For Immediate Release – January 10, 2024

Contact:
Brian Otten, Marketing Director
Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce
715-848-5947 | botten@wausauchamber.com

UPDATE: PROGRAM RESCHEDULED

Monthly program to highlight local nonprofits launches this week at the Children’s Imaginarium

WAUSAU — A team of participants in the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce’s Transformational Leadership program, in partnership with the Children’s Imaginarium, will launch Imagine the Impact: Empowering Youth Through Mentorships next week. The launch date has been moved from Wednesday, March 5 to Wednesday, March 12 due to today’s snowstorm. The new initiative is designed to connect local non-profits with the community through interactive, educational experiences.

The inaugural event will take place on Wednesday, March 12, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Children’s Imaginarium in downtown Wausau, and will feature CASA of Marathon County (Court Appointed Special Advocates). CASA provides trained volunteer advocates to support children in the foster care system, ensuring their voices are heard and their best interests are met.

Families attending this special event will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about CASA and its vital role in supporting local youth.
• Engage in hands-on STEM projects designed to inspire curiosity and creativity.
• Explore the Children’s Imaginarium, Wausau’s premier interactive museum for children.

Standard museum admission rates apply, with discounted rates available for qualifying families through the Access for All Scholarship Programs. For more information visit ChildrensImaginarium.org.

"At the Children’s Imaginarium, we believe that by partnering with Transformational Leadership and the Imagine the Impact initiative, we can create meaningful change in our community," said Julie Bollmann, Executive Director of the Children’s Imaginarium. "By hosting these events in collaboration with local nonprofits, we provide a platform to educate, connect, and empower individuals with valuable resources that can make a lasting impact. Together, we can raise awareness, inspire action, and strengthen our community—ensuring that every family has access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive."

CASA of Marathon County is eager to share its mission with the community through this event. Goldzong Moua, volunteer supervisor for CASA of Marathon County, expressed excitement about the collaboration:

"CASA, a longstanding organization dedicated to serving vulnerable children and families, is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Children’s Imaginarium,” said Moua. “While CASA has been making a significant impact in Wisconsin for 25 years, CASA is new to the area, having been around for a little over a year. Through this partnership, CASA aims to further its mission of ensuring children’s voices are heard in the legal system and advocating for their best interests by connecting with community members."

Imagine the Impact was developed by a team of participants in the Transformational Leadership program’s 2024-2025 session at the Chamber. Each year, participants in this intensive leadership program break into small teams to develop and implement a project that makes a meaningful impact on the community.

"When discussing how to support youth mentorship, we recognized that our community is filled with incredible nonprofits that provide vital services to young people—yet many of them remain unknown to the public," said Jennifer Ekiss, a member of the team from the 2024-2025 Transformational Leadership session. "Our goal is to spotlight these organizations, giving them a platform to share their mission, connect with families, and expand their reach.”

“By creating a monthly event series at the Children’s Imaginarium, we hope to foster awareness, encourage mentorship, and strengthen community connections for years to come," said Ekiss.

“Being a part of the Transformational Leadership class and helping plan Imagine the Impact has shown me just how many incredible nonprofits are making a difference in our community,” said Angela Oleson, Human Resources Director at Van Ert Electric. “This initiative is a powerful way to highlight organizations that people may not be aware of and connect families with the meaningful work they do.”

Registration for the 2025-2026 Transformational Leadership is now open. For more information on the program, visit WausauChamber.com or contact Sharon Baumann at 715-845-6231 or sbaumann@wausauchamber.com.

Transformational Leadership is sponsored at the gold level by Aspirus/Aspirus Health Plan, Associated Bank, Greenheck Group, Linetec and Wausau Window & Wall Systems.

Members of the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce can participate in this leadership program at a reduced rate.

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The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce is the source for business information in the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The organization has earned a 5-Star Accreditation, one of only two chambers in the state with that designation. The Chamber strengthens member businesses and enhances the region by building business success. For more information on the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce, visit us online at www.wausauchamber.com or call 715-845-6231.