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WKTY CARES ABOUT: LA CROSSE ROTARY
Bring your friend and get ready for an afternoon of fun ~ The La Crosse Rotary After Hours is hosting its 13th Annual Mini Masters on Saturday, September 19, from 2–7 p.m. Join La Crosse Rotary After Hours for the 13th Annual Mini Masters - an afternoon of mini-golf, big laughs, legendary outfits, and awesome prizes, all for a great cause!
The Mini Masters brings people together for an afternoon of fun, friendly competition and a chance to support the work of Rotary After Hours in our community. This year’s theme is "The Eras", and teams are highly encouraged to dress in attire from their favorite decade. Channel 1950s poodle skirts, 1960s peace and love, 1970s disco fever, 1980s neon or 1990s grunge. Grab your squad, choose your era and dress to impress!
Rotary After Hours is made up of local leaders and volunteers who believe in "Service Above Self". The club focuses on making a difference through community projects, youth initiatives and opportunities to bring people together to create positive change. All proceeds support the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, helping build global connections and welcome international students to our community.
13th Annual La Crosse Rotary After Hours Mini Masters
Saturday, September 19
2–7 p.m.
Riverside Amusement Park, 1304 Interchange Place, La Crosse
Learn more and register your team here: 13th Annual Mini Masters
A special thank you to our WKTY Cares sponsors Kratt Lumber and Performance Foodservice, for helping us support and spotlight the organizations doing great things throughout our community.
WKTY CARES ABOUT BACK2SCHOOL
WKTY CARES: Help Local Students Start the School Year Strong
A new school year should begin with excitement—not worry. That's why WKTY CARES is proud to support the Coulee Region Back2School Program, helping ensure local students have the backpacks, school supplies, and essentials they need to walk into the classroom with confidence. For many families in our community, the cost of back-to-school shopping can be overwhelming. Through this incredible community effort led by Catholic Charities, hundreds of students receive the supplies they need to be prepared for a successful school year. Last year, the program helped hundreds of local families and more than 1,000 students, and the need continues to grow.
How You Can Help
Every donation makes a difference. You can:
- Donate new backpacks
- Purchase new school supplies
- Make a monetary donation so needed items can be purchased
- Volunteer your time to help with distribution events
Whether it's a pack of notebooks or a new backpack, your generosity helps ease the burden on local families and gives kids the confidence they deserve on the first day of school. A list of needed supplies and a link to donate directly can be found HERE
Distribution Events
Families who qualify can receive supplies at three distribution events this summer:
- Erickson Boys & Girls Club – July 28
- La Crosse Center – August 4
- Mathy Boys & Girls Club – August 11
Join WKTY CARES
When our community comes together, amazing things happen.
Join WKTY CARES in helping local students head back to school ready to learn, grow, and succeed. Every backpack, every notebook, and every dollar helps create a brighter start for a child right here in the Coulee Region. WKTY CARES is generously supported by Kratt Lumber and Performance Foods.
Thank you for helping us take care of our community—one student at a time.
WKTY CARES ABOUT BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS
WKTY Cares about Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the 7 River Region and their upcoming fundraiser - Bowl for Kids Sake!
Bowl for Kids’ Sake is Big Brothers Big Sisters’ annual signature fundraiser that brings together individuals, teams, and organizations from across the community to raise funds and awareness in support of youth mentoring programs that help kids reach their fullest potential. Get your team together and sign up now to bowl on May 30th at 
!
This year, we’re turning back the clock with our Decades Edition! Dust off your best retro threads, rep your favorite era, and come out for a night of strikes, spares, and serious throwback vibes. The event is about so much more than bowling — it’s a celebration of community, connection, and fun for a cause that truly matters. From themed costumes and prizes to music that spans the years, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Teams are encouraged to fundraise ahead of the event by asking friends, family, and coworkers to support their bowling efforts. The funds raised through Bowl for Kids’ Sake directly benefit local mentoring programs — helping Bigs and Littles build meaningful relationships, grow confidence, and create brighter futures together. Whether you’re a seasoned bowler or just in it for the vibes, your participation makes a real impact.
So grab your crew, pick your decade, and prepare to have a blast while making a difference. Together, we can celebrate fun, raise support, and ignite potential in the lives of kids in our community!
Register to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters here, and find out more about becoming a "Big" here.
WKTY CARES ABOUT YOUTH FISHING EDUCATION AND ACCESS
WKTY Cares about the 1st Annual Goose Island Fishing Classic!
Saturday, May 30 - 8am - Goose Island County Park Campground Pavilion
Happy fishing!
WKTY Cares would like to thanks it's generous partners: Kratt Lumber and Performance Foodservice
WKTY CARES FOR CHILDREN'S INTERNET SAFETY
WKTY Cares recently made a donation to the Coulee Region Children's Internet Protection Task Force, in partnership with the La Crosse Sheriff's Office.
Created in 2011, this Task Force is a collaborative effort between the Holmen, La Crosse, Onalaska, West Salem, Campbell, and Bangor Police Departments. Their mission is to keep local children safe online and in the community. The Task Force receives cyber tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, works on cases alongside local law enforcement, serves warrants, and conducts undercover operations when necessary.
The team also educates children and parents on safe internet practices, covering topics such as inappropriate content, online privacy, online enticement, sexting, sextortion, and cyberbullying. They guide parents on having early conversations about internet safety, establishing rules for online sharing, managing privacy settings, creating strong passwords, reviewing friends lists, and developing safety plans.
WKTY Cares’ donation will help fund new equipment, including tables and flash drives, as well as ongoing training for Task Force investigators.
The needs of this Task Force continue to grow. To learn more about their work or to support their mission, please consider donating.
This donation was made possible thanks to the generous community support of Kratt Lumber and Performance Foods.
WKTY Cares for YMCA Youth Community Center
WKTY Cares January donation supports the La Crosse YMCA Community Youth Center.
We were able to tour the center, and meet with it's dedicated staff, and learn more about how the center serves our community. The Community Youth Center is a safe drop-in center for youth ages 10–17, with free activities that are engaging, attractive to young people and make use of their talents, energy and creativity. The Center offers skill-building and recreational opportunities and is staffed by positive, caring adults who are trained to work with adolescents.
The facility includes a spacious kitchen designed to foster community and learning, allowing children to share meals and develop important life skills in healthy meal preparation, cooking, and cleanup. A cozy living room provides space for homework and connection, while additional rooms include a computer lab, a game room, an art room, and a movie projection screen—plus much more. Free clothing and toiletries are available to all youth.
The Youth Community Center is located at 1105 King Street, behind the La Crosse YMCA. During the school year, hours are Monday through Friday from 3:30–7:00 p.m., and weekends and non-school days from 12:00–4:00 p.m. Summer hours are Monday through Friday from 12:00–7:00 p.m., with weekend hours from 12:00–4:00 p.m.
You can learn more about the Youth Community Center by contacting the La Crosse YMCA at 608-782-9622.
WKTY Cares thanks Kratt Lumber and Performance Food Service for their ongoing commitment to supporting our community.
WKTY Cares for Logan Middle School Tech Department
WKTY Cares recently donated to Logan Middle School, and their growing Technology Education Department.
WKTY Cares for Toys for Tots
The November WKTY Cares donation is to JCI La Crosse’s Toys For Tots. The group has been running the local Toys For Tots program for over 80 years, making the magic of Christmas possible for local families in need.
Thanks to our sponsors, Kratt Lumber Company and Performance Foodservice, WKTY Cares was proud to make a $1,000 donation to support their work in our community.
To donate to the JCI’s Amazon wish list CLICK HERE, sign up to volunteer HERE, and find a full list of barrel locations HERE. Barrels will be out for donations through December 4th.
WKTY Cares for Operation Riverwatch
WKTY Cares is supporting Operation: Riverwatch, in partnership with Kratt Lumber and Performance Foodservice.
Operation: River Watch is a campus-based initiative in La Crosse, Wisconsin that seeks to prevent alcohol-related tragedies that result in accidental drowning in the Mississippi River. Furthermore, Operation: River Watch seeks to cultivate and promote a stronger sense of social responsibility and safety in La Crosse’s drinking culture.
A student-led initiative launched in 2006, Operation: River Watch deploys a team of student volunteers to monitor Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse during overnight hours. The program operates Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights (11 p.m. to 3 a.m.) during the academic year, contingent on the availability of volunteers.
Operation: River Watch is a collaborative effort among students at La Crosse’s three colleges: UW-La Crosse, Viterbo University and Western Technical College. Campuses take turns covering weekly shifts. School leaders and local law enforcement help oversee and support the program.
During the 2024-25 academic year, UWL partnered with the Student Association to create a program incentivizing students to volunteer with Operation: River Watch. UWL student organizations who volunteer are now eligible to receive financial support for their club. Students and community partners understand the importance of this program, and share the desire to ensure that La Crosse is a safe community for all.
WKTY Cares thanks Kratt Lumber and Performance Foodservice, for their ongoing support.
WKTY Cares for Back 2 School
Mid-West Family is very excited to once again join forces to help families get their students ready to head Back2School! Thanks to our sponsors, Performance Foods and Kratt Lumber, WKTY Cares was able to donate $500 to support local kiddos.
If you’re able to donate, too, you can:
- Donate backpacks and/or school supplies
- Make a monetary donation so we can purchase needed supplies
- Purchase Scrip from your local Parish to donate for school supplies (this benefits the parish as well as the children in need)
Volunteers are also still needed to help with setting up supplies and backpacks on Monday, August 4 from 1-3 pm. They also need volunteers to help families choose their school supplies on Tuesday, August 5 during 4 times slots: 9:45 am-12 pm, 12:45-3 pm, 2:45-5 pm, and 4:45-7 pm.
If you are interested in helping out, you can sign up here!