About Us
Discover the support we can provide kids.
To support kids and families in Oshkosh by addressing unmet basic needs, providing essential resources, and removing barriers so every child can succeed in school and beyond.
A community where every kid and family in Oshkosh has the stability, awareness, and support to thrive in learning and in life.
The need for Oshkosh Kids Foundation started with a pair of underwear. As an educator for 34 years in the Oshkosh schools, Co Founder Julie Dumke had witnessed many changes in the diversity, stressors and needs of our students. But one day her eyes were permanently opened.
A new Phys. Ed. Teacher was telling her how hard it was to get her students to change their clothes for gym class. On deeper reflection she realized that they were not trying to be belligerent. They weren’t changing because many did not have underwear, and they were embarrassed. Julie began to tell that story to whoever would listen and soon I had underwear and socks pouring in to help kids.
“Through trusting conversations with these kids, I learned their needs were for much more than underwear. Homelessness was shockingly widespread. Many did not have water in their homes, and wore the same thing every day with nowhere to do laundry. Others asked for duffle bags because they slept on a different couch every few days and needed a better way to transport their stuff. One boy just wanted his own pillow.”- Julie Dumke, Co Founder, Oshkosh Kids Foundation.
Julie was also the Director of Oshkosh Area School District Education Foundation, and was speaking at the State of the District on our students living in poverty, and how they had reached over 200 homeless children in our district the year before. In the crowd was Wilson Jones, CEO and President at the time of Oshkosh Corporation. After the event he approached Julie and said that he grew up in situational poverty and he wanted to talk about how they could work together to help every child have an even playing field. The Oshkosh Kids Foundation was born.
Julie Dumke – Previous Director, Oshkosh Kids Foundation
What We Do
The Oshkosh Kids Foundation (OKF) supports children and families primarily in the Oshkosh Area School District by addressing unmet basic needs, providing essential resources, and removing barriers that impact a child’s ability to succeed in school and beyond. Through direct assistance and connections to community resources, OKF helps families build stability so children can thrive in learning and in life.
Meet Our Board
Our Board of Directors is made up of a group of caring professionals working together to give struggling kids and their families a hand up toward self-sufficiency.
