The New Miss Wisconsin USA, Courtney Lopez, will show off her dance skills to support MargaretAnn's Place, Wisconsin's Center of Hope for Grieving Children, at "Dancing With OUR Stars" on Friday, Oct. 9, in the Bradley Pavilion at The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Lopez, along with other area dance professionals, will choreograph a dance routine, provide dance lessons and pair up with local community members to put on a dance competition for the event.

Lopez will be partnered with Jim Henderson, who teaches in the School of Business at Alverno College.

Other performers will include: Yvonne Lewandowski-Moss of St. Rose Youth and Family Center and instructor, Paul Winker; Craig Andersen from Hilmot Corp. and instructor Kim Schneider; Bernadette Xiong of Bx Life Coaching and instructor Ken Hansen; and Olivia Marshall Hare of Proven Direct and instructor Nikolay Karchev. Schneider, Hansen and Karchev are all from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Mequon.

The competition will be judged by Dan Meyer, publisher of Biz Times Milwaukee; Kathryn Gilbert, School of Dance and Theatre at Alverno College; Marquette University student and comedian Jessica Mahan; and Derrick Mosley, of the Milwaukee Municipal Court.

Fareed Guyot, "Afterburner Al," general manager and DJ of EAA Radio, will be the event's master of ceremonies.

In addition to the dance competition, the evening also will feature live and silent auctions and dancing for all guests, which will be provided by Midwest Sound and Light.

Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased by calling (262) 515-1472 or online at www.margaretannsplace.org.

Admission Possible recently received two national awards of excellence from associations representing the highest standards in the college access field. 

Admission Possible received the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) 2009 Human Relations Award, honoring a person or organization instrumental in making postsecondary education opportunities available to historically underrepresented students. NACAC supports counseling and enrollment professionals helping students realize their full postsecondary educational potential. The organization was also recently awarded the National College Access Network's (NCAN) 2009 Organization Award of Excellence, which recognizes the work of a college access program to improve access to and success in postsecondary education for first-generation, underrepresented and low-income students. 

“While this recognition means so much to the Admission Possible AmeriCorps members and our staff, it is really an acknowledgement of the dedication and drive of the students we serve,” Kate Lundeen, executive director of the Greater Milwaukee chapter said.  “Our high school coaches do whatever it takes to ensure that each student has the resources and opportunity to increase their ACT score, visit college campuses, and apply for scholarships, but the students who come twice a week after school are making the real investment in their futures.”

Admission Possible provides comprehensive and intensive services at no cost to students or partner high schools.  Students spend 320 hours of time on task through twice weekly after-school sessions in which they work on ACT test preparation, college admission and financial aid applications and prepare for the transition to college.  Ninety-eight percent of Admission Possible students have earned admission to college, and nearly 80 percent of Admission Possible students who enrolled in college are still working toward degrees or have graduated.

“With support from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Northwestern Mutual Foundation, we were able to serve students within a few months of opening our operations in Milwaukee,” Lundeen said.  “Leaders at the school district, local colleges, and community members have made it possible for us to help make college admission possible for many more Milwaukee high school students.”

The NACAC and NCAN awards are given to just one group each year, and the list of past winners is a who's who in college access and success. Admission Possible launched its college access programming for promising low-income high school students in Milwaukee 2008 under local leadership and now serves 140 high school juniors and seniors in four high schools.

Marquette University's Raynor Memorial Libraries' Funding Information Center has published the 2009 Foundations in Wisconsin directory. The online and print directory provides information on 1,286 private, corporate and community foundations in the state and documents almost $508 million in total grants paid in the last year – a 7 percent increase. Both forms of the directory are available for purchase online here.

The online directory, with its custom-designed search engine, is a helpful tool for identifying potential Wisconsin funding sources. Foundations in Wisconsin profiles include street and Web addresses, telephone/fax numbers, contact person, officers and directors, donors, financial information, purpose statement, application information, geographic focus, sample grants, and grant-making interests.

Meta House, a local nonprofit that focuses on addiction recovery for women, recently opened a new administrative center and outpatient clinic at 2625 N. Weil St., and has re-focused its mission and branding strategy to best portray its offerings.

“The new facility has really allowed us to expand our women and children programs, and offer a more complete outpatient clinic service,” Francine Feinberg, executive director of the organization said.

The new location will also allow the organization to function in more of a campus like setting, because its location is adjacent to its substance abuse residential treatment building.

“Bringing all of our operations into close proximity will make it possible for families to stay with the same counselor and case manager as they progress from residential to day treatment to outpatient levels of care,” she said.

The move and the reconstruction of the facility from its former use as an elementary school cost the organization approximately $1.5 million. According to Feinberg the organization has secured some financing, but also formed partnerships with many community organizations including Jansen Construction, who served as the general contractor on the project, the architectural firm of Hammel, Green, and Abrahamson, who helped from the beginning and donated more than $77,000 worth in professional services.

When it was established in 1963, Meta House became the nation's first residential treatment facility dealing exclusively with women's addictions.

The organizations new tagline reads: "Reclaiming Women's Lives, Rebuilding Families."

(Left to right) Mike Riesner, Jansen Construction general contractor, Darin Frerichs, HGA architects, Francine Feinberg, Meta House Executive Director, and Bill Gollmar, Meta House Director of Operations, cut the ribbon officially opening the new Meta House headquarters and outpatient clinic.

JCC runs for a cure

The Jewish Community Center's Habush Family Fitness center has put two pink Cybex treadmills in its facility in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. For every mile logged on the pink treadmills, Cybex will donate .20 cents to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“We are really very excited about the treadmills being here,” Ellen Kendall, marketing and communications director for the JCC, said. “Our patrons love using them, and we feel good about giving back for the cause.”

According to Kendall, the treadmills have been in place for about a week and have already logged more than 400 miles on the two.

The treadmills will remain in place after the month of October, and each month the JCC will choose a different local organization to donate towards for the miles logged.

JCC is also selling pink ribbons for the local Breast Cancer Research Foundation and will host an event on Friday, Oct.23 from 8:00 a.m. to noon, called Work it Out to Stamp it Out. Guests at the event will be able to make donations in Pink Buckets that will go toward the local Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and participate in spin classes, special Drop-in Group Exercise and pilates classes. The Center's Teva Wellness Spa will also be offering waxing and chair massages for guests.

Milwaukee media company utilizes Facebook as outreach to beat breast cancer

EXCITE New Media, Milwaukee, has created a unique Facebook promotion for its client, Quill.com, an online office supply retailer.

The “Together for Hope: Fans Make a Difference Design Challenge,” leverages the Graffiti application on Facebook to promote breast cancer awareness and prevention.

From now until October 23, Quill.com has invited Facebook users to use its graffiti application to create an inspired design which helps raise breast cancer awareness, educates about the importance of prevention and/or supports the search for a cure. The top five designs will be selected by a panel of judges and then Facebook users will vote for their favorite designs on Oct. 26. The three designs receiving the most votes by November 6th will be the final winners. The three winners will receive new HP Netbook computers skinned in their winning design.

“We are glad to see that more businesses are beginning to understand the power behind social media vehicles like Facebook, especially in their ability to drive awareness of, and involvement in important causes like breast cancer awareness,” said Geri Weiland, partner with EXCITE New Media.  

n addition to the design challenge, Facebook users are invited to make an online donation at Quill.com to the City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment center, located near Los Angeles, California.  Quill.com will also donate a portion of proceeds from sales of its line of pink products to breast cancer research during the month of October.

Hunger Task Force recently received a $135,000 donation from Foley & Lardner's K's for a Cause program in partnership with Brewers Charities. K's for a Cause is a four-year partnership between Foley and the Brewer Charities that began in March 2008 and will benefit a local charity each year. This year, Foley partners, associates and staff donated $200 to Hunger Task Force for every regular-season strikeout recorded by a Brewers pitcher at Miller Park.. Additionally, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dave Bush donated $15,000 to this year's K's for a Cause program.

Pictured in the photo from left to right: Andrew J. Wronski, partner, Foley & Lardner LLP and chair of Foley’s K’s for a Cause; Cecilia Gore, executive director, Brewers’ Charities; Dave Bush, pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers; Rick Schlesinger, executive vice president, Brewers’ business operations; and Sherrie Tussler, executive director, Hunger Task Force. Photo taken by Scott Paulus

The Pewaukee Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the 2009 Businesses and Person of the Year to be honored at the Community Awards Banquet.

This event gives the Chamber an opportunity to honor a few of those who are working hard to make a difference in the community. There will be four awards presented: the 2009 Person of the Year, the Small Business of the Year, the Medium Business of the Year, and the Large Business of the Year.

These awards recognize people and businesses who have demonstrated leadership in the community and within a business. The achievements of the Person of the Year nominee should reflect both past and current activities and include involvement in social welfare or civic enhancement.

Nomination forms are on the Pewaukee Chamber website, www.pewaukeechamber.org.

Name:  Robyn Hussa

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit organization: NORMAL In Schools

Nonprofit Address: PO Box 20965, Milwaukee, WI  53220

Website: www.normalinschools.org

Mission of the organization: NIS teaches about the devastating impact of eating disorders and the therapeutic impact of theatre while exploring related issues such as body image, self esteem, family communication and stress management.  By bringing a curriculum centered on the musical NOR•MAL into schools everywhere, NORMAL In Schools seeks to advance understanding and promote healing.

Annual volunteer/fundraising event: “Believe! Imagining a World Where . . .” a gala fundraiser hosted by Kirsten Haglund (Miss America, 2008) with live performances, music, dancing, art gallery and silent auction.  February 27, 2010 at Turner Hall in celebration of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

What makes your organization unique?

"NORMAL In Schools is based on an award-winning, high-energy, New York City rock ‘n’ roll piece that has been proven to resonate strongly with audience members young and old AND NIS consists of a cutting-edge curriculum that is highly regarded not only in the field of mental health but in education as well, uniting artistic, medical, and educational merit in one powerful program. We live in a society where it is generally considered normal to conceal feelings and struggles in a constant drive for perfection – often external perfection, achieved through the opinions of others.  However, such beliefs can be detrimental to formation of a healthy sense of self, which in turn can lead to addictive behaviors and eating disorders. NIS encourages individuals to be “abnormal” – to share our true feelings, allow for mistakes and imperfections, discontinue seeking external validation, and embrace self-love, self-gratitude, and self-worth."

What is one key thing needed for leadership in the non profit sector?  "Mindfulness – to listen to what the community needs, to engage one human being at a time in order to serve the community’s needs, and to have patience as the organization blossoms at its own pace."

Is your organization in search of board members? Yes.

How can business people/the community help your organization?  "NIS has sponsorship opportunities available for upcoming programs at MPS -- Milwaukee High School of the Arts and for our stylin’ gala -- hosted by Miss America.  For anyone who would like to learn more, we have a free cultivation event on October 28th at 7:30pm at In Tandem Theatre in Milwaukee where we will present the program followed by a wine and cheese reception.  Please e-mail rhussa@normalinschools.org for a complimentary ticket."

Why do you think people should volunteer or become a board member?

"People volunteer and become board members with NIS namely because there are so many ways they feel rewarded.  NIS is highly regarded not only in the arts community, but in the medical AND educational communities alike.  The program is not only hip and current, it is impactful to both kids and adults -- there is truly something in the project for every family, for every community, for every demographic.Most importantly, the NIS program is an effective way to get audiences talking about issues related to eating disorders, binge eating, peer pressure, body image, nutrition, and wellness, due to the universal appeal of the gripping emotional performance upon which the programming is centered. 

For example, after a performance at Wauwatosa East High School, not only did the program have “a positive impression on the majority of attendees,” according to the Wauwatosa Department of Health, but at least 32 students sought professional treatment as a direct result of their participation in a day of NIS programming. Board members and volunteers experience these results firsthand – it is unlike any project and it literally changes the families, individuals and communities with whom it comes in contact."

Press Club ratifies board of governors

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel deputy business editor James Nelson was selected as the Milwaukee Press Club's president for next year. Kathy Mykleby, WISN-Channel 12 anchor, has been named president-elect. Also elected to the board were: H. Carl Mueller, Mueller Communications, treasurer; Maryann Lazarski, Cardinal Stritch University, secretary; Steve Jagler, executive editor, BizTimes Milwaukee; Sonya Jongsma Knauss, editor and general manager, MilwaukeeMoms.com; Jody Lowe, president, Lowe Communications; Julie Pedretti, director of public relations, Children's Hospital & Health System; Mary Van de Kamp Nohl, senior editor, Milwaukee Magazine; Jan Wade, president and general manager, WISN Channel 12; Jon Anne Willow, editor in chief/co-publisher, ThirdCoast Digest. Marilyn Krause, assistant managing editor/administrator of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, will remain on the board as past-president.

Sivak, Klimpel join GMF's development committee

Todd Sivak, financial adviser at Strategic Wealth Management Group, and Joan Klimpel, attorney at Godfrey & Kahn, have joined the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's development committee. Sivak has spent nearly 20 years in the financial services industry and has earned financial planner professional, certified fund specialist and chartered financial consultant designations. Klimpel is a shareholder and member of Godfrey & Kahn's Estate Planning Practice Group in its Waukesha and Milwaukee offices and specializes in estate planning, estate and trust administration, estate and gift taxation and fiduciary income taxation.