Oshkosh Area United Way’s (OAUW) annual Community Impact Celebration, sponsored by Rhyme, highlighted the power of connection — demonstrating how people, partnerships, and shared purpose come together to create meaningful impact across southern Winnebago County.
Through stories, conversations, and community voices, the evening highlighted how collaborative efforts across the community help strengthen support systems, open opportunities, and move the community forward together.
Held Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Venue 404, the celebration brought together nonprofit partners, volunteers, businesses, donors, educators, students, and local leaders for an interactive program centered around one important message: the challenges facing our community are connected, so the solutions must be too.
Throughout the evening, OAUW demonstrated how it helps connect the dots across the community — bringing together resources, volunteers, workplace campaigns, nonprofit partnerships, schools, and expertise to support collaborative solutions that create lasting impact.
The event’s “Connecting the Dots” presentation format allowed guests to experience those connections unfold in real time. As individuals from across the community unexpectedly joined the presentation, each story revealed how relationships, partnerships, and shared efforts often connect in ways people may not initially see — leading to collaborative solutions, expanded opportunities, and meaningful community impact made possible through working together.
The evening highlighted collaborations connected to UW-Oshkosh’s Growing Readers tutoring program, workplace campaign support through Oshkosh Corporation, volunteer engagement opportunities, the Oshkosh Back 2 School Fair, the OAUW Community Vault, hygiene access efforts through the Oshkosh Hygiene Task Force, and youth leadership experiences through the Oshkosh North Communities Program. Together, the stories illustrated how coordinated support helps strengthen lifelong learning, health and wellness, and access to essential resources throughout the area.
Guests heard directly from nonprofit leaders, volunteers, community partners, and students whose experiences reflected the broader impact of working collectively. From volunteers assembling literacy materials and businesses donating printing services, to nonprofits sharing excess supplies through the OAUW Community Vault and students and residents discovering opportunities through VolunteerOshkosh.org, the presentation reinforced how community impact grows through collaboration.
The celebration also included the presentation of the Sue Panek Community Impact Award to longtime OAUW Board Member, volunteer, and community leader Al Hartman. Presented by Jack Steinhoff of Rhyme alongside former OAUW Executive Director Sue Panek, the award recognized Hartman’s years of leadership, volunteerism, thoughtful guidance, and dedication to OAUW and the community.
The evening also included a special moment of appreciation for retired OAUW President & CEO Beth Oswald. OAUW Board President Bryan Brandt presented Oswald with a plaque recognizing her leadership and service to the organization and community during her three years as CEO. Brandt reflected on Oswald’s vision, leadership, and commitment to strengthening the organization while helping position OAUW for the future.
Another highly anticipated moment of the evening was the announcement of the winner of OAUW’s 2025 Car Sweepstakes in partnership with Bergstrom Automotive. Nicole Danke, who supports OAUW through the annual Car Sweepstakes, was surprised as the winner of the vehicle during the celebration, adding another memorable moment to an evening focused on community connection and impact.
The evening concluded with gratitude for the many individuals, organizations, volunteers, and businesses that continue to support OAUW’s mission and impact work — and with a reminder that every person has a role to play in helping move the community forward through giving, advocating, and volunteering.
“Tonight, you saw how we all come together — how people, resources, and partnerships connect across our community,” shared OAUW President & CEO Heidi Thomas during closing remarks. “That’s how we move forward. United is the Way.”
OAUW also thanks Community Campaign Co-Chairs Dave Richter of Silver Star Brands, an OAUW Board Member, and Patrick Hughes of Ansay & Associates for serving as emcees during the celebration, helping guide the evening’s interactive storytelling and community impact presentation.
OAUW extends its appreciation to Rhyme for sponsoring the Community Impact Celebration and to Bergstrom Automotive for its generous donation of the 2025 Car Sweepstakes vehicle, helping make the evening possible and supporting efforts that strengthen the community.
View photos from the evening on Flickr: https://bit.ly/OAUWCelebrationPhotos
Photos courtesy of Keira Noonan and Amy Reese.
To learn more about how you can give, advocate, or volunteer, email oauw@oshkoshunitedway.org or call (920) 235-8560.