ABOUT US

With major multi-year grants from the Basic Needs Giving Partnership and the Helen Bader Foundation, secured in spring 2012, along with support from the Appleton Downtown Rotary Club and several donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Steering Committee hired staff, engaged volunteers, raised public awareness of its goals, and set out to establish a dementia-friendly community that cares for, engages with, respects, and supports individuals experiencing dementia and their loved ones.

In September 2012, Betty Lefebvre-Hill was appointed as the first part-time Program Director, and by November, memory cafés were launched. The first memory café was held at Atlas Waterfront Café, followed by another at the Thompson Community Center. Outreach efforts, including presentations to local community groups and articles in the Appleton Post Crescent, helped spread awareness of the initiative. While memory cafés in other communities often start slowly with only a few attendees, the Fox Valley region responded quickly and enthusiastically, embracing the opportunities for social interaction provided by these cafés.

The Memory Loss Resource Center was established in 2013, followed by the launch of the Memory Assessment Center at MOSAIC Family Health. The goal was to ensure that various support programs, such as the cafés and resource center, were in place to provide hope and reassurance to individuals receiving a dementia diagnosis, demonstrating that the community cares and is ready to support them.

FVMP had operated under Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan for about seven years. In April 2018, following a strategic planning process that identified opportunities for growth, FVMP hired its first full-time Executive Director. By August 2018, the organization achieved 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Shortly thereafter, FVMP relocated its offices to the campus of Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin, where it continues to operate today.

Mike Rohrkaste became Executive Director of the Fox Valley Memory Project in 2019, bringing extensive leadership experience from both the private sector and public service. As a Wisconsin State Assembly member, he chaired the Speaker’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, spearheading healthcare reforms and workforce development initiatives. He also served as Vice Chair of the Assembly Committee on Health, helped pass a bipartisan 10-bill Alzheimer’s and Dementia package, and contributed to the 2019-2024 State Dementia Strategic Plan as a steering team member. 

The Fox Valley Memory Project was awarded a three-year cooperative agreement of $997,418 from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in July of 2021. The funding provided support for FVMP's Alzheimer's Disease Program Initiative, allowing the development and implementation of new support services focusing on:

• Supporting individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias who live alone.
• Assisting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at greater risk of developing dementia.
• Reaching ethnically and culturally diverse communities.
• Creating a dedicated team to assist with resource connections, caregiver education, and training. 

The first phase of the grant involved a planning process between FVMP, ACL, and the National Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center to ensure successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the new services. 

In 2023, FVMP introduced the Mindworks program, a facilitated three-hour class for individuals with early to mid-stage dementia, providing therapeutic recreation and respite for caregivers. 

The Fox Valley Memory Project continues to grow, providing programs and support to communities across Winnebago, Waupaca, Calumet, and Outagamie Counties. Efforts are continually being expanded to ensure individuals with dementia feel valued, supported, and included within the community.

With a proud history of achievements, Fox Valley Memory Project remains dedicated to forging new partnerships, securing funding, and engaging volunteers to foster a more inclusive and respectful culture for those living with dementia in the Fox Valley region and surrounding communities.