Celebrating 125 years of Empowering Community:The Charity Club is a Testament to Charitable Tradition.

The year is 1900, and the world has another 14 years before feeling the impacts of the first World War. Societal norms look much different. Many of the modern luxuries that Americans take for granted in 2025 have not yet been invented and are unimaginable for those living within the simpler times of 1900. For a comparable perspective, the average life expectancy is 47 years old, and half of all children live in poverty. The average family will only see an annual household income range of $200 to $400, with the average wage earning 22 cents per hour.

Right on the cusp of the Edwardian Era, today’s oldest charitable organization within Fond du Lac was formed. The Charity Club of Fond du Lac has roots tracing back to the Cathedral Wednesday Club initiated in 1899 by Reverend and Mrs. Blossom. And, in October 1900, twenty women laid the foundation for The Charity Club. The club members from the beginning had a mission to fund raise to give back to those who were most vulnerable in the community. By their 15th anniversary, the club was consistently raising an impressive $300-$400 annually through member’s dues and entertainment events. They would put that money back into the community by donating when a need was identified, such as providing Christmas trees to children who would not otherwise have one and providing food and clothing at Thanksgiving time.

Over the years, the club has made many positive contributions on a multitude of levels. Their focus soon shifted to providing milk to underserved children and families, while donating to many other nonprofit organizations, and building others up as needed to further the community’s outreach partners. Today, the Charity Club is a group of thirty dedicated, passionate, community-driven women raising money to provide milk and necessities for children in need in Fond du Lac—the community that they love, the community that they live and where they raise their own families. The tradition is strong and interwoven into the fabric of the city’s rich charitable history.

The Charity Club’s signature fundraiser is the Charity Ball!
All proceeds raised from this event are used to assist children
in the area. 60 percent of the proceeds are earmarked to the
milk fund, and the remaining funds are used to support local
charitable organizations, families, or specific projects which benefit children. Over the last decade the Charity Club was able to donate more than $400,000 for milk!

2025 Charity Ball
A Quasquicentennial Celebration of Past, Present, and Future!
Friday December 5, 2025 at the
historic Hotel Retlaw
For more details and tickets visit:
https://fdlcharityclub.org/events

Written by: Donna Pierce