Waupaca Chamber Award Honoree Helps Rural Residents

Waupaca Chamber Award Honoree Passionate About Helping Rural Residents Overcome Obstacles

Recovering from devastating motorcycle crash injuries that had also triggered a seizure disorder, Carrie was unwilling to resume driving and possibly endanger others. Soon, however, she found she had few affordable or reliable transportation options to get to and from work as she struggled to put her life back together.
 

Living in a rural area of Waupaca County, she depended on her boyfriend, friends and family for rides as she sought to maintain employment.
 

The additional stress due to transportation uncertainty for Carrie subsided over a year ago when she learned about the Waupaca County Catch-a-Ride program. It has literally been a lifeline and boost to her journey to regain independence. Knowing that she had a dependable and affordable transportation option, Carrie was able to keep a job she liked while focusing more on her recovery.
 

Stories like Carrie’s energize Jess Betts-Nelson, a senior community development manager for Feonix – Mobility Rising, a nonprofit which seeks to transform lives by bridging the gap between human rights and mobility for disadvantaged populations. Its partnership with Waupaca County Economic Development Corporation and Make the Ride Happen led to a Wisconsin Workforce Innovation grant in July 2022 and the startup of the Catch-a-Ride program serving rural county residents like Carrie.
 

Chamber Honor

Betts-Nelson’s passion for helping people in need was recognized by the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce this fall when he was selected as the 2024 recipient of the chamber’s RUBY (Recognizing Upward, Bright and Young) Award, which is sponsored by Community First Credit Union.
 

“Jess is a dedicated and caring individual who takes his work seriously,” according to his RUBY award nominator. “He is committed to advancing Waupaca County Catch-a-Ride by building strong community connections and securing additional funding to sustain the program.” A Rotary member and a Chamber board member and Ambassador, he “is also known for his generosity and willingness to help others, having organized a fundraiser that raised over $7,000 to support a friend’s medical crisis” while working full-time, finishing his college degree in Business Management and pursuing a master’s in Public Administration.
 

Other 2024 RUBY nominees were: Joe Drake, PodPaca; Aaron Green, Strongwood; Greg Grohman, City of Waupaca/School District of Waupaca/Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce; Aaron Jenson, City of Waupaca; Megan Thoe, Farmer’s State Bank; and, Breanna Yeska, Indian Crossing Casino. A committee of peers coordinated by the Waupaca chamber reviews the nominees (local business leaders ages 18-40) and selects each year’s recipient.

“Throughout my life in rural Wisconsin, I observed the transportation inequalities that affected my community but did not fully understand their impact until I began my work (in 2022) with Feonix – Mobility Rising,” said Betts-Nelson.

Just as food banks help with food insecurity, Feonix – Mobility Rising addresses transportation insecurity, offering affordable access which can be a life-changing key to unlocking a better quality of life. The nonprofit recruits and trains volunteers and coordinates with local transportation providers to offer free or low-cost rides to people in need. It also provides online disability training (ADAPT) for transportation professionals to help make all transportation accessible to people with mobility challenges.

Since the first Catch-a-Ride in December 2022, the program has provided about 15,000 rides. The original grant funding will run out next June and Betts-Nelson is on a mission to keep the service going.

December Donation Match

As a proud member-owner of Community First, which he believes shares his people-centered, community-driven approach to life, Betts-Nelson is fighting for continuation of an important service that fosters “economic opportunity and community well-being” for a growing number of rural residents.

“What initially drew me to Community First was its strong emphasis on community values and commitment to putting members first,” Betts-Nelson said. “I've found that this philosophy isn’t just a slogan but a principle that guides their actions and services.”

Community First is helping the cause starting on National Giving Day (Dec. 3) and continuing through the end of December by matching donations made to Waupaca Catch-a-Ride up to $10,000.

Major Waupaca County employers like Waupaca Foundry, Tyson Foods and ThedaCare have been key local partners of the program along with the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and the New London Chamber of Commerce.

Betts-Nelson said the Catch-a-Ride service offers critical access and gets people to and from work until their financial situation becomes stable enough to secure their own transportation. “This match will help raise funds to continue its work after the current grant funding is finished,” he said.

“Working with Feonix has been transformative. It's one thing to understand a problem theoretically—as I did while managing healthcare facilities—and quite another to actively engage in implementing solutions,” Betts-Nelson said. “The knowledge that 24/7 employment transportation can significantly influence economic mobility and health outcomes has been a driving force in my commitment to this cause.”

Community First congratulates Jess and all the nominees for their collective efforts toward making a difference in the Waupaca community! Please consider supporting Waupaca Catch-a-Ride as all Donations made during December will be matched by Community First Credit Union up to $10,000.

Give in December to Have Your Donation Matched, Up to $10,000