In 1958 a neighborhood came together to build a safe gathering place where children could learn the life skill of swimming. Sixty years later, the impact of Ridgewood Pool on the community is significantly larger than its founders could have ever imagined. It helped to establish the strong swim culture that permeates the entire region, having taught thousands of children to learn to swim. And Ridgewood’s very presence is a source of strength and stability in an area of Madison where it is greatly needed.
The Ed Nebbins Foundation was created to continue the impact of Ridgewood Pool for generations to come, while expanding its reach to areas of the community that need it the most.
Through collaboration with local partners, the Foundation will provide subsidized learn-to-swim programs and increase exposure to the lifelong sport of swimming to children and families who otherwise would not have access to a neighborhood pool.
Additionally, the Foundation will provide access to the rehabilitative benefits of swimming to area veterans.
Before we can achieve this, we first need to ensure the legacy of Ridgewood Pool lives on for another sixty years. Learn about our current Capital Campaign to re-build a deteriorating Ridgewood Pool.
The Ed Nebbins Foundation is a recognized 501(c)(3) organization.
We are fully staffed by volunteers who have a strong commitment to the cause. If you are interested in joining us, or if you simply have questions about the project, please let us know at info@EdNebbinsFoundation.org . As a volunteer-run organization, we make every attempt to respond as quickly as we can.
Our Mission
The Ed Nebbins Foundation strengthens families and neighborhoods on Madison’s southwest side and neighboring communities by supporting the life-saving benefits of swimming in partnership with Ridgewood Pool, a vital community asset.
Our Vision
Developing safe swimmers. Cultivating a strong community.
Our Namesake
The namesake of the foundation—Ed Nebbins— is the lead character in a popular tale shared with the youngest swim team members at Ridgewood Pool each year. It is a story that embodies the spirit of a neighborhood that came together after a local boy nearly drowned in a nearby pond to ensure that children had a safe place to learn to swim.
Foundation Board
-
Rebbecca Jordan HaushalterPresident
-
Tony MartinelliVice President
-
Kathy BissenSecretary
-
Nick CurranTreasurer
-
John Wickstrom
Rebbecca Jordan Haushalter
Tony Martinelli
Kathy Bissen
Kathy's Bio
Kathy is an active community member who has lived in the Orchard Ridge and Meadowood neighborhoods for more than 25 years. In her professional life she is the Associate Director and Chief Operating Officer at Wisconsin Public Television, responsible for the creation and delivery of a wide range of services for the statewide network. She is on the Advisory Board of the National Center for Journalism Ethics, a graduate of Leadership Greater Madison, on the Boards of Ridgewood Pool and an animal welfare fund, and is an active member and volunteer at St. Maria Goretti parish. Kathy and her husband Peter have spent more hours than they can count cheering on their daughters at swim meets and other sporting events, and believe strongly in the value of everyone learning how to swim, not only as a life-saving skill, but as a life-long healthy activity.
Nick Curran
Nick's Bio
Nick has been involved in public accounting since 1998. In 2006, he shifted his focus to provide specialized accounting services to nonprofit organizations, which progressed into the founding of Numbers 4 Nonprofits in 2013. Nick’s background in nonprofit accounting and his extensive knowledge of QuickBooks supports N4N’s 70+ clients in managing their money with mission. He leads the N4N team in preparing nonprofits for annual audits, assisting with annual budgeting, creating forward-focused financial projections, and offering vital outside perspective. Nick is active in AICPA, WICPA, Downtown Madison Rotary, and Tocqueville Society of United Way of Dane County. He was recognized in In Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 and was part of the Leadership Greater Madison class 14. He enjoys spending time with family & friends, traveling, and cheering on the Packers and Badgers.
John Wickstrom
P.O. Box 930248
Verona, WI 53593-2270
Phone: 608-571-4524
info@EdNebbinsFoundation.org