Local businesses commit $3 million to help Fox Cities Habitat launch its largest project in more than 30 years
MENASHA, Wis. (Aug. 26, 2026) — John Weyenberg, president & CEO of the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity announced today that his organization will attack the challenge of getting 100 tornado-ravaged homes repaired by Dec. 15, 2026, for families to be back in them for Christmas.
This ‘Tornado Rock the Block 100’ effort will focus on replacing roofs, windows, doors and exterior damage to homes to get them prepared for the fast-approaching winter season. Taking on the challenge of repairing and winterizing 100 homes in a 100-day period is nothing new for the Fox Cities Habitat team or the hundreds of volunteers that support them. Six years ago in Menasha, Wisconsin, the blueprint for this program was successfully accomplished through Fox Cities Habitat’s first Rock the Block 100 campaign. Clearly, that previous work was not as extensive or expensive as it is this time, but it was important, and Habitat got it done on time and on budget.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Fox Cities Habitat will host a press conference in Jefferson Park (989 Kargus Dr, Menasha) at 11 a.m. where they will outline the qualification criteria and how the program will operate. After the press conference, residents of Menasha, Neenah, Fox Crossing and Appleton with significant tornado damage will be able to apply online at foxcitieshabitat.org.
Since the tornado on July 27, Fox Cities Habitat has been on the job helping to coordinate and support volunteer-led crews with debris removal and early recovery efforts. This Tornado Rock the Block 100 is shifting the focus to the most pressing repairs needed to put families back in their homes before winter sets in. Contractors and materials are already being coordinated for this important step forward in our community’s journey to help the hundreds of families that have been affected. Work through this project is expected to focus on urgent stabilization and weatherization needs. Fox Cities Habitat will share additional details at the press conference.
Tornado Rock the Block 100 is supported by Kimberly-Clark, Bergstrom Automotive, Menasha Corp., Plexus Corp., Alta Resources, Miron Construction, U.S. Venture, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and Fox Communities Credit Union, who together have contributed $3 million to pay for this first step of the housing recovery effort.
“This is a very important first step for our community and we are incredibly appreciative of the commitment from the business community of this initial funding to get things started quickly,” Bergstrom Automotive Co-Founder and Executive Chairman John Bergstrom said. “This is just the beginning of rebuilding and as a community we are going to work together to help the people that are in serious financial need caused by this tornado.”
This will be the largest single effort in more than 30 years for Fox Cities Habitat.
For more information about Fox Cities Habitat, its homeownership programs, or how you can get involved, visit foxcitieshabitat.org.
