501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Public Charity · EIN 42-2830358
Est. with love & purpose
The Ohlson Family Foundation
Supporting local animal welfare through compassion, community, and charitable giving.
Our Mission
Animals deserve advocates
The Ohlson Family Foundation channels our family’s love for animals into meaningful support for local animal welfare organizations and programs. Through fundraising, community awareness, and charitable giving, we work to help animals receive the care, protection, and second chances they deserve.
How We Help
Turning Family Values Into Community Impact
The Ohlson Family Foundation channels our family’s love for animals into meaningful support for local animal welfare organizations and programs. Through fundraising, community awareness, and charitable giving, we work to help animals receive the care, protection, and second chances they deserve.
Fundraising
We raise charitable funds through community initiatives, including Max & Ares Magical Awesomeness, our annual holiday light show. The show brings neighbors together and turns a shared community experience into an opportunity to support local animal welfare.
Supporting Local Organizations
We direct charitable support toward local animal shelters, rescue organizations, and animal welfare programs whose work helps animals in need and strengthens our community.
Raising Awareness
We use our events and online presence to introduce our community to organizations doing important work for animals and encourage people to learn more about the causes they support.
Building Community Support
We believe meaningful change happens when families, neighbors, businesses, and animal lovers work together. Our goal is to make it easier for people to discover ways to support animal welfare in their community.
Local Impact
We focus our giving close to home, supporting shelters and rescues in our community who need it most.
Max & Ares Magical Awesomeness
Our annual synchronized LED holiday light show brings the community together while helping raise charitable funds for local animal welfare.
Family First
Giving is a family value and our mission to help animals thrive.
Where Your Donation Goes
Our 2026 Charity Partners
This year’s donations are divided evenly among three organizations doing extraordinary work for animals in our community.
Wright-Way Rescue
Wright-Way Rescue helps homeless cats and dogs find safe, loving homes through rescue, rehabilitation, adoption, and community education.
Visit Website →Midwest Dachshund Rescue
Midwest Dachshund Rescue is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding loving homes for dachshunds in need throughout the Midwest.
Visit Website →Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy
Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy connects people with trained therapy animals to provide comfort, companionship, and meaningful support in the community.
Visit Website →The People Behind the Mission
The Family Behind the Foundation
A family foundation built on compassion, community, and a love for animals.
Max & Ares
Meet the four-legged inspiration behind our family’s commitment to helping animals.
Visit the Dogs’ PageHelp Us Help Animals
Your generosity makes a direct difference in the lives of animals (and humans too!). Every contribution counts.
More Ways to Make a Difference
Ways to Help
There are many ways to support our mission beyond making a donation. Every action helps us raise awareness, strengthen our community, and improve the lives of animals.
Donate
Your financial support helps us provide charitable funding to local animal shelters, rescue organizations, and animal welfare programs.
Donate Now →Attend the Show
Experience Max & Ares Magical Awesomeness, our annual holiday light show, and help turn community spirit into charitable giving.
Visit the Show →Spread the Word
Share our mission, our charitable partners, and Max & Ares Magical Awesomeness with friends, family, and members of the community.
Contact Us →Get Involved
Help support our fundraising and community efforts. Contact us to learn about current opportunities to participate and lend a hand.
Get Involved →Prefer Zelle?
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All contributions securely processed via Zeffy/Zelle in direct support of our tax-exempt charitable mission. EIN: 42-2830358