Current & Future Kewaunee Projects
Inspiring Community Inc. currently provides funds and support to the following organizations:
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City of Kewaunee
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Community Congregational Church
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Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse
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Kewaunee Aging Resource Center
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Kewaunee Area Ambulance AUX
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Kewaunee Artisan Center
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Kewaunee City Historical Society
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Kewaunee Health & Fitness Center
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Kewaunee Public Library
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Kewaunee Senior Center Meal Site
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Winter Park Recreation Association
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Zoological Society
Kewaunee Senior Center/Community Center
Inspiring Community Inc. is currently focusing on the relocation of the Kewaunee Senior Center/Community Center. The temporary location for the senior center is in the Community Congregational Church. They have been without a permanent location since 2016.
While Jean was alive, this was something she strongly supported, and Jean emphasized a need to find a permanent location. This project is moving forward.
In 2026, The Donald & Jean Smith Fund announced a $160,000 grant to support renovations to the Community Congregational Church in order to ensure a comfortable and accessible gathering space for Kewaunee seniors and community organizations while they seek a more permanent location. See the Grants page for more information.
Kewaunee Meal Site
In conjunction with ICI, the Kewaunee Senior Center offers free meals to seniors 60 and older on Fridays at the Community Congregational Church.
Participants must make a reservation by 11:00 a.m. the business day before.
Time: 11:15 to 12:30
Location: Community Congregational Church
Who: Seniors 60 & Older
Contact: 920-683-4180 or 877-416-7083 for a reservation
Other Projects
Inspiring Community Inc.'s continued support to several organizations in the Kewaunee area has contributed to many improvements in the community. Read more about these projects below:
Upgraded technology for Kewaunee City Council.
This plaque honors a generous donation from the Don and Jean Smith Charitable Fund to City Hall. The money was used to upgrade the technology in the chambers and included microphones, speakers
and tablets.
These improvements will cut down on the use of paper for Common Council and Committee of the Whole meetings. The new equipment will also make meetings and discussions more accessible to all Kewaunee citizens.
From April to June in 2020 this technology was used to stream meetings and is now used to enhance in person meetings in the chambers.
Improvements to Kewaunee Health and Fitness Center
Jean enjoyed staying physically active. The Don & Jean Smith Charitable Trust continues to support the Kewaunee Health and Fitness every year. Funds have helped with pool renovations, work on the gym floor, and parking accessibility.
In 2019 the trust provided $7,000 to purchase a seated elliptical for the Kewaunee Health and Fitness, and in 2020 the trust paid for half of the cost for heating equipment.
Assisting with updates to the hall used by the Kewaunee Senior Center
Late in 2019, the Don & Jean Smith Fund helped pay for the purchase and installation of new flooring in the Senior Center located at Community Congregational Church.
The fund has also been used to pay for a complete remodeling of the hall's bathrooms - new fixtures, floor, and painting. This work was done during the period that the hall had been temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
Jean always appreciated the style of Lakehaven Hall, but she knew that the acoustics left something to be desired. The Don and Jean Smith Fund provided for a specialist to evaluate the acoustics and make recommendations for improvements.
Recently, the Fund enabled Lakehaven Hall to follow through on the plan. Panels have been installed along the ceiling to improve the sound in the building and make programs much more enjoyable.
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The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves
-Helen Keller