The Milwaukee Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals will host its annual Partners in Philanthropy Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Midwest Airlines Center.

The event will recognize the following people for their dedication to making philanthropy thrive in the greater Milwaukee area: Jack and Patti McKeithan will receive The Evan P. Helfaer Donor Award; Karen Peck Katz will receive the Todd Wehr Volunteer Award; Robert Mason will receive the Leave A Legacy Awardl; William O'Toole Jr. will receive the Scott Cutlip Professional Fundraiser Award; and the Balistreri-owned and -operated Sendik's Food Markets will be honored with Wisconsin Organizational Philanthropy Award.

The cost to attend the event is $50 per person or $500 for a table of 10. To register or to get more information, visit the AFP Milwaukee website.

The Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee, an organization dedicated to strengthening the advancement and representation of arts and culture organizations in the community, conducted a Cultural Asset Inventory of the Milwaukee 7 region for the Greater Milwaukee Committee. The results of that study have been published.

"Throughout that study, we confirmed that the Milwaukee 7 region has a rich heritage of cultural assets," said Christine Harris, president and executive director of the Cultural Alliance. 

The study also indicated however, that the infrastructure of that asset base is under severe strain from the recession.

"We discovered that a lot of these organizations were operating in break-even or deficit balances, and that the funding for those organizations was disintegrating due to increased pressure to support them all," Harris said.

As a result of the study, The Greater Milwaukee Committee approved the Cultural Alliance request to begin developing a Creative Community planning process that would build the creative capital of the city into a sustainable regional asset.

"The study showed what the arts and culture organizations in this region were already doing for the community," Harris said. "What the Creative Community effort would do is include the for-profit creative business community and the creative individuals within the region and see how we can best add investment value."

The Cultural Alliance is in the process of selecting a consulting firm to assist them, and will begin collecting data as early as January. For more information or to help with the cause visit: www.creativecoalitionmke.org

The YWCA of Greater Milwaukee and the New Hope Project agreed on terms of a merger. Under the terms of the merger, the New Hope Project will maintain its brand and program model under the YWCA's ownership.

Both organizations provide services that help low-income individuals find meaningful employment. Through the merger, the YWCA will expand its workforce development services to include transitional jobs. 

"This is an exciting move for us," said Paula Penebaker, president and chief executive officer of the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee. "The merger allows us to grow our service offering in a manner that is consistent with our mission and provides much needed support to the community."

"We are extremely pleased with the prospect of long-term stability for our proven program model," said Pat Hall, The New Hope Project board chair.

As subsidized positions, transitional jobs provide short-term, wage-paying employment for individuals who face barriers such as low education, limited or no work experience, or a criminal record. Individuals in the transitional jobs program receive case management and supportive services in addition to valuable work experience and the earned income tax credit.  Transitional jobs are a beneficial way to address the shortage of job openings, especially in the current economic downturn, and to support the many unemployed individuals whose unemployment payments have run out.

The Wisconsin Chapter of March of Dimes received the national 2009 Audrey Manley Program Leadership Award which  recognizes one March of Dimes chapter that has developed and supported a community-based program that enhances awareness of the March of Dimes and strives to reduce risks for premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality in at-risk populations. This award highlights the chapter's initiatives to reduce racial or ethnic disparities in birth outcomes.

“It is really encouraging that we get recognized for the work that we do,” said Pamela Pfeffer, state director of program services. “Wisconsin is headed in the right direction—we have a framework and we have direction.” This is the first time that the Wisconsin Chapter has been presented with this award. A national grant of $5,000 will be awarded to support the continuation of the project.

The March of Dimes Wisconsin Chapter developed a strategic, volunteer-led, multi-faceted and long-term African American Outreach Initiative. Leading the way is an African American Advisory Committee which has established the March of Dimes as a visible and dedicated advocate for African American babies. The committee also launched an innovative, measurable intervention for African American women in Beloit, Wisconsin called Sister Support Connection which includes five interactive group meetings, incentives, and free childcare. This national award is named for Dr. Audrey F. Manley, the former acting Surgeon General, past president of Spelman College and member of the National Board of Trustees for the March of Dimes. 

Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha County, Inc. (CCC) has opened its seasonal office to serve children in need in Waukesha County.

The CCC is predicting that the recent increase in job loss and economic disparity will lead to unprecedented need this season. CCC is seeking businesses, organizations, clubs, schools, families and individuals to sponsor families. 

For those willing to sponsor, the CCC will match a family, organization or individual with a family in need.   Families with children of all ages are available as well as single child or multiple child households.  Infants, toddlers and teenagers are greatly in need of sponsorship.  Interpreters are available for those who are willing to sponsor a Spanish-speaking family.

"Sponsorship brings the hope of Christmas directly to those families in our community who need it the most," said Ruth Page Jones, executive director of CCC. "In these challenging times, some of our donors and volunteers become the ones asking for help.  We are counting on the community to respond and help us meet our commitment to make the holiday season brighter for every child in our program."

Sponsorship involves purchasing toys or clothing in the amount of $60 per child.  Sponsors should make arrangements to deliver their gifts of Christmas toys or clothing personally by December 16.  Interested sponsors are encouraged to call (262) 549-NOEL (6635).  CCC takes calls Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Beginning November 16, the CCC office will also take calls Monday evenings from 6 until 8 p.m. 

Families who are not matched with sponsors through the program are invited to come to the CCC Toy Shop to shop for community-donated gifts and clothing items for their children. CCC is also requesting donations from the community of cash and gift cards to help children for whom a sponsor is not found.

The Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd., will welcome Peter Yarrow of 'Peter, Paul & Mary 'and author of Day is Done, on Monday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. for a mini-concert as part of the Jewish Book & Culture Fair, which runs Monday, Nov 9 through Monday, Nov. 19

The event is designed as a family program and will feature a mini concert, a book signing and a sing-along. A family-style buffet, $6 per adult, and $4 per child, will also be available for purchase at 5 p.m.  Special family-priced tickets for the event are $20 per family or $10 per individual. To purchase tickets or for more information please contact Dorene Paley, Community Services Director, at 414-967-8217.

House of Peace names new directors

The House of Peace, a Capuchin ministry, has named Gerri Sheets-Howard as its new executive director. Sheets-Howard has served as the assistant director since 2002.

"I grew up near the House of Peace.  We looked at the House of Peace as an anchor in the neighborhood,” said Sheets-Howard.  "I am very grateful for the beacon light that the Capuchins and the House of Peace has been to not only my family, but countless other families for almost 42 years.  I am very fortunate to have this wonderful opportunity to serve the community through the ministry of the House of Peace."

Capuchin friar Perry McDonald will be serving as the House of Peace pastoral director.  Father Perry is joined by Capuchin friars Father Matthew Gottschalk and Father Al Veik as Capuchin presence at the House of Peace.

Former director, Brother Mark D Carrico, has accepted another ministry position within the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph.