A $94K Grant to Support Youth at Warner Park

We’re excited to share that the Madison Parks Foundation has been awarded a $94,000 grant from 100 Men of Dane County to support the “Kids Need Opportunities at Warner (K.N.O.W.)” program at Warner Park Community Recreation Center.

HOW we got it

Each year, 100 Men of Dane County invites local organizations to submit a short, two-minute video explaining their mission and need. Instead of hiring professionals, we decided to turn the project into a learning experience for the very youth the grant would serve.

Two talented K.N.O.W. participants took the lead — writing, directing, and filming the first video submission themselves. With mentorship from our team and program director, Zach Watson, they learned about storytelling, collaboration, and the technical side of video production, gaining real-world experience while using their voices to advocate for their peers.

Their creativity and authenticity shines through, and their work helped secure this transformative award. The process itself embodied what the K.N.O.W. program stands for — empowering young people to lead, create, and discover what they’re capable of.

What the grant supports

Thanks to the 100 Men of Dane County grant, we’ll be able to purchase a new van dedicated to the KNOW program — so we can bring more kids to Warner Park, and break down barriers of access such as transportation. This means more youth programming, more connection, and more ways for Madison’s parks to be a place of opportunity and community.

The impact for our parks & community

• More transportation means more consistent participation: youth who might otherwise skip an activity because they can’t get there will now have a ride.

• The program strengthens the link between our parks and the broader Madison community — especially for families who don’t always have convenient access.

• By supporting youth in our parks, we’re investing in inclusive, accessible, and vibrant green spaces that serve everyone.

• This grant is a reminder of how community philanthropy can bridge gaps in public funding, making our parks more than just places to visit, but places to thrive.

Thank you to our partners

We are deeply grateful to 100 Men of Dane County for their trust and support. Their investment stands as a testament to the value of our parks as centers of community, learning, and belonging. And of course: all this work would not be possible without our donors, volunteers, and the many Madison Parks staff who make the K.N.O.W. program and others like it possible.

You can help

When you give to the Parks for All Fund, you help make stories like this possible — funding youth programs, accessibility improvements, community-led projects, and inclusive spaces that bring people together.

Your donation supports programs like K.N.O.W. and other initiatives that ensure every Madison park is a place where everyone belongs.

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