Jennifer Skolaski
Jennifer Skolaski, Ph.D., champions education and community engagement. Both professionally and as a volunteer, she lives her commitment to the community by participating in projects that advance youth mental health and reduce the stigma of substance use and recovery. As the volunteer force behind the Read School Playground project, Skolaski raised $550,000 to create a destination playground in Oshkosh.
Skolaski’s leadership raised more than just dollars and built more than just a playground. Students at one of Oshkosh’s most diverse schools, where 62% identify as economically disadvantaged, and their families now see daily reminders that their community values them. They play on new, inclusive and vibrant equipment their neighbors helped create. The unofficial tagline of the Read School Playground campaign says it all: “It’s more than a playground.”
“The kids weren’t even excited for recess,” said Read School Principal Emily Eisenschink. “The playground space wasn’t fun. The silver chain-link fence wasn’t welcoming. Jennifer had a vision to transform the playground, but it was more than that. It was a vision to transform our school community.”
Skolaski secured more than two dozen corporate and community partners, activated donors and engaged 102 local women and girls alongside the Women’s Fund for some old-fashioned sweat equity.
“She really blossomed doing this work. It was beautiful to see Jennifer’s growth during this project. She invested so much in growing her community connections and was able to bring a beautiful dream into reality,” wrote nominator Karlene Grabner, executive cirector of the Women’s Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, which honored Skolaski with its 2024 Partner in Philanthropy Award.
