The Heart of Tomah: Discover Community & Culture
Culture is at the heart of many small towns. In Tomah, Wisconsin, a culture of community is the very spirit and brand of the area. Giving back to others, supporting members of the community, and fundraising for worthy causes are the motivations behind many Tomah community events. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, participating in, seeing, and hearing about these acts of kindness can not only inspire, but give a glimpse into the kind of community that makes Tomah such a special place to live, work, and play. Read on to learn about a few of the annual events in which the Tomah community continually demonstrates their culture of kindness and care, and how you can become involved, too!
Kindness Community Classic
The Kindness Community Classic is an annual fundraising event that takes place in Tomah every summer. The goal of the event is to show kindness and generosity while serving neighbors, the community, the country, and beyond. The Kindness Community Classic is a range of running and walking races for all ages and abilities, including children, seniors, and those with special needs. Supporters and sponsors ranging from businesses to foundations to families and individuals give donations to the event to raise money for area organizations and nonprofits that do good in the Tomah community throughout the year. Past years have seen fundraising amounts of $50,000 at this fun and generous event!
Squirrelfest
Founded in 2003, the North American Squirrel Association has a mission of making the outdoors accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and skills. The Tomah branch of n.a.s.a. began in 2016 and has continued to work towards fulfilling the organization’s mission as Tomah’s branch continues to grow. The organization offers a variety of services to aid the elderly and people with disabilities in enjoying outdoor activities. The Tomah Squirrels' biggest event is Squirrelfest in Winnebago Park, which typically occurs during the summer. The free festival is an all-day event that provides an opportunity for the disabled and the elderly to come together with their families and the community for socializing, free games, rides, a raffle, music, and food. Serving as a fundraiser for the Tomah n.a.s.a., Squirrelfest helps them continue to offer their services and events and make the outdoors accessible for everyone.
Mr. Legs Contest
Another Tomah fundraising event is the annual Mr. Legs Contest presented by the Tomah Area Community Theater (ACT). The community theater cultivates culture and the Arts in Tomah, and one way they can continue to enrich the community is through the Mr. Legs Contest. This evening at the theater includes entertainment provided by ten talented local gentlemen contestants who bare their legs and perform their best moves in their quest for your votes. Money raised by ticket sales goes directly to the ACT and gives ticket holders access to the “A Taste of Tomah” event which occurs just before the contest at Murray’s on Main. The event is a great way to support local Arts and have a fun evening of great food and entertainment!
Ladies Night Out with Treasured Chests
Presented by the organization Treasured Chests of Monroe County, the Ladies Night Out Fundraiser is another notable Tomah event with a mission to support others in the community. The event raises funds to help support women in the community with breast cancer. The cancer support organization Treasured Chests donated the raised funds to Tomah Health, which were then used to provide complimentary meals to breast cancer patients during their treatment. The most recent Ladies Night Out raised over $20,000 to help support their mission.