Granting Opportunities. Impacting Futures.
CONNECT
​WITH US:
WELCOME
Watertown Area Community Foundation
This is an exciting time to be living and growing in Watertown and the future is bright indeed. How can you help to make the many community projects envisioned for our community a reality?
TRUST
Projects
The Watertown Area Community Foundation will serve as the steward for those who entrust their assets to the care of its leadership by:
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Using the resources wisely;
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Serving as a catalyst for identifying needs and opportunities within the community;
And
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Developing responsible and effective responses to the emerging and changing needs of the community.
WORKING TOGETHER
Working together, we can do the impossible. We can successfully tackle projects that to others seem too difficult. We can resolve problems that at first appear to have no solution. We can lead where leadership is the only missing ingredient.
Scholarships
Watertown Town Square
Watertown Area Community Foundation administers and provides all the Watertown High School annual scholarship awards. The current senior class recipients receive over half a million dollars in locally funded scholarships and awards at Watertown High School’s annual awards programs.
The Watertown Area Community Foundation serves as the depository for gifts to construct the Watertown Town Square. Fundraising began late 4Q of 2020 with commitments of $1M each from the Watertown Redevelopment Authority and City of Watertown. An additional $1.6M is sought from private donations. Opening early 2022, this one-acre, multi-purpose gathering place located at the civic heart of the City along the Rock River, will be actively managed and programmed year-round. The goal of the Town Square is to serve as a catalyst for economic activity by welcoming visitors to participate in educational and social programs that foster diverse and dynamic community engagement. For project updates visit watertownredevelopment.org
Watertown Public Library
Brandt-Quirk Park
The Watertown Area Community Foundation has been the depository for the fundraising effort in 2019 which received nearly $3 million in financial gifts and pledges. In addition the foundation provided a $100,000 cash contribution to that highly successful fund drive. The library expansion and renovation project is expected to break ground in June of 2020 with completion in 2021.
The community foundation worked closely with the Earl and Eugenia Quirk Foundation and the city of Watertown to make this wonderful asset become a reality. An aggressive contribution from the Quirk Foundation and the use of the community foundation for deposits of those funds as well as from others were a critical part of this large park’s development.
Watertown Family Aquatic Center
Expansion of the Watertown Community and Senior Center
The foundation was the driving force that raised $600,000 and coupled with a $1.2 million commitment from city government, the center is now used by thousands of youth and adults alike throughout the summer season.
This expansion project was funded primarily from the Earl and Eugenia Quirk Foundation funds. Large personal donations were also made by the James Conley family which with the Quirk family shares control of the fund.