My Why

The Canary Fund was established to honor the memory of my husband, Jim Rivett, who passed away in 2018. A group of friends and I got together to discuss a way to honor Jim and it has been one of the most healing ways to turn all of our grief into moving forward to do good work in our communities.

Favorite Grant

Too many to mention, but I believe Martha M.'s mural project at Napalese Lounge.Martha M is the perfect profile of the kind of individual that we wish to support. Martha’s vision of a mural that honors the LGBTQ+ community at a place, like the Napalese Lounge, that had welcomed her and others for nearly 40 decades is the kind of story that we wish to tell.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

Would love to see more everyday people that see an unmet need in their community apply for Canary Fund granting. We want to help take your project from an idea to possibility.

My Why

I was asked to join The Canary Fund to provide internal controls and a resource to assist with the financial growth of the organization.

Favorite Grant

As I am not personally involved in the grants or the process of grant giving, I simply enjoy that the Canary Fund can help multiple causes, whatever the cause may be that inspires the grant recipient.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

I would like to see The Canary Fund continue to grow into an organization that supports others causes that improve the community we share.

My Why

Two reasons I became involved and why I remain active and invested. 1. Jim was a dear friend and beloved colleague. This is such a powerful and meaningful way to keep his generous and loving spirit alive while reflecting his innate servant leadership and amplifying his extraordinary community commitment. And 2. The Canary Fund's giving concept is simple, pure, and accessible...we're just helping ordinary people do some extraordinary things. I'm a big believer in small acts of kindness and The Canary Fund helps doers do all these incredible acts of kindness. Every grant cycle proves that a little bit of support can go a long , long way!

Favorite Grant

It's a tie for me: SUN Squad Hygiene store for Menominee Indian School District students and the LGBTQ community mural on the Napalese Lounge.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

That The Canary Fund receives an anonymous donation of $1 million! (Just manifesting and putting it out there...) Seriously though, one goal would be to have more individual commitments and corporate sponsorships and another would be to have a partnership with the Green Bay Packers organization and/or be adopted as a player's pet project just to raise our visibility more than anything else.

My Why

I felt aligned with The Canary Fund's mission from the moment I heard about it. It's a beautiful act to carry on the kindness and giving legacy of James Rivett by helping doers complete productive and connective projects. In today's world I believe it is especially important to cultivate positive, creative energy in people and those around them who are doing good for the community. 

My Why

I was born and raised in Kewaunee County and have resided here nearly my entire life. Service work was ingrained in my family by those who came before us, rooted in the belief that when everyone has the opportunity to succeed, our community becomes stronger and better for all. I deeply appreciate the hard work and commitment of our rural residents, having grown up on a multi-generational dairy farm. While Kewaunee County is large, it remains full of small-town friendliness with neighborhoods that span many square miles.

I have spent my career as an elementary art educator. Sharing my love of art—and the joy and fulfillment found in the creative process—has made my career truly rewarding.

The value of the work being done by The Canary Fund empowers individuals and small groups in Northeastern Wisconsin to make positive changes in their communities.

Favorite Grant

Through the 'Tanya’s Touch' grant, The Canary Fund provided art supplies to students to honor the legacy of their teacher, Miss Paral. Tanya was dedicated to ensuring every child had access to authentic creative experiences and the supplies needed to bring their ideas to life.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

I would like to see The Canary Fund and its work become a highly recognizable force for good.

My Why

I became involved with The Canary Fund via Julie Long, who introduced me to its mission as a Board member herself. I was immediately taken with the microgrant concept and The Canary Fund's commitment to participatory grantmaking, meaning putting resources in the hands of those community members who see a problem and want to solve a problem, instead of focusing on established organizations. As a nonprofit professional, I see this as the next generation of impact on communities in need: ceding the decision-making power about grants from top-down organizations to the very communities impacted by the decisions themselves and shifting the power back to individuals within the community most poised to make the changes their peers need. The Canary Fund is doing this on a local level in Green Bay when so many others in bigger cities are struggling to come close to the model exemplified here. It was inspiring and exciting, the idea of being involved in this type of work, and I'm honored to be a part of the Board now!

Favorite Grant

As a PATH International certified therapeutic riding instructor, I am partial to the Exceptional Equestrians project but I also love the mural at the Napalese Lounge and the Pride Center Green Bay Social Support Group!

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

I'd like to see us not only plant the seeds for change-makers in our community but also inspire other grassroots nonprofits in our area and region to consider the benefits of participatory grantmaking and see how it empowers individuals to impact!

My Why

Past Recipient, love the vision and wanted to help further the mission

Favorite Grant

Urban Cultural Arts & Event Center 6/2024

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

Further their mission to continue funding seed grants.

My Why

I was a Canary Fund grant recipient for my documentary film, GOLD! Pete had asked me if I would be interested in joining the board, and I was thrilled. I never knew Jim Rivett, but it seems a lot of my values align with his. I want to use my creativity and empathy to create change in the community for the better. The Canary Fund is a very accepting and forward thinking group, that doesn't discriminate and lifts up changemakers in the community. My documentary films are all centered around giving a voice to those historically marginalized groups, so becoming a member of the Canary Fund board was just another step in my journey of serving the community.

Favorite Grant

Can I say my own?? Haha. I think it's really hard to choose but I really love when we can help the LGBTQ+ community grow and thrive.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

It's always really rewarding to see the seed grants create change in the community. I would love if we could hand out more seed grants throughout the year, but we will need more funding to do so!

My Why

I worked with Jim at Arketype and he made such an impact on my life that I am honored to carry on his legacy of kindness and creativity.

Favorite Grant

Not familiar with past recipients

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

Lots of fun(ds) raised!

My Why

Was asked by Pete - Jim was a dear friend and an inspiration for others to do more for the community

Favorite Grant

Resisters

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

Educate the community as to the needs of the underserved population in the area

My Why

Working with Jim for more than 7 years instilled my love for philanthropy and supporting the community. He helped me (and many others) realize that being philanthropic doesn't mean having to donate huge sums of money. A gift of talent or time can be as valuable. It was through Jim that I became connected with the Women's Fund of Greater Green Bay, an organization I served in a volunteer capacity for more than a decade. Offering my time and talents to The Canary Fund is one small way I will contribute to Jim's legacy. What a joy it is to play a role in the catalyst for transformational, local change that is The Canary Fund.

Favorite Grant

Our family has adopted two rescue dogs, so "Project Pandemic Puppy" felt especially relevant. It was actually an idea I once considered -- could there be a program to subsidize the cost of dog training for adopting families? How thrilling and inspiring it was to learn that grant recipient Lindsey Petasek had the same idea and took action! Her work, with the support of The Canary Fund, will undoubtedly ensure more successful adoptions.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

I would love to see The Canary Fund raise sufficient dollars to establish an endowment fund--a fund that grows in perpetuity as a long-term, sustainable source of grant dollars.

My Why

I have been familiar with the Canary Fund through a few board members - Pete Angelelo and Judy Johnson as well as I knew Jim Rivett. I like what the Canary Fund does in terms of activities and funding. The Canary Fund is special in the funding as they have flexibility in who and what they fund. It gives a real hand up.

Favorite Grant

While I'm new and am not familiar with all the recipients yet, I think my favorite in the last funding cycle was the Fox Cities Roller Derby. I really liked it because it helps younger women with their body image. There are so many unrealistic expectations for girls and women in terms of body image that trying to counter those messages is very positive.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

I want to see The Canary Fund flourish through the board, its recipients and the community. Creating funding for worthwhile programs will be essential.

My Why

I have been involved with the Canary Fund since its inception because of my friendship with Jim Rivett and my desire to honor his legacy by continuing his community stewardship at a see something, do something level. Jim was a master conductor of small acts of kindness, often performing them without even realizing the impact. The Canary Fund empowers individuals in our community to embrace this same spirit by providing small grants that ignite the potential of good people with kickass ideas.

Favorite Grant

As a member of the grants committee who has reviewed all the awarded grants from the very beginning, it's nearly impossible to narrow this answer down to a single favorite grant. A moment that truly touched my heart was witnessing the joy and wonder on a Grandmother’s face when she received a “friend request” from her granddaughter in another country. It is an unforgettable image to me. The project, “Stay Connected! Connecting Hispanic Seniors with Technology,” led by Elizabeth K. and Amelia P., transformed lives by training seniors in their community to use Kindles, enabling connections with family in Mexico. The excitement at seeing photos and having conversations with loved ones was invaluable to them, and they discovered the joy of video chatting and joining virtual events, such as praying the Rosary daily with their hometown community in Mexico.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

My hope is for The Canary Fund’s participatory grant-making philosophy to reach a wider audience of both supporters and recipients. I envision this increased visibility translating into funding that empowers us to award even more grants each year annually.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund?

I would like to help spread the Canary Fund's reach into rural communities across NE Wisconsin. I want to continue to see the Canary Fund be the 'jumpstarter' for grassroots initiatives to find success and momentum.

My Why

I heard about the Canary Fund when the group was forming, and thought it was an innovative idea with the potential to delivery positive change to the community. I was thrilled when Pete reached out to talk about joining the Board, and was hooked after our first discussion.

Favorite Grant

CARES FoxCities - the work they are doing to support recent immigrants and students who are English Learners is incredible. School is hard enough when you're the "new kid," and when you factor in trying to learn a new language and a new culture it can be downright daunting. This program is doing the work to create greater equity in schools and help kids make sense of their realities.

My Hopes for The Canary Fund

I'm excited to watch as our grantees use the seed grants provided by the Canary Fund to grow their projects and programs to address unmet needs in our community.