The Waunakee Rotary Club learned a bit more about two of its newest members, Veronica Castillo and Andrew Quandt as As they gave their classification talks for the March 12 meeting.
While growing up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Andrew said his family always gave back, and he felt it was time for him to do the same.
Andrew first volunteered at WaunaFest in the Rotary food stand and learned what a fun group Rotarians are.
Andrew works for Lundy’s Ice Cream and recently moved to an apartment above the ice cream shop, significantly cutting down his work commute and freeing up some time.
After graduating from college with a degree in business marketing and finance, Andrew worked in retail. He moved to Madison and sought a job at Thrivent Financial. Instead, he became the assistant store manager at Dick’s Sporting Goods but found himself working 60 to 70 hours a week.
He eventually got a side gig with Lundy’s after finishing a course at UW-Madison in digital marketing. Steve Lund then hired him and he’s worked with Lundy’s for two years now doing digital marketing.
In his free time, Andrew enjoys being involved with the community and serves as a Chamber Ambassador in Waunakee.
“I enjoy what I do. I’m excited to be here and to continue working in the community,” Andrew said.
Andrew remains a Cubs fan, but Wisconsinites will be happy to know that he enjoys watching the Bears lose, too.
Veronica Castillo is the executive director at the nonprofit Waunakee Neighborhood Connection.
A native of Texas, Veronica and her family moved to Iowa when her father was in the Iowa Hospitals and Clinics residency program. Her mother worked at the time and the family also relied on some assistance while her father was in school, she said.
Veronica said she was the typical English as a Second Language kid, with little knowledge of English and little support.
After graduating from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s in art history in 2005, Veronica moved to San Francisco but found it too expensive. She then moved to Madison to pursue a master’s degree while teaching for the Madison Metropolitan School District.
In 2026, she transitioned to nonprofit work and served as the Madison Ballet’s outreach director until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced her out of a job.
Veronica applied to 133 jobs in 9 months and eventually became an assistant director of a nonprofit in Madison before getting hired for the Waunakee Neighborhood position in 2024.
Veronica moved to Waunakee last year.
Veronica handles operations at Waunakee Neighborhood Connection, which has a “small but mighty team,” she said. She also handles the fun part of fundraising. The organization has 42 active volunteers, and serves between 22 to 25 percent of the community, mostly working families and single adults who have trouble making ends meet. The homeless population is also growing here, and WNC works with families with rent assistance.
Veronica described several WNC programs such as the community store, Fill the Bus, Neighbor to Neighbor financial assistance and the diaper bank.
This year, a Community Closet with food for high school students is offered, thanks to a grant written by 2025 intern Bella Mack, who is now at college. The student-run effort serves up to 87 students facing food insecurity.
This year, WNC will launch senior social hours and teen nights. And, on Sept. 18, WNC is planning its first annual gala, so Veronica is urging Rotarians to dust off their fancy shoes.
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Other News
The club presented Jennifer Tasker with a Paul Harris Award, marking her contribution of $1,000 to the foundation. Jen said she enrolled in the Every Rotarian Every Year program, with monthly contributions deducted from her bank account, and it just added up. Jen said she wanted to contribute because of the opportunity those contributions give clubs to receive matching grants for international projects, such as the SOAR Kenya work.
The community service committee is planning for the Easter Bunny Drive-Thru project. Candy shopping will take place on March 23, and volunteers will gather at the Village Center on March 26 to stuff bags. If you’re donating swag, be sure to get it to the club before then.
Bill Kennedy represented the club at PETS (president elect training) and remarked that the Waunakee club is making great strides over others.
Jim Elvekrog offered members to bid on tickets for a Madison Symphony Orchestra performance, and Lori Derauf outbid everyone. The tickets were donated by Nick Mischler.
Coming Up
March 28: Easter Bunny Drive-Thru at Ripp Park
April 17: Tri-Con Convention at Kalahari
April 17: Chips & Chips Fundraiser
April 25: Fundraiser for Create Waunakee at Lone Girl Brewing with live music and a live auction.
Also, coming up in May will be the Tri 4 Schools event.
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Guests: Nikki McLaughlin, guest of Veronica Castillo.
Greeters: March 19, Tom Kennedy and Andrew Quandt; March 26, Tracy Graber and Kylie West; April 2, Veronica Castillo and ??
To sign up to greet or to find out when you are greeting, visit:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/
