Boys & Girls Club Blog

August 7, 2026

OSHKOSH, Wis. — The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh welcomed the community for a memorable National Night Out on Aug. 4, drawing nearly 40 local organizations together for an evening dedicated to connection, safety and fun.

The event brought neighbors face-to-face with representatives from law enforcement, public safety, health care, housing, education and recreation, giving families the chance to learn about local resources in a relaxed, festive setting. Attendees enjoyed food, games and conversation with the many partner organizations on hand, including those with offices in the Club’s Hyde Family Community Center.

Savannah Anholzer, RN, SANE-A, Forensic Nurse Examiner Lead for Aurora Medical Center of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, said National Night Out provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with community members, increase awareness of the services provided by Aurora Healthcare Forensic Nursing, and help educate families about resources available to victims of violence and abuse.

“Events like National Night Out allow us to build trust within the community, answer questions in a welcoming environment, and strengthen partnerships with organizations that share a commitment to safety, prevention and support,” Anholzer said. “We appreciate the opportunity to participate and look forward to future collaborations.”

Participating community partners included:ADVOCAP, Aurora Healthcare Forensic Nursing, Aurora Medical Center Oshkosh, Big Brothers Big Sisters East Central Wisconsin, Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh, Breakwater, Bridging the Sensory Gap, Children’s Wisconsin, Catalpa Health, Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Department of Corrections, Family Services of NEW Parent Connection, First 5 Fox Valley/Help Me Grow, Forward Service Corporation, Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team, Fox Valley BMX, Habitat for Humanity of Oshkosh, HELP Program (Winnebago County), Latina Resource Center (UMOS), Onward Adult Day Care Center, LLC, Oshkosh and Winnebago County Housing Authority, Oshkosh Kids Foundation, Oshkosh Public Library, Oshkosh United Way, Oshkosh YMCA, Partnership Community Health, Rawhide Youth Services, Reach Counseling Services, Read More, Starting Point – Fox Valley Technical College, US Army, UW Oshkosh Headstart, UW-Extension, Winnebago County Public Health Department, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and World Relief

“Events like these are so important because we’re able to connect with families who may be in need of our services in a more relaxed and fun environment,” said Liz Karlovich, Development Specialist at Catalpa Health. “Mental health can be challenging to talk about, and when organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh provide safe spaces like National Night Out we can be that voice of advocacy.”

Melissa Wing, a Community Health Advocate with Children’s Wisconsin, said National Night out also strengthened collaborative opportunities between agency partners “who share a commitment to supporting children and families.”

“Events like this help build trust within the community, expand access to resources, and ensure families know where to turn for support, making them highly valuable to my role and the work of Children’s Wisconsin,” Wing said.

Local food truck vendors also joined the celebration, including Chick-fil-A Oshkosh, Kona Ice and Mr. & Mrs. Eggroll.

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh thanks all participating partners, vendors and community members who made this year’s National Night Out a success, and looks forward to continuing to build strong, connected neighborhoods across Oshkosh.

“National Night Out is about strengthening the bond between our community and the organizations that serve it,” said Alex Hummel, Director of Advancement. “Seeing nearly 40 partners come together in one place for our families was incredible. It’s a great reminder of how much interconnected support exists in Oshkosh.”

Want to discover ways to partner with Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh? Start with a Club tour and see its Oshkosh programs in action before summer concludes. Contact us: alexh@bgcosh.org or (920) 233-1414 ext. 129.

Find more pictures from the event on our Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BAE1vPqWL/