Building pathways to possibility: How Operation Fresh Start is empowering youth in Madison

In a world that moves fast and changes even faster, opportunity can feel just out of reach—especially for young people navigating tough terrain. But everyone deserves a fair shot at a brighter future. That’s why Dupaco Foundation invests in organizations that teach skills and unlock potential.

One of those changemakers? Operation Fresh Start (OFS)—a Dupaco Foundation Nonprofit Grant recipient lighting the way for youth in Dane County, Wisconsin. Dupaco Foundation awarded grants to OFS in 2024 and 2025 to assist with the organization’s programing and operating expenses.

A lifeline for youth on the edge of adulthood

For 55 years, OFS has been a launchpad for young people ages 16–24 who are disconnected from school or work and looking for a way forward. Their programs offer more than job training—they offer hope, belonging and a fresh start.

Through a powerful mix of education, mentoring, career exploration and paid work experience, OFS helps participants earn high school diplomas, driver’s licenses and industry credentials. And they don’t stop there—wraparound support includes meals, transportation, mental health resources and crisis funding.

Take Ari, a current participant in the Legacy program. She’s dreaming big with plans to attend school to become a veterinary tech and eventually becoming a traveling vet. She’s so grateful to the staff who’ve welcomed her and helped her realize her goals. “They’re a big family,” she says. That sense of connection? It’s everything.

Or Santi, a former participant who dropped out of high school, completed the Legacy and Build Academy programs, and now works as a skilled foreman. He’s come full circle—mentoring new participants and paying it forward. “OFS meant a lot to me when I was figuring out my life,” Santi said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be in the union doing what I’m doing now.”

Whether building homes, restoring parks or exploring other careers in fields like health care or financial services, OFS participants gain real-world experience and confidence, setting them up for a successful future.

Meeting urgent needs with innovative solutions

The need? It’s real—and rising. In Dane County, more than 29,000 youth face systemic barriers like poverty, housing instability and trauma. Since 1970, OFS has served more than 9,000 youth through eight innovative programs. In 2025 alone, the OFS Legacy program saw a 20 percent jump in applications. The Legacy program, supported in part by Dupaco Foundation grants in 2024 and 2025, is now serving more participants than ever before, a powerful reminder of how essential these pathways are.

That’s a clear signal: Young people need accessible, non-traditional pathways to self-sufficiency. And OFS is answering the call.

As Executive Director Brian McMahon puts it, “We are identifying the barriers and helping connect our participants to a sustainable future. We want our participants to become our neighbors.”

Why Dupaco Foundation supports OFS

At Dupaco Foundation, we’re proud to stand with nonprofit organizations like Operation Fresh Start—because they’re not only changing lives, they’re changing communities. We believe financial well-being starts with opportunity. And opportunity starts with access.

By investing in programs that help people build skills, earn credentials and find meaningful work, we’re helping create communities that don’t just survive, they thrive.

Learn more about the ways Dupaco Foundation and Dupaco Credit Union support individuals and nonprofits in our communities >