Boys & Girls Club Blog

May 14, 2025

Hi! My name is Olivia Heckel, and I’m the Marketing & Special Events Intern at the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh. I started in January and have already learned so much!

I’m originally from Waukesha, Wisconsin, where I grew up with my sister Emma and our parents. After high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. I started as a nursing major, then switched to psychology, but neither felt quite right. Eventually, I discovered Public Relations and Journalism—and everything clicked. Writing has always been a passion of mine, so it felt like the perfect fit.

I graduated in December 2024 with a double major in Public Relations and Advertising, a minor in Media Studies, and certificates in Social Media and Multimedia Journalism.

After graduation, I wasn’t exactly sure what was next for me. UWO hosts career fairs, and I decided to attend one—my first in all four years of being there. I was immediately drawn to the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh booth because I had already seen a job posting for a Marketing & Special Events Intern. I ended up talking with Thomas, the Human Resources Manager, who gave me a great overview of what the Club is all about. Right away, I felt a strong connection to the organization. I went through the interview process—and now, here I am! I saw this position as a great opportunity to gain valuable experience and discover new strengths. I’ve always been interested in marketing and events, and this felt like the perfect chance to explore that passion!

WineFeast 2025

Since starting the internship, I’ve had the opportunity to get hands-on experience—especially through working on WineFeast, one of the Club’s biggest events.

I’ve always been passionate about events and the creative marketing that goes with it, but never had the chance to explore this interest. Working on WineFeast gave me a deeper understanding of what goes into planning and promoting an event, and just how impactful it can be for the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh.

I had the opportunity to use my creative skills to design signage, social media posts, and other materials. Tapping into this creative side of marketing was both fun and fulfilling, especially knowing that these materials were made for a good cause and helped support the mission of the Club. Seeing these materials come to life really opened my eyes to how important thoughtful marketing is in promoting a good cause and engaging the community.

One moment that truly solidified the importance of community partnership for me was witnessing the live auction for ‘Great Futures: Sponsor a Child.’ Unlike typical auctions, this one stood out because donors gave generously without receiving anything in return—just the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a child’s life at the Club. More than 40 paddles were raised during the auction, and it was truly heartwarming to witness such generosity from the community. 

On top of that, this is the biggest annual fundraising event held by the Club, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have been a part of it. From the smaller raffles to the silent auction and the exciting live auction, it was incredible to see how each piece came together to raise money in support of the Club’s mission!

In this “Intern Spotlight” series, I’ll be sharing some of the experiences and insights I’ve gathered during my time at the Club. Stay tuned for more stories and reflections, from an intern’s point of view!