April is National Volunteer Month, which recognizes all those who give their time and energy to help their communities. At United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, we celebrate our volunteers all year. And during April, we are pleased to recognize key partners and volunteers who help our mission to change lives and improve the community.
Don't miss our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday, April 19! Get the event details and register to attend.
Meet our Volunteer Recognition Awardees:
Baird
Baird and United Way routinely collaborate to provide engagement experiences at key employee/customer events such as their 100th Anniversary Celebration and most recently their 2022 Annual Meeting held at the Summerfest Grounds last summer. By financially sponsoring and assembling school supplies, they have supported our Backpack Coalition and positively impacted 1,000 students.
Key project planning partners: Lacey Falk and Audrey Warner.
Award: Inspiring Corporate Event Partnership
Briggs & Stratton and Summerfest
For three years, United Way has collaborated with Briggs & Stratton and Summerfest to support Mary Lou’s Closet, which mobilizes the most critical needs (such as deodorant, feminine hygiene products, and socks) of students in our community through the Summerfest Free Admissions program. The value of products mobilized for local students to date is almost $12,000.
Key project planning partners: Lauren Vagnini and Jayne Lynch of Briggs & Stratton, and Kevin Canady of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc./Summerfest.
Award: Inspiring Collaboration
Dale Wagner
Dale joins us weekly at our Milwaukee office to help our volunteer efforts. He works behind the scenes inventorying and valuing product donations from our community; preparing Diaper Bank deliveries to our Diaper Hubs; assembling and staging volunteer project supplies for workplace and Volunteer Center events; making sure our warehouse is organized; and jumping in on emerging needs. These activities add up to tremendous impact touching the lives of many in our community.
Award: Lifting Our Impact Behind the Scenes
Learn more about Dale's commitment to volunteerism here.
EMC Insurance Companies, Inc.
Over the past year, and with United Way, EMC Insurance developed a year-round engagement plan to tackle volunteerism with strategy. Employees helped Lancaster students pick out free books through My Very Own Library, embraced the dirt to help Green Power Gardens in Waukesha, harvested apples in the fall with Hunger Task Force Farm, supported our Backpack Coalition packing efforts and hosted a school supply drive valued over $2,000.
Key project planning partner: Stephanie Neuenfeldt.
Award: Inspiring Year-Round Engagement
Kohler Co.
Kohler Co. has supported the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership, providing a three-year annual gift of $50,000 and working strategically with United Way at two key high schools: JMAC and Washington High School. Examples include orchestrating a field trip to the Kohler Design Center and The American Club to highlight careers in Hospitality & Tourism, Health, Finance and IT; Classroom Career Talks focused on jobhunting skills; and engaging employees to pack backpacks and purchase holiday gifts for students.
Key project planning partners: Christopher Pierce, Natalie Maciolek, Carrie Estrella, and Janine Chesebro.
Award: Inspiring Alignment with a United Way Key Initiative
Retire United
The Retire United network is comprised of retirees who recognize the important role volunteerism and philanthropy play in strengthening our community. Their mission is to provide opportunities for retirees to Live United and improve our four-county region through giving, volunteering, and advocacy. Retire United members have packed schools supplies and filled backpacks for students in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, served as companions at Project Homeless Connect, bundled diapers and wipes for new parent households, packed lead safety kits, and more.
Award: Inspiring Donor Network
Interested in volunteering as an individual or as group?
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