PHOTOS: Fond du Lac’s Phoenix Nest holds ground breaking ceremony

After nearly a year and a half of fund raising, Fond du Lac’s Phoenix Nest will start to become a reality as the organization held a ground breaking ceremony Monday, July 13th, 2026, at it’s 299 Western Avenue location.

In February of 2025, Fond du Lac’s Gratitude Club started raising the $1 million it needed for the facility.

Fond du Lac’s Gratitude Club, a recovery-based organization located at 295 Ruggles Street that provides safe meeting spaces and fellowship for people struggling with substance abuse, saw the need for a women’s sober living residence, and that is where the eight bed Phoenix Nest comes in.

The facility is designed to provide stable housing, accountability, and clinical support for women transitioning out of treatment or incarceration.

The ground breaking took place at 10 am on the 13th , and was attended by about two dozen donors, City of Fond du Lac officials and members of the public. A gathering followed the ground breaking at the Gratitude Club located at 295 Ruggles Street (directly behind the building site), with light refreshments and an opportunity to learn more about the project.