Help VFW Post 10818 build Freedom Park Center!

All donations are tax-deductible and will go directly to funding the construction of Freedom Park Center.

THE VISION

Freedom Park Center will become a significant community resource for New Richmond and western Wisconsin. Construction is already underway on a 4.4-acre site donated by the city of New Richmond. Located in a lakefront park on the edge of the town, surrounded by walking trails, picnic areas, and city soccer and football fields, the 17,400-square-foot facility is designed with three major sections - the Veterans Center, the Senior Center, and the Community Event Center. Work on the foundation and utilities started in the summer of 2022, and the remaining construction will take place in 2023.

All donations are tax-deductible and will go directly to funding the construction of Freedom Park Center.

THE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR TROOPS

In 2019, the Department of Defense (DOD) approved VFW Post 10818's request and granted support for the construction of Freedom Park Center. VFW Post 10818 is one of only three Posts in the U.S. to have a partnership with DOD through the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. Freedom Park Center is the largest IRT project of any kind in the state of Wisconsin.

In this unique partnership, the DOD provides skilled military personnel who train under the supervision of local contractors and city officials at no cost to the project. The collaboration offers soldiers a real-world construction project where they can cross-train on the core competencies involved in the building trades and work with professional contractors and city officials. At the same time, they make a tangible contribution to their communities. Throughout the project, over 1000 active-duty military personnel, both men and women, will learn skills that will prepare them for successful careers.

THE COMMUNITY IMPACT

When the Center is completed, veterans and their families will have a central location for services and events. Seniors will have access to a commercial kitchen, a meeting space, health services and recreation. Youth groups will have expanded facilities for sporting and educational activities. Across the community, Freedom Park Center will enhance health, education, and wellness.

Veterans: Approximately 5,000 veterans live in St. Croix County, with more in the adjacent Polk and Pierce counties. In addition to housing VFW Post offices, meeting spaces and storage for ongoing activities, Freedom Park Center will offer support for active service members and their families, veterans with disabilities, and retired service members. The Veterans Center will provide an office for visiting therapists from Minneapolis/St. Paul area veteran centers, making an immediate impact on the growing health crisis. Other services will include counseling, refurbished medical equipment, guidance for VA benefits, financial assistance for unmet needs of military dependents, and more. The facility will offer a space to other veteran groups in the region for meetings and events.

Seniors: The county's population includes 12,000 seniors, with the age 65+ population being the fastest-growing demographic in the city. Freedom Park Center will offer recreational, social and leisure education opportunities that enhance the quality of life for senior citizens in the community. The Senior Center will provide a space for many community services, including ADRC Meals on Wheels, New Richmond Community Education, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Westfield Hospital and Clinic, and City Parks programs.

Youth: Approximately 15,000 youth live in the county, with nearly 4,000 in the New Richmond School District. The Community Event Center will provide local youth with constructive after-school activities and intergenerational experiences in a safe, structured environment through collaborations with local partners and VFW members. The facility will serve as a hub for activities in partnership with youth-serving organizations in New Richmond and the youth sports associations that presently use the adjacent athletic fields.

YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION

Since 2015, VFW Post 10818 members and volunteers have dedicated countless hours securing donations, in-kind contributions, grants and support partnerships to make the dream of this project become a reality. The total projected cost of the Freedom Park Center is $4.3 million, and fundraising continues through events, raffles and outreach efforts as we watch Freedom Park Center come to life.

All donations received through this fundraiser will go directly to the project's construction cost. Your contribution will play an influential part in positively impacting our community through the services supported by Freedom Park Center, and your support is immensely appreciated!

We have this gofundme fundraising page as an online option, but know online transactions aren’t for everybody. If you prefer to make a donation offline by mail, please make check payable to “VFW Post 10818” and note Freedom Park Center. 

VFW Post 10818 

PO Box 233 

New Richmond, WI 54017

The Wisconsin VFW Foundation is the official 501(c)(3) charity of the VFW. Its goal is tosupport the charitable and exempt purposes of the Wisconsin VFW. As a nonprofit organization, the foundation receives no government funding and relies solely on individual donations and corporation sponsorships. 

VFW Post 10818 serves New Richmond, WI, and the surrounding region in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. In addition to its many services to veterans, Post 10818 offers the community extensive activities for seniors, schools, civic organizations, and youth.