About Cornerstone of Grace
Six families in Watertown find stability and support in our two homes. Residents stay with us for 3 to 12 months, receiving comprehensive assistance through partnerships with The Greater Watertown Health Foundation and other local businesses and services. This collaborative approach empowers them to overcome challenges and build independent lives.
Mission
Our mission is to offer a safe environment for women and their children, equipping them to face life’s challenges by building healthy relationships. We offer love, discipleship, and resources to build a solid foundation for growth and stability.
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Vision
Our vision is to be regarded as a trusted program with a holistic support network for women and children in crisis.
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Values
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Serving with dignity and respect
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Extending grace and love to all
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Prayer as a foundation for everything.
Michele Had a Dream!
The dream of such a place as Cornerstone of Grace was started in the heart of its founder, Michele, over a decade before it came to fruition. In 2007, Michele had a vision to create a safe place for women and children. At the time, she started journaling her thoughts, asking God to bless her with a home that would, in turn, bless women and their children facing life-challenging problems. 12 years later, in 2019, God brought that journal entry back to Michele’s mind and a calling to her heart that now was the time to pursue that dream. That stirring led Michele to pursue the current location in Watertown, Wisconsin. Cornerstone of Grace opened its doors to residents beginning in January of 2021 and currently has residences for six women and their children.
Invite us to speak at your next church or civic group gathering!
~Learn about CSOG's initiatives and how we are making an impact.
~Discover ways to get involved and make a positive difference.
~Ask questions and engage in open discussion about important issues. Contact us today!
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Cornerstone of Grace Making An Impact
2
Home Rentals
6
Families CSOG Can Serve at 1 Time
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Women CSOG Has Served Since 2021
6
14
Mother's CSOG Has Served Since 2021
40
Children CSOG Has Served Since 2021
68
Volunteers Who Have Served With CSOG
Meet Our Board
These passionate leaders volunteer their time, expertise, and resources to ensure Cornerstone of Grace can continue enriching the lives of women and their families. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences bring fresh perspectives, strategic vision, and unwavering support to our organization. They are instrumental in making Cornerstone of Grace a beacon of hope for our residents.
Michele Altman
Founder/Director
Michele serves women and children by building healthy relationships while offering love, spiritual guidance, and the resources needed to build a solid foundation for growth and stability through Christ Jesus. Michele is passionate about sharing her testimony and experience of hardship to show that God can use broken people for His glory. Michele holds an associate degree in Human Services from Madison College and has worked as a supervisor at Genesee Lake School, a highly structured therapeutic environment designed to help residents find success. Michele has facilitated Living Free bible studies and knows God placed her on earth to serve and love His people. Her prayer is for people to surrender their lives and wills to God so they may know their true identity while walking in the purpose God saw for them from the beginning and experience true freedom and the love of Jesus Christ.
Nancy Zimmermann
Board Chair
As a retired educator and Watertown resident for over 30 years, Nancy has first-hand experience with families and children in need of support. She has served on the Safe Families for Children (Jefferson-Dodge Counties) Board of Directors, Jefferson County Literacy Council, and Governing Board of her church. Nancy has a degree in elementary education and a masters degree in literacy. Nancy is motivated to serve Cornerstone of Grace because she knows that many women and children are struggling and need resources and relational support to reshape their lives. She wants all who enter the Cornerstone of Grace to know who they are in Christ Jesus and be changed by Him. In her free time, Nancy enjoys reading on an air mattress in the lake, doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and organizing things.
Deb Portman
Secretary
Deb is the Office Manager with the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation and the Community Manager at the Collective in Watertown. She brings organizational and administration skills to the board. She has a heart for service and hospitality and tries to make anyone she comes in contact with comfortable and welcome. She is an active mentor with Cornerstone of Grace and enjoys seeing the life transformation of the women and children in the homes. Deb and her husband live in Watertown and are blessed to have raised their two grown children in this community. In her free time, Deb enjoys photography, hiking, and being active with her church.
Jeff Finger
Treasurer
Jeff is a licensed CPA who is currently working as a controller in the consumer goods industry in the Madison area. He received his BS in Business Administration from Maranatha Baptist University and has an MBA in Accounting from Lakeland College. He is excited to be using his financial background to help advance this organization and see it help more women, children, and families in their time of need. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters and serving in his local church.
Linda Oberbrunner
Programming Committee Board Member
Linda has been in ministry as a social worker for many years, serving women and men experiencing unplanned pregnancies and doing adoptions if desired. She has a heart and passion to hear each person's unique story and communicate the compassion, truth and love of Jesus Christ required for His transformation in their lives. Linda has served as the Wisconsin District Director of the Evangelical Child and Family Agency and has worked with homeless men and families at the Waukesha Salvation Army. Linda enjoys doing seasonal customer care at Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia. She is the author of Mercy Extended, The Gift That Transforms Lives, Impacts Generations, and Mobilizes Multitudes for Eternity. Linda and her husband consider themselves immensely blessed to be the parents of four awesome adult children and two of their wonderful spouses and grandparents to six fun-loving grandchildren. Linda has personally seen the transformational work God continues to do in the lives of the residents He has brought to Cornerstone of Grace.
Casey Hushon
Marketing Committee Board Member
Casey Hushon serves as the Executive Director at Hope Lake Country, a non-denominational church in Oconomowoc. Before joining the staff at Hope, she spent over a decade working in advertising in the agriculture and food space. She grew up in Maine and graduated from Virginia Tech (Go, Hokies!). One of her first loves was dairy cows, a passion that has fueled her life. Casey and her husband Josh have a small farm in Watertown where they raise registered dairy heifers for show. During her free time, she can be found participating in endurance sports, like half-ironman races and marathons.
Matt Keever
Board Member at Large
Matt Keever works as a Systems Analyst at Glory Global Solutions. He holds an Associate Degree in Computer Programming/Systems Analysis & Design and a Bachelor Degree in Supply Chain & Operations Management. Matt and his wife Erin have seven children and four granddaughters. Matt is active in his church as an AWANA game leader and an elder. Having served at Cornerstone of Grace for a couple years, he’s seen first hand the impact that’s been made on the lives of the women and children that have walked through the doors.
Lorelei Krueger
Part-Time Evening House Manager
Lorelei served in public education for 37 years, most recently with the Lake Mills School District. She served as our prayer coordinator when Cornerstone was just a vision and volunteered as a tutor, house sitter, and did crafts with our families. She has been working officially with us since February of 2023. Her duties include all evening routines including homework and tutoring coordination. Lorelei loves helping the women and children grow in their faith and develop their gifts. She praises God for how He creatively touches and restores lives through Cornerstone of Grace.
Kimm Whitaker
Part Time Program Staff
Kimm serves by day as a paralegal in Waukesha. She has experience in customer service, children’s ministry, and has been a realtor. Kimm currently works weekends at Cornerstone of Grace and is a supportive and loving constant in the lives of our families. Kimm has faced her own life challenging circumstances and has overcome through her faith. She enjoys seeing growth and life change in our women and children.
Heather Minning
Part-Time Program Staff
Heather is a homemaker and creative motivator with 21 years of experience managing household responsibilities for a family of eight. She led a playgroup for parents with little children at Trinity St. Luke’s School for many years, created a support group for moms in the Watertown area called, “MommyTime” which offered special events, monthly mom gatherings, and ways to give back to the community. She facilitated “Morning with Moms” a Bible Study for moms at the YMCA offering childcare, breakfast and spiritual encouragement. God has gently guided her to humbly serve the women and children at Cornerstone of Grace. Being able to watch God’s love transform their lives has been an . She’s waiting in anticipation for the plans he has for her and the future of Cornerstone.
