The United Way of Greater Milwaukee announced this week a goal to raise $45 million to ensure support for the region's safety net of urgent resources remains strong during the recession.

This year's goal is approximately $700,000 more than the total dollars raised in 2008.

"We've all seen the impact of the economy. It has forced many of us to make difficult business decisions that impact families across the community," said Elizabeth "Betsy" Brenner, president and publisher Journal Sentinel Inc. and United Way Community Campaign co-chair. "Now is the time for those of us who have jobs and the ability to give a little more to step up. This year is United Way's 100th anniversary. It is interesting to look back at its 1930 campaign during the Great Depression when the slogan was 'Greater Need. Give More and Be Glad You Can.' That rings true even today."

In celebration of United Way's 100th anniversary, five funding partners also announced a joint $500,000 gift honoring Jane Bradley Pettit's lifetime achievement of giving back to the community. The David and Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation, The Brico Fund, The Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the Allen-Bradley Company/Rockwell Automation each contributed a significant gift to commemorate Jane Bradley Pettit's legacy.

United Way will dedicate its headquarters located in the historic Schlitz Brewery stables in Jane Bradley Pettit's name, recognizing her as the largest individual donor in its 100-year history.

"Jane Bradley Pettit was truly one of Milwaukee's greatest philanthropists," said Michael W. Grebe, president and chief executive officer, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. "We are pleased to be part of this tribute."

In addition to Brenner, the United Way Community Campaign co-chairs include: Keith Nosbusch, chairman and chief executive officer, Rockwell Automation Inc.; and Stephen Roell, chairman and chief executive officer, Johnson Controls Inc.

The co-chairs said gifts of every size will be imperative to this year's fundraising success and United Way's ability to maintain support of its 160-plus programs. United Way officials are hopeful that early generosity will inspire the community to rally to help those who have been most affected by the economic downturn.

United Way's 100-day 2009 Community Campaign runs through Dec. 10.

To donate, visit www.reasonstogive.org.

Milwaukee's corporate community turned out in full force for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin's annual 5k walk and run on Milwaukee's lakefront. More than 2,200 participants walked or ran in the event, and raised more than $145,000 for wishes.

"It truly was a magical day, especially with so many businesses, individuals, wish kids and families participating and raising pledges to make wishes come true for other kids," said Brian Trexell of Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., event and board chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin. "This year's walk is part of our 25th birthday celebration, and we couldn't have done it without our generous supporters and volunteers who helped make the day a success.”

The All-City People's Parade and Pageant, the community-building art project by the Milwaukee Public Theater and the Milwaukee Mask and Puppet Theatre's, will be part of LaborFest on Monday, Sept. 7.

The parade's original route was scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8, but was cancelled because of storm warnings.

Scores of professional artists and hundreds of volunteers from all parts of the city have created huge puppets, floats and masked creatures from the ground up using cardboard and papier-mâché. Several of the pieces were damaged by the rain, but have been reconstructed in time for the LaborFest parade at 11 a.m. on Wisconsin Avenue.

In addition to the LaborFest parade participants, the All-City People's Parade will feature giant handcrafted masks, puppets, wacky costumes, offbeat marching bands, people-powered floats and regular citizens celebrating Milwaukee's hopes, fears, and ultimate sense of community.

At 1 p.m., a narrated pageant will explain the story behind the parade's colorful and varied elements in front of the Miller Stage at the Meier Festival Park, 200N Harbor Drive.

The event's theme, "Making a New Way – Together," focuses on the economy, ecology and neighborhood peace. The parade and pageant that follows will have sections titled: "Prosperity is Just Around the Corner;" "Toward an Economy of Lasting Value;" "Toward Harmony in Our Neighborhoods;" "Our Choices Grow the World;" and "Yes, We Can Can-Can!"

Volunteers of all ages and abilities are still needed to actually be in the parade - to carry puppets, push floats and wear masks. Interested people and groups can call the Milwaukee Public Theatre at (414) 347-1685 for more information or email mptheatre2@milwaukeepublictheatre.org.

St. Francis-based Wixon Inc. recently held its annual Wixon Open Golf outing in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well as needy families in Cudahy and St. Francis communities.

More than 120 golfers participated in the event at Bristol Oaks Country Club. Wixon employees, friends, and vendors sponsored holes and participated as golfers to raise over $25,000 at the event. 

A special guest Make-A-Wish child attended the outing and assisted with prize drawings throughout the day.

Since the outing became a fundraising event in 2000, Wixon has raised more than $100,000 for charities in the Milwaukee area.

The Adirondack chairs of down town Racine's 2009 Public Art Project will go on the auction block on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Downtown Racine's Monument Square.

The public is invited to attend the event which will feature country rock music by Trigger Gospel, for the final concert of the Summer Nights at the Square concert series, and food and refreshments.

The chairs will be on display beginning at 2 p.m. with the voice auction beginning at 3 p.m. and a silent auction to follow at 4 p.m.  Eighteen chairs will be in the voice auction including the three winning chairs and the giant chair that has been on display at Monument Square all summer long.  There will be 37 chairs in the silent auction. 

Admission to both the auction and concert is free of charge and is open to the public. 

Advance bid numbers for the voice auction will be available at the Downtown Racine Corp. office, 425 Main St..  The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For anyone not able to attend the auction but who is interested in bidding on their favorite chair, a proxy bidding service is available. For more information, call the Downtown Racine Corp. at (262) 634-6002.

Name: Lee Schulz

Title:  Executive director

Nonprofit organization: IndependenceFirst

Nonprofit Address: 540 S. 1st St., Milwaukee, WI 53204

Website: www.independencefirst.org

On Twitter: @Independence1st or twitter.com/Independence1st

On Facebook: facebook.com/IndependenceFirst

Mission of the organization: IndependenceFirst is a non-profit agency directed by, and for the benefit of, people with disabilities, primarily serving the four county metropolitan Milwaukee area. Our agency mission is to effectively facilitate empowerment of individuals with disabilities through: Education, Advocacy, Independent Living Services, and Coalition Building

We promote diversity and multicultural participation in our operation and services.  Additionally we provide over 20 programs and services to people with disabilities of all kinds, in all age groups.  We are the area's FIRST resource on access and disability issues and answer 5000+ calls each year for information/referral alone.

Annual volunteer/fundraising event: IndependenceFirst POWER LUNCH (held in May/June - one of the largest luncheon nonprofit events in Milwaukee)

What makes your organization unique? "Over 50 percent of our staff, management and board of directors have disabilities themselves. We really 'walk (or roll) the talk' of independent living and employment for people with disabilities in our community.  Our offices are a showcase of accessible office design and open for businesses to learn/see how incorporating people with disabilities in their workforce doesn't need to be expensive or obvious in office layout.  We welcome tours and although we've been in business for 30 years, we've only been at our new location in South First Street since late Oct. 2008. Our program outcomes are great because we don't tell people with disabilities how to live, we present them with information, skill building, and the opportunity to set their own goals and make their own choices using a peer support model."

What is one key thing needed for leadership in the non profit sector?  "Belief in the organization's mission, patience and surrounding self with competent coworkers that compliment your skill set."

Is your organization in search of board members? "It is an ongoing process/search.  Often potential Board members join a committee first.  We're always looking to connect with people with disabilities who are advocates, community leaders or those with close relations who have disabilities for Board and committee positions.  We are looking for people who are passionate about what our organization does, would like to get involved, contribute with their skill sets or financially."

How can business people/the community help your organization?  "We have a LOT of options for business people and community members to get involved at IndependenceFirst - using their skills as volunteers, computer or household item drives at their workplace, volunteering as a group for teambuilding activities, and of course through in-kind or financial contributions. "

Why do you think people should volunteer or become a board member of your organization?"Almost everyone has or will have a personal encounter with a person with a disability.  People's involvement if they volunteer in a project with people with disabilities will make them more comfortable and aware of the needs of people with disabilities. There are also many opportunities to develop and/or practice leadership skills at IndependenceFirst.  More generally, we take volunteers for short-term/limited time or project-oriented jobs or also longer term commitments. We have a well-coordinated volunteer program and host over 400 volunteers each year. We are very grateful for volunteers at our organization and do a recognition event each year for them."

Donors Forum honors Zilber

The Donors Forum of Wisconsin (DFW), a statewide membership association for grantmakers, announced that Joseph Zilber will receive the 2009 Wisconsin Philanthropic Leadership Award. The award honors living philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through their charitable giving and recognizes the impact philanthropy has on maintaining and sustaining the quality of life that makes Wisconsin a great place to live, work and raise a family.

"This award highlights the power of philanthropy to achieve positive change and seeks to encourage others to give," said Deborah Fugenschuh, president of the Donors Forum of Wisconsin. "DFW is proud to honor Mr. Zilber's investment in community revitalization and inspirational leadership."

In 2008, Zilber established the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative, a $50 million commitment to Milwaukee neighborhoods. Over the course of a decade, grants will fund community plans to neighborhoods across Milwaukee and support programs that benefit multiple neighborhoods and their residents. Foundation funds will be used to support community planning processes and improve the quality of community life.

"The Zilber Neighborhood Initiative was created because I see the promise and opportunity to make a difference in Milwaukee that will be felt for generations to come," Zilber said.

A representative of the Zilber Family Foundation will formally accept the award on Thursday, Sept. 10, on Zilber's behalf during the Donor Forum of Wisconsin's 10th annual Conference on Philanthropy Reception at Discovery World in Milwaukee. 

At the age of 91, Zilber continues to be active in a wide range of charitable, professional, and civic organizations, while overseeing the operations of Zilber Ltd., a diversified commercial and residential real estate development and asset management company headquartered in Milwaukee. 

Martinez celebrates 40 years at UMOS

Lupe Martinez, president and chief executive officer of UMOS, was recently recognized for 40 years of service at the organization.

Lupe started at UMOS in 1969 when the organization was only 4 years old. At that time, UMOS was a single grant agency dedicated to protecting the rights of seasonal migrant farm workers, Martinez said.

"As other resources became available the organization started to look at the changing population and the diverse services that population would require," he said.

Under Martinez's leadership, UMOS has grown to become the largest Hispanic-managed nonprofit agency in the state of Wisconsin and one of the largest in the nation.

The organization has grown to include locations through out the state of Wisconsin, but also in Minnesota, Texas, Kansas and Missouri, and the population the organization serves has grown too.

"Our customer base today still consists of the seasonal migrant farmer workers, but also encompasses others who may require our services," Martinez said. "Some organizations have failed to survive in this economy, but we have expanded our services, and followed the trends and have been able to respond to the needs of our population."

UMOS functions with 98-percent government funding. However, since government funding has suffered some during the economic crisis, the organization is forced to explore other grants and opportunities to fund its programs and services.

"The competitive process nationwide has become more and more challenging, but over the years, UMOS, through careful and well thought out processes has positioned itself in such a way to have more opportunity to get those grants and some of the money available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act than some other organizations," Martinez said.

UMOS also has formed strategic partnerships with local for-profit and nonprofit agencies to double on grant proposals or offer UMOS services in specific areas, Martinez said.

"Unfortunately this economic distress will be the demise of some local nonprofits. We have already seen some of that," Martinez said. "For the ones who position themselves well, plan and make smart decisions, opportunities can arise. Those are the opportunities that UMOS has tried to take advantage of, and will continue to do so for the next forty years."

Martinez also is president of the Wisconsin Migrant Coalition, Chairman of MAFO, a national partnership of rural and farmworker organizations, chair of the National Farmworker Alliance (NFA) and vice chair of the governor appointed Wisconsin Council on Migrant Labor. He also sits on the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and the board of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

Schwalbach to be inaugurated as Mt. Mary president

Eileen Mihm Schwalbach will be inaugurated as Mount Mary College's 11th president on Friday, Sept. 11. in the College's Bloechl Center, 2900 N. Menomonee River Parkway.

"I am honored to lead Mount Mary College as it continues the proud tradition of the School Sisters of Notre Dame who founded this College nearly 100 years ago," stated Schwalbach. "I look forward to the continual advancement of the College and the individuals educated here."

Schwalbach will launch her inaugural year as the "Year of Transformation."

In keeping with Mount Mary's mission, the college's curriculum, programs and events on and off campus will focus on the ability of higher education to transform students and faculty to in return transform others, their professions, their communities, and the world.

Faculty, staff and students will participate in the inauguration. Delegates from Marquette University, the University of Wisocnsin-Milwaukee, Alverno College, Cardinal Stritch University, Concordia University, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Carthage College and many other state colleges will participate in the inaugural procession.

Schwalbach began her career at Mount Mary in 1993 by teaching part-time in the Education Department. She joined the faculty full-time in 1997 and served as associate professor and director of the Graduate Program in Education. In May 2003, she began her new position as associate dean of Academic and Student Affairs and in January 2004, became interim vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. She was named permanent vice president in July of 2004, provost in 2007, and served as acting president from September 2008 through February 2009 when she was named president.

Albrecht is new director of development at MAM

Mary Albrecht was recently named senior director of development at the Milwaukee Art Museum after serving as interim director of development for the last five months. In her new position, Albrecht and her team are responsible for raising approximately 62 percent of the museum's annual budget.

"I am really excited to take this position to the next level. We just finished our fiscal year, so we are happy that we made our goal," Albrecht said.

Albrecht and her team managed to raise more than over $7.5 million for the museum.

"I'm excited to get started on the next fiscal year and getting to work with this incredible development team," she said. "I can't take credit for reaching goal without them."