The Highground is pleased to share that Festival Foods has pledged to the Company Giving Society (between $25,000 and 49,999) for The Highground Rising, the ongoing private $4M capital campaign to build a Welcome Center at The Highground and support additional Park improvements.
“The Highground facility is extremely important to our local service members, veterans, and their families,” shares Mark Skogen, President and CEO. “We are honored to be a part of a campaign in which our community can align to make a difference for those who have sacrificed for us all.”
The $4M capital campaign, which launched in April this year, has raised over $1.3M in cash and pledges. The organization hopes to break ground on its 12,000 square foot Welcome Center in early 2023.
Key features of the planned expansion will include:
- A 12,000 square-foot Welcome Center with space for Veteran-focused events and programs, as well as mental health services
- Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities act (ADA), ensuring access to the entire Park and all memorial sites for disabled Veterans and visitors
- Improved parking, allowing for safer access to the tributes and to the Welcome Center
- Increased financial stability and long-term sustainability with the pay-off of the $450,000 mortgage
Notably, The Highground is one of the country’s largest privately-funded, continuously-staffed Veterans parks in the nation. The Highground and Camp Victory is located in pristine Central Wisconsin on two stunning campuses. The 155-acre Park, located just west of Neillsville along Highway 10, features an incredible view from the Plaza. Camp Victory, located approximately 18 miles north of the main site, sits on 295 flourishing, wooded acres.
The organization has received limited government funding in its 35+ year history – paying tribute to Veterans of the past, present and future with a mission to Honor, Educate and Heal. Annual visitors are on the rise with over 225,000 expected in the future.
Supporters are encouraged to help The Highground Complete the Mission. To pledge or donate, visit the campaign website at campaign.thehighground.us or contact Chris Pettis, Executive Director, at director@thehighground.us.