We all Deserve a Place to Belong.

Your donation to SOAR can make a life-changing difference.

This holiday season, we are competing in a fundraising competition for SOAR! You have the opportunity to support our efforts by making a donation to this amazing agency here on our team fundraising page, or in person/by mail to SOAR Fox Cities, 211 E Franklin St. STE A. Appleton, WI 54911.

Yes, it is part of a friendly fundraising competition among SOAR staff, but we are doing it because we see firsthand the impact that SOAR makes in the lives of the people with disabilities we serve. Both of our families are heavily involved in SOAR, both as volunteers and participants in SOAR programs.

Lisa has been working for SOAR for nearly 20 years, and loves the relationships she has built and how many of her youth participants she has gotten to watch grow up in SOAR programs. Both of her sons volunteer at her events, and Cade (her oldest) is an amazing friend to many of our teen participants! One teen in particular, Johnny, really connected with Cade in SOAR programs in middle school. Cade was the only one, including me, that could get Johnny to participate in our activities, and if Cade wasn't there, neither was Johnny. Now they are both in high school, and little apparently has changed! In SOAR programs and in school programs Cade volunteers at, they are still two peas in a pod. Cade's teachers and Johnny's mom have reached out to share how much Johnny enjoys spending time with Cade- and the feeling is mutual! Even though we may not be participants, SOAR has definitely made an impact on our family!

Lindsay has been working for SOAR for 4 years- just a *smidge* less than Lisa! While she is usually working behind the scenes doing grant writing, marketing, and outreach, she knows firsthand how life changing SOAR is because her little sister Uli is a SOAR participant! She loves getting to go and spend time with friends at all of Lisa's youth events, but her favorite was definitely SOAR Thru Summer Camp. She had so much fun going on field trips, having messy days, playing games, and of course listening to music with friends and camp counselors for four weeks out of the summer. More than that, she thrived those weeks- had an easier time staying focused and engaged, was talkative/shared what she did each day, and was excited each morning to go! It was such a great experience for her, and the gratitude I feel as her sister knowing there is a fun, safe place filled with people that truly look forward to spending time with her, and celebrate her for being just who she is, is truly immeasurable.

That's the special thing about SOAR. Yes we teach skills. We help people become self-advocates and educate the community on disabilities. We provide social experiences that the disability community are often excluded from. We offer the third-largest Special Olympics program in the state. We give families and caregivers respite. But more than that, in the opinion of these two families so heavily involved in SOAR, is that we are a place for all people of all abilities to belong.

Your donation to our team fundraising page will help us compete against our coworkers in the fundraising challenge but, more importantly, it will help ensure that our participants are connected and empowered.

We sincerely appreciate your support!

Lindsay & Lisa

For over 65 years, SOAR Fox Cities has been providing people with disabilities and their families with a sense of belonging. With 10 programs that serve 1,200 people with differing abilities, SOAR strives for inclusivity and a community where all members are valued, celebrated, and have opportunities to SOAR!