KIMBERLY, Wis. (WFRV) – Organizers from the annual Paperfest event in Kimberly announced they made a more than $130,000 donation to over 50 local nonprofits, the largest donation in the event’s history.
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Paperfest, presented by Community First Credit Union and organized by the nonprofit Kim-Com Promotion, is a four-day festival bringing the community together at Sunset Park in Kimberly through music, food, and family fun.
Each year, the event makes donations to several nonprofits, with each nonprofit receiving its funding based on the number of volunteer hours its members contribute to helping run the event, creating a system that organizers say makes giving back a “celebration.”
Volunteers are the heartbeat of Paperfest. This incredible donation reflects the passion and dedication of those who make the festival possible; from the grounds crew to bartenders, ticket sellers, committee leads, and everyone in between. Paperfest is all about community, and we’re honored to give back in such a meaningful way.
Matthew Boots, Event Director
In 2025, Paperfest featured multiple national acts, carnival rides, a car show, food trucks, a craft fair, and a hot air balloon glow, all said to be coordinated by local volunteers.
Event organizers say it all led to the event drawing a record-breaking attendance that then generated a donation of $130,896.98 to local nonprofits, the largest single-year donation in the 37-year history of the festival.
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Those who missed this year’s festival are in luck, as next year’s Paperfest is already scheduled for July 16-19, 2026.
