02/11/2026
Well deserved! Congratulations!
2026 Impact Award Winner
Oh Happy Play founder Hunter
Oh Happy Play, founded and led by Jackie, is a deeply impactful nonprofit serving families in the Dubuque community by ensuring children from struggling households experience joy, dignity, and creativity through play. Through the program, families can access clean, restored toys, books, and clothing at no cost, helping parents provide birthdays, holidays, and everyday moments of happiness that might otherwise be out of reach. In 2025, Jackie expanded Oh Happy Play’s reach through free Learn & Play programs, partnerships with organizations such as the Multicultural Family Center and Clarity Clinic, and inclusive community events welcoming families of all backgrounds. Beyond distributing items, she creates safe, supportive spaces where children can learn, socialize, and build confidence, while parents feel respected rather than judged. Her work also promotes environmental responsibility by recycling and redistributing donated items, keeping thousands of usable goods out of landfills. What makes Jackie’s impact exceptional is that she accomplishes all of this while balancing multiple jobs, parenting, foster care responsibilities, and nonprofit leadership with minimal funding. Her tireless commitment, personal sacrifice, and quiet leadership have made a lasting difference for hundreds of children and families, strengthening the future of the Dubuque community.
The 365 Impact Awards, sponsored as always by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and Premier Bank, return on Tuesday, February 24th, 7 PM to the Mississippi Moon Bar at the Diamond Jo Casino. Doors open at 6 p.m. The event is FREE and everyone (21 and older) is welcome to attend. There will be complimentary heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar with live music accenting the evening’s awards.