Nonprofit Weekly for Friday, November 13, 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

Ad agencies join forces to help nonprofits

Three local advertising agencies have joined forces to benefit nonprofit agencies in the metro-Milwaukee area.

Milwaukee-based Welke Group has teamed up with Catral Doyle Creative of Milwaukee and Clear Verve Marketing of Elm Grove to launch the “Tri-Adathon,” a 24-hour marathon of pro bono creativity work for nonprofits in the area.

“We are really looking for nonprofits to tell us what they want done,” Christina Steder, president at Clear Verve Marketing said. “We are going to select projects based on the capabilities of the three agencies, and ones we know we can get done in the 24 hours. We will be looking for interesting nonprofits to work with, particularly deserving organizations that really need this kind of help and wouldn’t normally get it.”

According to Steder, the three agencies will be accepting RFPs from nonprofits in the metro-Milwaukee area until Friday, Dec. 4. The agencies will not be deciding based on the size of the organization or the organization’s mission.

“We will be basing the selections on capabilities of the agencies, and the interest in the project,” Stedar said. “We are going to try to have a combination of smaller and large nonprofits because everybody needs help these days.”

The agencies will accept RFPs from nonprofits until Dec. 4 and will select around 10 organizations to receive the work, Stedar said.

The firms will announce the selections around Monday, Dec. 21, and will set up meetings with each nonprofit during the month of January to discuss the work to be done.

The 24-hour non-stop “adathon” will begin on the morning of Jan. 21 and conclude with a presentation of the finished creative work on Jan. 22. The agencies will work collaboratively to execute the pro bono projects with a combined staff of about 15 creatives, Stedar said.

“Working together on these projects really opens up the things we can do for people,” Stedar said. “It allows me to take a project that maybe my firm could only do half of, and bring in these other people to finish it because that is their specialty.”

Interested nonprofits must be based in the Southeastern Wisconsin area and have the availability to attend meetings during the week of Jan. 4, 2010. To submit a response to the RFP, nonprofit agencies can visit www.triadathon.com.

Giving Tree needs you

The Volunteer Center of Milwaukee has extended the participation deadline for this year’s Holiday Giving Tree. The Holiday Giving Tree program has provided thousands of people with their only gift during the holiday season for the past 25 years, and this year the need is greater than ever.

“Times are tough, and we’re seeing the results of that first hand,” said Volunteer Center manager Bonnie Andrews. “At this point in time, hundreds of tags remain unclaimed, leaving children and adults in need without a gift this year.”

Interested groups are asked to estimate the number of gifts they can purchase and complete a participation form no later than Thursday, Nov. 19. Groups will be matched with an agency and will receive a wish list and gift tag for individuals in need.

“Many Giving Tree recipients would love to receive a gift from their family, or a friend,” said Andrews. “But that probably will not happen. They are the working poor, people with chronic illness, people with disability or a mental illness, or older adults who are no longer able to support themselves.”

According to Andrews, many informal groups of family or friends have signed up for the program, taking on a minimum of ten tags. The Volunteer Center will need to give out hundreds of tags in the next week to meet the current need.

To get involved in The Giving Tree program visit: www.volunteermilwaukee.org or call 414.273.7887.

Celebrate charitable giving during community foundation week

Community Foundation Week began Thursday, Nov. 12, and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Donors Forum of Wisconsin will join more than 700 community foundations across the United States in celebrating this week.

"Community foundations are at the heart of our cities and towns," said Deborah Fugenschuh, president of Donors Forum of Wisconsin. "They are catalysts for positive change within both urban and rural areas. Donors of all income levels and from all geographic regions are finding community foundations to be an ideal way for them to easily give back to their community in a meaningful way."

In 2007, community foundations gave an estimated $4.1 billion to a variety of nonprofit activities in fields that included the arts, education, environment, disaster relief, and health and human services. Community foundations in Wisconsin hold assets totaling over $1.3 billion and have contributed over $6.1 million to local nonprofit activities in 2008.

Community Foundation Week began in 1989 with a proclamation from former president George H.W. Bush and a congressional briefing about community foundation activities. The observance has made donors seeking to maximize their philanthropic dollars aware of community foundations' charitable activities and services.

Foundation offers sleep apnea equipment for free, raises awareness

The Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research and Education Foundation is providing free, refurbished continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines to people who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea but do not have the means to purchase the prescribed treatment equipment.

“Thanks to the growth in awareness of our organization, the Foundation has received numerous donations of pre-owned, but entirely workable CPAP equipment from individuals and companies across the country,” explained Steve Gardner, executive director of the Foundation. “We are able to completely sanitize and refurbish this equipment and make it available to those in need.”

The nonprofit foundation was co-founded shortly after the former Packers Hall of Famer died prematurely at age 43 by his wife, Sara, and the Sleep Wellness Institute in West Allis. The Foundation’s goals are to spread word about the dangers of sleep apnea to people of all socio-economic groups and help provide treatment to those who otherwise would be unable to access the healthcare services needed to treat obstructive sleep apnea, the disease that contributed to White’s death.

Gardner noted that the success of Foundation events such as the annual Reggie White golf outing and a celebrity roast last spring enables the group to provide overnight sleep studies in the Milwaukee area to diagnose sleep apnea in people who meet financial assistance criteria.

J.C. Penny creates online Angel Giving Tree

Texas-based J.C. Penney Company Inc., and The Salvation Army of Greater Milwaukee are joining forces this Christmas season to give joy to even more people in need through a grand-scale online Angel Giving Tree program. From now until Dec.14, for the first-time ever, customers can adopt and shop online for Angels at www.jcp.com/angel, and provide tens of thousands of children and seniors facing hardship in communities across the country with Christmas gifts.
“In a year when so many need help, the new online Angel Giving Tree program will extend our reach and make it easier for our customers and associates to give back this holiday season,” said Mike Boylson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for J.C. Penney. “By leveraging the strength of jcp.com, we are helping to modernize an American tradition – the Angel Tree program – and creating an innovative way to help families in need in our communities across the nation. Launching this program with The Salvation Army allows us to elevate our support for a cause that is extremely important to our customers and Associates, underscoring our focus on the ‘Joy of Giving’ this holiday season.”
The new online Angel Giving Tree program builds on the legacy of The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program that has been in operation for more than 40 years. “We are excited about this new online Angel Giving Tree program that will allow us to build upon our Christmas tradition by reaching a new online audience,” said Major Jesse Collins, Milwaukee County commander. “Each year, right here in Milwaukee, we give more than 100,000 toys to area children. The partnership with J.C. Penney will help us reach more people who want to adopt more angels in our community.”
The online Angel GivingTree program allows customers to adopt an Angel at www.jcp.com/angel and conveniently shop for them online at www.jcp.com, in J.C. Penney stores or at any location they choose. In a few easy steps, customers can visit the site to request an Angel by location, age range and gender. An Angel who matches the criteria will be e-mailed to the customer along with a list of needed items. The confirmation e-mail will also include a link to view drop-off locations in the customer’s area and ship-to addresses for online orders.
In collaboration with FedEx Ground, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to any one of the 1,200 Salvation Army collection centers nationwide.

Holiday tradition to open and provide hope for children with cancer

Candy Cane Lane in West Allis will open Friday, Nov. 27. The West Allis neighborhood bounded by Oklahoma and Montana Avenues and 92nd to 96th Street will be transformed into a winter wonderland for the 24th year to benefit the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund.
The holiday lights will be lit from Nov. 27 until Dec. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. People come from all over the Midwest to drive or stroll through this uniquely decorated neighborhood. The event is free, but visitors may leave a donation if they wish. All donations benefit children with Cancer. A variety of other entertainment is also offered throughout the month:

Friday, Nov. 27 – North Shore Bank Night and Seymour the Seagull
Sunday, Nov. 29- Star Wars character night! An amazing cast of characters with entertain the crowds
Monday, Nov. 30 - Meet Kidd and Elizabeth from 99.1 WMYX’s Morning Mix from 6-7:30 p.m.
Wedneday, Dec 2- Meet Karen, Scott and Radar from FM106’s morning ‘Moo Crew!’ from 6-7:30 p.m. Milwaukee’s own John McGivern from 7-9 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 3 - Bailey Coleman from V100 will be out from 6-7:30 p.m.; Milwaukee Wave players are out from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 4 – Stop by the Village at Manor Park 8621 S. Beloit St. for a warm beverage and treats from 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5 - Star Wars character night! An amazing cast of characters with entertain the crowds
Sunday, Dec. 6 – Meet Jay Olstad from TODAY’s TMJ4 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 8 – Connie & Fish from 97.3The Brew will be out from 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 10 – Meet Meg and Dave from 95.7 WRIT and West Allis Mayor Dan Devine from 6-7:30 p.m. and the Milwaukee Wave Dance Team from 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11 - Say thank you to your Wisconsin Vietnam Vets, and celebrate annual Mascot Night with Mascots from your favorite teams and businesses.
Saturday, Dec.12 Old Wisconsin Sausage/Majdecki’s Sentry Night Old Wisconsin will donate 10 percent of their sales to Candy Cane Lane. Talented artists carve ice blocks into art in front of neighborhood homes at 10:00 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 14 The Diamond Dancers – the Professional Dance Team of the Milwaukee Brewers are out from 6-9 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15 - Meet the Milwaukee Buck’s Energee! Dance Team from 7:30- 9 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 18 Meet West Allis’ fire fighters and bring the kids to see their fire engines, ladder company engines, and paramedic units. Great, safe fun for the whole family.

Local organizations launch Toys for Tots benefits

Clothing store holds toy drive
Maurices clothing store at the Mequon Pavilion, 11010 N Port Washington Road is holding a Toy drive to benefit Toys For Tots.
"We are proud to be a part of this community-one that's always so generous to others who are less fortunate," said store manager Michelle Law. "We invite customers to join us in this effort, and we look forward to giving them a little 'thank you' with an extra special deal on an item from Maurices."
The Toy drive begins on Thursday, Nov. 19, and continues through Thursday, Dec. 10. Customers can drop off their donations anytime during store hours. Items needed include New and unused toys for children in need. Donors will receive a coupon good for 20 percent off any one regular-priced Maurices item for each donation. Coupons are limited to 10 per person.

Milwaukee NARI is toy drop off location
The office of the Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is officially a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve “Toys-For-Tots” drop-off location. Now through Mon., Dec. 14, new (and unwrapped) toys along with cash contributions will be collected for underprivileged children in our area at the Milwaukee/NARI office, located at 11815 W. Dearbourn Ave. (second floor) in Wauwatosa. The office is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition, Milwaukee/NARI members and their staffs will donate to the collection drive at association’s annual holiday party which is collecting toys for the drive.

Sendiks delivers gift of Food

Balistreri-owned Sendik’s Food Markets donated more than 90,000 pounds of food and $11, 500 to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

“At Sendik’s, we’re all about service to our customers, we’re pleased that our customers have returned the favor to provide service to the community in terms of food and money,” said Ted Balistreri of Balistreri-owned Sendik’s stores.

Since August, Sendik’s and its customers have collected food and money to help feed the hungry in eastern Wisconsin through various store programs, including the Sendik’s Real Food magazine, Backpack buddies, Mac & Cheese promotion, a food drive and Keep the change for Feeding America. “We’re overwhelmed by the response from Sendik’s and their customers. It’s reassuring to know that there are responsive partners in the community, like Sendik’s, that are making a difference in the lives of hungry people,” said Bonnie Bellehumeur, president of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “With the economic downturn and rising unemployment, this donation will help us meet the increased need for emergency food relief especially during the holiday season,”

Bellehumeur presented the Balistreri family with the Hunger’s Hope award for their donation.

Pictured: Ted Balistreri, Nick Balistreri, Bonnie Bellehumeur, president of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, and Patrick Balistreri.

Nonprofit calendar of events

Friday, Nov. 13 ArtWorks for Milwaukee's Night by the River beer & wine tasting fundraiser at the Manpower headquarters, 100 Manpower Place, from 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy beer & wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, cheese sampling, live jazz music from Sue Russell & the Ray Tabs Trio, local art work, silent and live auctions, and a raffle for two airline tickets. The event will support additional 2010 programming to better prepare local teens to enter the workforce. Pre-registration before Nov. 9 is $25 and cost to attend is $30 at the door. Register online: www.NightByTheRiver.com
Saturday, Nov. 14 the Salvation Army’s Prison Toy Project gift wrapping day. More than 100 volunteers will wrap Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated parents from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army of Greater Milwaukee Divisional Headquarters, 11315 W. Watertown Plank Road. More than 2,500 applications were received from parents requesting Christmas gifts for their children.
Tuesday, Nov. 17 Ozaukee Family Services will host its Fall Luncheon “There's No Place Like Home” at North Shore Country Club, 3100 W. Country Club Dr., in Mequon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Help pave the Yellow Brick Road to help Ozaukee County families succeed. Event will feature lunch, a raffle and guest speakers: the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man.Cost is $45 per person. To make your reservation, call (262) 376-7774 or visit www.OzaukeeFamilyServices.org
Tuesday, Nov. 17 RitzHolman CPAs, a Milwaukee-based accounting firm, will host a seminar, “Nonprofit Financial Management Update,” at IndependenceFirst from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The event will focus on such issues as the adoption of the new Form 990 and the enactment of a new state law affecting endowment funds. The seminar is free and a continental breakfast will be provided. To register, please contact Missy Barkelar at missy@ritzholman.com or call 414-390-1182 by Friday, Nov. 13. For additional information visit www.ritzholman.com .
Tuesday, Nov. 17 Organizations that are interested in the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau’s annual Business Ethics Torch Award are invited to attend an application workshop from 4 to 5 p.m. at the BBB’s office, 10101 W. Greenfield Avenue, Suite 125 in West Allis. The Business Ethics Torch Award, which began seven years ago, is an annual ethics competition hosted by the Wisconsin BBB, which honors outstanding businesses and charities in several categories based on the organization’s number of employees. The application is free, and companies do not need to be a BBB accredited business to apply. This year’s winners were Mouse Bytez, Make A Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, All American Window & Door Company, and PyraMax Bank. At this workshop, businesses will learn how to apply, discover what the judges are looking for, see past winning applications and ask any questions about the process. Pre-registration is recommended, but not required. Please RSVP to Carole Milos at 414-847-6064. For more information about the Business Ethics Torch Award, go to http://wisconsin.bbb.org/torch/.

To view additional calendar items or to submit your own events please visit the BizTimes.com calendar

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Nonprofit Weekly is compiled by BizTimes reporter Alysha Schertz. This bulletin is published every Friday morning. Send news tips to alysha.schertz@biztimes.com or call her at (414) 336-7123.