United Way of Greater Milwaukee today announced three co-chairs to lead its 2010 Community Campaign.

The co-chairs are: Richard Graber, shareholder, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C.; Lynn Sprangers, consultant, Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club; and Nick Turkal, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Aurora Health Care.

In 2009, United Way raised $45.5 million to help the growing number of people in Greater Milwaukee utilizing critical health and human service programs. The organization maintained funding in 2009 for more than 160 programs at more than 80 agencies at a time of diminishing resources and unprecedented needs. In addition, United Way awarded $225,000 in emergency grants to 11 of its partner agencies to help meet the growing demand for services.

"As we head into our next century of strengthening our community, many people are still struggling and we anticipate another challenging year," said Mary Lou Young, president and chief executive officer, United Way of Greater Milwaukee. "We are fortunate to have such talented co-chairs leading our campaign to raise the money necessary to support the health and human services infrastructure of our community."

"Across the country, many local United Ways are finding it challenging to reach their goals, but Milwaukee is a generous community," Graber said. "Last year we saw that commitment when so many people stepped up to help those in need. We look forward to continued growth in 2010."

Sprangers will be one of the featured panelists at the BizTimes Women in Business Forum to be held at the BizTech Conference & Expo on April 28.

"This is a great opportunity for us to serve our community's needs," Sprangers said. "We know that during difficult times, people turn to United Way programs for help. In spite of the challenging economy, we will do everything we can to build on the foundation and success that our predecessors achieved in 2009."

"United Way of Greater Milwaukee's Community Campaign impacts our community's most pressing problems including poverty, a high teen birth rate, significant unemployment and low graduation rates," Turkal said. "For the past 13 years the campaign has achieved its goal and we look forward to making that 14 straight years. "

As 2010 campaign co-chairs, Graber, Sprangers and Turkal will recruit and lead a cabinet of more than 80 volunteers, including business leaders, elected officials and nonprofit representatives in Metropolitan Milwaukee who join them in rallying the community to support lasting change through United Way. The 2010 Community Campaign goal will be announced at the annual campaign kickoff on Sept. 2.