Harley donates $2.4 million to Hunger Task Force
The Harley-Davidson Foundation has committed to allocating more than $2.4 million in grant funds to support the growth of the Hunger Task Force Farm in Franklin.
 
The 208-acre farm, which operates year round, harvests fresh produce for food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and senior centers throughout greater Milwaukee. Last year, more than 350,000 pounds of produce – including apples, corn, broccoli, asparagus and more – benefited local programs.

The Harley-Davidson Foundation’s grant, which will be rolled out over the next three years, will act as a funding force for the farm’s spectrum of educational and job training programs.

In addition to hosting nutrition education courses for students from Milwaukee Public Schools and providing opportunities for area residents to learn about Wisconsin agriculture, the farm is developing a job training program for individuals to build soft job skills.

“If you live in the central city and you have no access to a decent job you probably haven’t learned how to be on time, what to wear to work, how to follow your supervisor’s directors,” said Sherrie Tussler, executive director of Milwaukee-based Hunger Task Force. “And you haven’t gained the necessary job experience to put on your resume.”

The year-long job training program currently has six participants, each of whom receive $10 per hour for their efforts to run and maintain the farm. Hunger Task Force aims to grow the program to prepare 18 trainees for future employment, Tussler said.

“We would like to see people who are low income and who are having a hard time finding a job in the central city have an opportunity to not just learn job skills but ultimately work for a local corporation like Harley Davidson,” Tussler said.

The nonprofit also relies on thousands of volunteers to stay on top of the upkeep of the farm. Last year, nearly 2,500 volunteers took part in tending, weeding, planting, harvesting, and picking fruits and vegetables.

“If you like getting your hands in the dirt, the farm is a great place to volunteer,” Tussler said.

The Harley-Foundation, which has contributed funding to Hunger Task Force for more than 20 years, will lend the farm “a new beginning,” Tussler said.

“It stabilizes the operation of the farm, and it really is a turning point for the farm and its history,” Tussler said. “It creates an opportunity for the farm to serve the general community, to assure that people at food pantries are getting fresh produce rather than canned goods. It promotes health, and it creates dignity for people when they’re able to get fresh and healthy foods.”

Hunger Task Force leases its farm grounds from Milwaukee County for $1 a year in exchange for harvesting fish in a farm-based fish hatchery for Milwaukee County Parks as well as supplying 10 face cords of wood.

For more information about the farm and Hunger Task Force’s mission to achieve a hunger-free community, visit www.hungertaskforce.org.

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Lutheran Home Monarch Ball returns in September
The Lutheran Home Foundation, part of the Lutheran Home and Harwood Place retirement communities in Wauwatosa, will celebrate its 14th annual Monarch Ball on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Pfister Hotel, located at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee.
 
The Monarch Ball, themed “Homecoming,” will raise funds to support the operations of the Lutheran Home and Harwood Place so that the facilities can continue to accept new elderly residents and support current residents, regardless of ability to pay.  

Event sponsorship opportunities are available, including the $10,000 Platinum Presenting Sponsor (which allows up to four tables of eight people at the event) and the $7,500 Gold Sponsor (which allows up to three tables of eight people). A $5,000 Silver Sponsor opportunity is also an option (for two tables of eight people) as well as a $2,500 Bronze Sponsor (for one table of 10) and a $1,500 Table Sponsor (for one table of eight).

Area businesses can also opt to sponsor an Employee Table for $1,500 for Lutheran Home and Harwood Place employees and their guests.

All sponsors will be highlighted in event materials, promotions, signs and on the Lutheran home Foundation website.

For more information about these sponsorship opportunities and other sponsorship options, contact Heidi Mayer, executive director of the Lutheran Home Foundation, at 414-256-6836 or heidi.mayer@thelutheranhome.org.

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Schools That Can Milwaukee determined to raise $1 million
Schools That Can Milwaukee (STCM), an education-minded nonprofit organization that aims to close Milwaukee’s achievement gap, is turning to the community to raise $400,000 by the end of today as part of a week-long $1 million challenge.  
 
The challenge was unexpectedly launched last Friday by STCM board member Gus Ramirez, who is also the executive chairman of Waukesha-based HUSCO International. Ramirez committed to personally match up to $1 million donated to the organization by Friday, May 3.

He announced the surprise challenge at the end of a breakfast reception hosted by STCM in conjunction with the national Schools That Can movement. Ramirez constructed the challenge both in support of STCM’s goals and in honor of his new granddaughter, said Kole Knueppel, STCM co-founder and managing director of school partnerships.   

“We were just overwhelmed with his enthusiasm for Schools That Can Milwaukee and his support for our organization,” Knueppel said. “We were absolutely thrilled and overwhelmed that he would step up and (give) that kind of gift.”

About 400 people attended last Friday’s breakfast event, which informed supporters and community partners of the organization about its progress in positively impacting the quality of Milwaukee schools. Donations contributed to the challenge started to pour in Friday with more than $150,000 raised the first day alone, many from event attendees.

As of Thursday, donations exceeded $600,000, thanks in large part to a $100,000 gift made by JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Wednesday.    

“It’s huge in terms of our ability to do the work with the schools and the kids,” Knueppel said. “Our goal is to close the achievement gap in Milwaukee, and the first step is to get to 20,000 students in high performing schools by 2020.”

The grant will broaden the organization’s impact across the education scene in Milwaukee, Knueppel said.

STCM launched in July 2010. The organization works with high performing schools in the city to help them expand and replicate. It also coaches high potential schools and recruits school leaders from across the country to bring new schools to the area.

The organization works with the Milwaukee Public School District as well as charter schools and schools within School Choice.

The nonprofit hopes to get as close to the $1 million benchmark as possible by the end of today, Knueppel said.

Interested donors can reach out to Allison Wagner, STCM director of growth, at 414-405-3013 or allison.wagner@stcmilwaukee.org.

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Community Care Inc. names Munson as CEO
Milwaukee-based Community Care Inc. (CCI) on Monday announced that Kenneth Munson, former regional director of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, has been named chief executive officer, effective on Monday.
 
CCI is a private nonprofit organization that provides long-term care and health services to more than 9,500 seniors and adults with disabilities. CCI’s mission is to offer quality care and member-centered approaches to support its members, so they can live functionally independent in their communities.

The announcement comes after an extensive 10-month national search led by Pat Schroeder, head of the search committee, and chairman of the CCI board of directors Robert Goldstein.
Munson succeeds CCI founder and long-time CEO Kirby Shoaf, who announced that he would be retiring at the end of 2013.

“CCI conducted a national search for a new CEO,” said Goldstein. “Our search committee sought out and identified a group of very talented, experienced and qualified individuals.  Kenneth emerged as the best candidate from this extremely strong field.”

Munson most recently served as regional director of the Region V Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Munson previously served as deputy secretary at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in Madison. Munson also previously served for five years as president and CEO of Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin.

“Kenneth’s deep knowledge of complex health care, social service, governmental and regulatory issues combined with his successful track record in numerous executive leadership roles make him the right choice to lead Community Care," Goldstein said. "I am looking forward to working with Kenneth as CEO, and taking Community Care to new levels of success."

“I’m excited for the opportunity to join CCI and to lead the organization as we strive to help people across our state live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives,” Munson said.

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COSBE launches new campaign for Milwaukee talent pipeline
The Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE) is launching a new campaign to raise $75,000 in additional donations to support Second Chance Partners for Education (SCPFE) in its quest to help create a sustainable talent pipeline in the city of Milwaukee.  
 
SCPFE intends to create a new education center in the city.

As a result of donations last year, SCPFE launched an education center at Lakeside Manufacturing in West Milwaukee last fall.

“And with a 95 percent attendance rate and 90 percent graduation rate in the SCPFE Program, we’re more confident than ever that Second Chance can play a critical role in charting a path for our city’s young adults,” said Mary Scheibel, chairwoman of COSBE and a principal at Trefoil Group. “COSBE’s small business roundtables were a huge factor in our spectacular achievement last year, and we know that this same level of commitment will be essential to continue our support of SCPFE, and to ensure we reach our fundraising goal this year. We’re confident that with the support of the COSBE board of directors, its Executive Roundtable members and the connections of our 1,800 MMAC member companies, that this year’s target is again a very realistic goal.

The new campaign will be used to fund books, computers, technology, transportation and other materials needed during the center’s first year.

An alternative education program, SCPFE offers high school students an integrated learning experience on-site at manufacturing companies where curriculum is matched with real work experience at Milwaukee manufacturers. After graduation, 60 percent of the students enter the workforce immediately for the companies where they intern, 30 percent go on to technical colleges or four-year universities and 10 percent enter the military.

For more information, contact COSBE executive director Mary Steinbrecher at (414) 287-4128.

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Milwaukee Biz Blog: Conversations about breast health can save lives
Conversations with loved ones should take place throughout the year, not just during October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month – because one conversation can save a life says Nikki Panico, a breast cancer survivor and executive director of the Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
 
Read more in Wednesday’s Milwaukee Biz Blog.

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Nonprofit Calendar

*Saturday, May 4, Habitat for Humanity will host a new volunteer orientation from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at its main office, 3726 N. Booth St. in Milwaukee. Attendees will learn more about how they can become involved in Habitat’s mission to construct affordable homes for Milwaukee-area residents in need. They will also have a chance to sign up for specific volunteer opportunities at the orientation. Space is limited to 40 participants, and advanced registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Lauren Halloran at 414-562-6100 ext. 34 or lhalloran@milwaukeehabitat.org.

*Saturday, May 4, the “Best Buddies Friendship Walk” will parade through downtown Milwaukee to support the nonprofit’s mission of fostering friendship, employment opportunities and leadership development for people with disabilities. The 3rd annual walk will begin at ManpowerGroup Corporate Headquarters, 100 Manpower Pl. in Milwaukee. A warm-up and pre-walk celebration will start at 9:15 a.m. with the walk running from about 10 a.m. to noon and a post-walk celebration following. The walk features a 2-mile route with a 1-mile option. Walkers can participate for free but are encouraged to raise a minimum of $50. All proceeds will assist in funding Best Buddies Wisconsin state programs. For more information or to register, visit www.bestbuddieswisconsin.org.

*Sunday, May 5, ArtWorks for Milwaukee, a nonprofit that provides paid art internships to underprivileged teenagers, will showcase artwork created for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s spring “Remains to Be Seen” program at the Milwaukee County Zoo. ArtWorks interns will present their artwork promoting the Zoological Society program, which features carts of animal artifacts to give zoo visitors a hands-on experience. Their creations will be on display at the Milwaukee County Zoo. The presentation will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and is free, but attendees must pay zoo admission to get in. The event will also include snacks, juice and coffee for attendees. The Milwaukee County Zoo is located at 10001 W. Blue Mound Rd. in Milwaukee.   

*Saturday, May 11, the Milwaukee Art Museum will host Yoga @ the Museum from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The monthly yoga session, presented by the museum and omTownYogis, caters to all skill levels. The museum, located at 700 N. Art Museum Dr. in Milwaukee, will open for attendees at 7:45 a.m. Pre-registration is preferred and is available until 5 p.m. on Friday at http://omtownyogis.org/. Walk-ins will also be accepted depending on space. Attendees must bring their own mat. A $15 donation is encouraged to support the museum and omTownYogis’ Annual Grant Fund. For more information Yoga @ the Museum, contact Jennifer Kobe, special events coordinator at the museum, at jennifer.kobe@mam.org.

*Tuesday, May 14, CORE/El Centro, a nonprofit organization that provides natural healing therapy services in Milwaukee, will celebrate its 11th anniversary with a “CORE Momentum” fundraiser. The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s on the Lake’s Gallery and Culture Arts Center, 1800 N. Prospect Ave. in Milwaukee. It will feature beverages and hors d’oeuvres along with a silent auction and raffle. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the organization’s programs including its children’s camp in its rooftop garden. Event tickets cost $60 and are available for purchase at www.core-elcentro.org. For more information, contact Pat Bogenschuetz at 414-225-4260 or at patb@core-elcentro.org. 

*Saturday, May 18, Legacy Recycling will run an electronics drive at the First Congregational Church UCC, located at 131 N. Webster St. in Port Washington. The drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will collect unwanted electronics including computers, laptops, computer accessories, DVD players, CD players, televisions, office equipment and any device that plugs into an outlet or uses batteries. The electronics drive will be held along with the church’s 6th annual Sustainability Fair, which is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.transitionozaukee.com.

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