Continues on

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society.

He was one of the founding members of the Wausau Community Chest (United Way) in 1930. A surgeon, a community leader, and an educator.

Although Dr. Joseph F. Smith passed away in 1952, his legacy continues to this day. Every quarter without fail, United Way of Marathon County receives a donation via Northern Trust from Dr. Smith, who also served as president on the United Way Board of Directors from 1932-1935.

Smith, a former Wausau resident, was one of the civic leaders that formed the Community Chest. The intent was to consolidate the many fundraising activities to avoid duplication of effort and costs.

In 1957, the Wausau Community Chest became the United Fund of Marathon County and in 1972 it was renamed United Way of Marathon County.

Through the decades a lot of things have changed, but one thing that has stayed consistent is the profound impact Smith continues to have on the community.

To learn more about planned giving at United Way, contact Amanda Flannery, at aflannery@unitedwaymc.org

Calendar of Events

• Thursday, January 16: Getting to Know Women United
• Tuesday, January 28: Join Emerging Leaders, Women United at Boys & Girls Club for a Lunch & Learn
• Thursday, January 30: End-of-Year Celebration!

Save the Date

• Thursday, June 5: Power of the Purse 2025!