Our Mission
The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation provides grants to enhance education, health care, research and human services, improving the quality of life in the Madison area.
Focus Areas
Since 1949, $96 Million Invested in the Madison Community
Health Care
Education
Human Services
Research
What We Do
Established by business leader and former Governor Oscar Rennebohm as a way to thank the community that made his success possible, the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation has issued hundreds of grants for projects that are visible in landmarks throughout the Madison landscape and across Dane County: the UW-Madison, Edgewood College and Madison College campuses; health care facilities; and neighborhood and community centers, among many others.
Latest News
Longtime Madisonian Meg Prestigiacomo, Director and Financial Advisor at Baird – The Prestigiacomo Carroll Casper Manke Group, recently joined the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Board of Directors. She follows Summit Credit Union CEO/President Kim Sponem, who retired from the board after six years of service.
Foundation Timeline
Oscar Rennebohm is born in the town of Leeds, Columbia County, Wisconsin
Oscar completes the University of Wisconsin two-year pharmacy course
Oscar buys his first drugstore and establishes Rennebohm Drug Stores under the Rexall franchise
During World War I, Oscar attends officer candidate school and is commissioned an Ensign by the Navy
Oscar marries Mary Fowler
Oscar and Mary adopt Carol Ann
Oscar’s drugstore chain grows to 13 locations
Oscar wins Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin race
Oscar becomes Governor of Wisconsin following Gov. Walter Samuel Goodland’s death
Oscar elected Governor of Wisconsin
Articles of Incorporation filed for the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation
Foundation awards small grants to churches, hospitals and other nonprofit organizations, such as American Red Cross
Oscar named to University of Wisconsin Board of Regents
Foundation awards its first major grant of $40,000 to the UW Medical School and Hospital for pulmonary function research
Foundation narrows grant recipient geographic area to Dane County
Oscar aids UW in developing the area later known as Hilldale Shopping Center
Oscar Rennebohm dies at age 79
Foundation grants $200,000 to UW School of Pharmacy for new auditorium
A grant created a chair in Political Science with emphasis on research in problems of state administration
Rennebohm Drug Stores Inc. sells its nearly 30 stores to Walgreens
Oscar and Mary’s daughter, Carol, dies, leaving a $5 million bequest to the foundation
Foundation gives its largest-ever $1.3 million grant to UW Department of Medicine to improve and expand research, service and teaching in cardiology
Steven Skolaski, who worked his way from dishwasher to CFO of Rennebohm Drug Stores, becomes the foundation's first President
Foundation commits $1 million to UW Department of Medicine to create the Center for Diabetes Research and Treatment
Mary Rennebohm dies
Foundation commits $5 million to the new UW Pharmacy building, Rennebohm Hall, also housing the partially foundation-funded $550,000 Sonderegger Research Center
Foundation grants $2 million to Edgewood’s Sonderegger Science Center for integration of science education from kindergarten through college
Foundation commits $15 million to help build UW–Madison's planned Interdisciplinary Research Complex (IRC)
The foundation funds the groundbreaking Northside Early Childhood Zone project to help ages birth to 4 get the best possible start in life
Foundation funds a major gift that becomes the Rennebohm Initiative for Nurse Workforce Diversity and Health Equity
Longtime foundation President/CEO Steven Skolaski retires, replaced by Jennifer Jeffress