The 2026 Tocqueville Society Membership Dinner on October 6 at Four Winds Farm was one for the record books.

With our highest attendance since 2014, this year’s gathering was filled with excitement, meaningful connections and a shared commitment to strengthening Dane County. The energy was palpable from the moment guests arrived. In fact, by the time everyone was seated, we were happily bumping elbows, a reflection of just how much our Tocqueville community has grown.

The evening began with a reception honoring new members, generously sponsored by Heckmann Financial. As the sun set, guests gathered on the patio to reconnect with friends, welcome new faces and enjoy the beautiful fall evening.

During the reception, Tocqueville Society Chair Jessica Schwantes recognized the 40 individuals and families who joined the Tocqueville Society in the past year. Their generosity and leadership are helping United Way of Dane County expand its impact and invest in solutions that help our neighbors thrive. Reaching 40 new members was a tremendous accomplishment, and we’re setting our sights on achieving that milestone again this year.

Throughout the evening, speakers reflected on what makes the Tocqueville Society so special: a community of people who don’t simply give, but who inspire others to get involved. As several speakers noted, nearly every new member joins because someone in the room started a conversation, extended an invitation or shared why philanthropy matters to them.

The evening’s highlight was the presentation of the 2026 Tocqueville Society Award to Sheila and Kevin Conroy, whose nearly two decades of leadership, generosity and community service have left a lasting mark on Dane County. In remarks from United Way President & CEO Renee Moe, guests heard stories of the Conroys’ commitment to education, economic opportunity, volunteerism and community-wide solutions. From helping launch emergency relief efforts at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to championing long-term investments that strengthen local systems of support, Sheila and Kevin exemplify the values at the heart of the Tocqueville Society.

Accepting the award, Kevin shared personal reflections on his family’s commitment to service, the role United Way has played in shaping his own philanthropic journey and the responsibility we all share to create opportunity for future generations. His remarks served as a powerful reminder that meaningful change begins when people are willing to step forward, engage deeply and work together.

The evening also celebrated the broader impact of the Tocqueville community. Members reflected on lessons learned through this year’s events, recognized volunteers and longtime members and recommitted themselves to ambitious goals for the year ahead, including raising more than $6 million and welcoming another 40 new Tocqueville members.

Most of all, the dinner was a celebration of what happens when generous, thoughtful people come together around a shared purpose. The record-setting turnout, the warm welcome for new members and the enthusiastic response to the evening’s call to action all underscored the momentum building within the Tocqueville Society.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening so memorable. Together, we are continuing a tradition of philanthropy, leadership and community impact that grows stronger every year.

The Leading with Heart Award recognizes individuals and households who give with their whole hearts. They have gone above and beyond in their commitment to community and demonstrate the many ways leadership giving can create impact. These honorees represent different paths to deeper impact, from philanthropy and advocacy to connection and leadership. Their stories remind us that there is no single way to make a difference.

As part of the Plan for Community Well-Being, United Way of Dane County brings together partners and resources to help remove barriers to healthy living, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to live their healthiest life. This includes working with partners like Anesis Foundation to increase access to mental health services.

United Way’s support has strengthened Anesis’s ability to provide accessible, culturally responsive behavioral health services to individuals and families who may otherwise face significant barriers to care. The investment has supported the expansion of Anesis’s Drop-In Clinic model, allowing participants to receive immediate support and connect with therapy, case management, peer support, and community resources, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

For one participant experiencing a significant mental health crisis, that support meant finding the right therapist, developing healthier coping strategies and connecting with long-term resources. Over time, the participant regained confidence and began setting meaningful goals. Today, the participant is preparing to graduate from Operation Fresh Start and has secured employment.

United Way’s flexible investment also helps Anesis provide coordinated, wraparound care that addresses mental health needs and other factors that affect well-being, including housing, employment, transportation, food security and connection to community resources.

Through partnerships like this, United Way helps strengthen the network of support individuals and families rely on across Dane County – helping ensure the right resources are there when our neighbors need them the most.

Please note that names and photos for this story have been changed to protect the privacy of those featured.

United Way of Dane County’s Season of Caring is your premier resource for holiday volunteerism and donations. Join us in sharing the giving spirit and helping others during the holiday season. Because, while we can’t fix all of the issues affecting our community overnight, we can unite to address the most urgent needs facing families during the holiday season.

As United Way’s annual campaign season gains momentum, the success of our work depends on dedicated leaders who inspire others to get involved, give back and strengthen our community. One of those leaders is Raj Ravi, a member of Lead United, a Women United Ambassador and Employee Campaign Manager (ECM) at Hooper Corporation.

For nearly three years, Raj has helped lead Hooper’s United Way campaign, bringing energy, creativity and a passion for community impact to her role. Through employee education, relationship-building and collaboration with current donors and volunteers, she helps connect colleagues to the many ways they can support United Way’s mission.

At Hooper, Raj has helped cultivate a culture of service that is both meaningful and engaging. Working alongside a dedicated team of volunteers and HR staff, she supports special events tailored to employee interests. These activities not only generate excitement during campaign season but also create opportunities for employees to learn about the impact their generosity has across our community.

Raj’s passion for United Way’s work is rooted in its focus on financial security. She believes financial stability is often at the core of the challenges families face and has gained a deeper understanding of those realities through her involvement with United Way. While she feels fortunate that her own family has not experienced many of those hardships, she recognizes the importance of helping build a community where everyone has the opportunity to achieve financial security and a brighter future.

Raj has taken her involvement to the next level by becoming a Women United Ambassador. Women United Ambassadors serve as champions for Women United, helping to grow membership, connect women to meaningful volunteer and networking opportunities and share the collective impact women are making through philanthropy and service. In addition to serving as an ambassador, Raj recently joined Women United Membership & Engagement committee, further strengthening her commitment to engaging others in United Way’s work.

Volunteering has had a meaningful impact on Raj’s life. Through her experiences, she has developed an even greater appreciation for the people who dedicate their time to helping others. One of her favorite aspects of volunteering is connecting with fellow volunteers and learning about their unique experiences that inspire them to give back. Her involvement with United Way has also made service and philanthropy a regular topic of conversation at home, where she hopes to teach and model a strong sense of empathy, gratitude and community involvement with her children.

Raj’s leadership reflects the power of engagement beyond the workplace campaign. By investing in both philanthropy and service, she is helping build a stronger network of advocates who are committed to creating lasting change.

“To me, philanthropic leadership is about using your voice, relationships and influence to make a difference and encourage others to get involved,” Raj says. “One of my favorite parts of my job is leading the United Way campaign at Hooper. We start planning months in advance, and it is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together around a common cause. Whether it’s through your time, resources, relationships or voice, everyone has a role to play. When we each do our part, we can make a lasting difference in our community.”

As we continue through campaign season, we are especially grateful for leaders like Raj who make others feel personally invited to engage in community Raj’s commitment reminds us that when people step forward to lead, they inspire others to do the same.

After more than 30 years of service to support student learning, Schools of Hope and Achievement Connections ended in August 2026 due to reductions in federal funding. United Way of Dane County has released a report detailing the impact these programs have had on local students.

United Way is grateful to all of the volunteers, staff and partner organizations who came together to support Schools of Hope and Achievement Connections. We honor them and thank them for believing that all our community’s children can succeed academically, and for taking action to implement an effective community response.

Please note that Middle Schools of Hope, not funded by AmeriCorps, provides one-on-one and small group literacy and mathematics tutoring, and continues to be operated by Urban League and supported by United Way.