August 22, 2016
Written by Sara Blackburn, United Way Intern
Long before United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County’s community campaign kicks off, you’ll find members of Grand Avenue Club working as a team to pack dozens of campaign toolkits.
The mission of Grand Avenue Club, a United Way program partner, is to provide these individuals who have experienced mental illness, with employment, housing, educational and cultural opportunities so they can continue to live productive and satisfying lives
Three days a week, these enthusiastic Grand Avenue Club members travel to United Way’s Milwaukee office in July to assist with collating and packing each kit that will be used at companies running workplace campaigns throughout the fall.
The unique employment partnership between United Way and Grand Avenue Club has provided these members with not only a job but a way to build other useful skills that will help them secure a future position elsewhere.
Kevin Ellis, a Grand Avenue Club member and previous kit-packer for United Way, says during his experience he learned a lot about responsibility and also gained confidence in his ability to learn new things. “I learned to hold myself accountable.”
Today, Kevin is employed full time at Colour Palate where he works as a dishwasher and porter.
He is happy to have worked with United Way as a kit-packer and when asked to describe what “Live United” means, Kevin says it’s a symbol of love and working together. “When I get out of bed every morning, my goal is to help someone.”