For the fourth year, Milwaukee Magazine is partnering with Wisconsin Philanthropy Network to spread the word about local nonprofits and charitable groups that are bettering our community and helping the least fortunate. In the following pages, you’ll learn about 17 remarkable organizations’ work. We hope that these stories will inspire you to donate, volunteer or both. And starting Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, check out Milwaukee Magazine’s Instagram (@milwaukeemag) and Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeMagazine), where we’ll be posting a new video interview with each of these organizations every day. To give to any of these nonprofits, please check out the “Donate Now” buttons below.

OCD Wisconsin

Who is the face of OCD? Everyone, says Cindy Tiffany-Frey, the president of OCD Wisconsin. Anyone you see might be dealing with the disorder, and its effects go beyond each particular person who has it. One in 100 people have OCD, Tiffany-Frey notes, and it also affects each person’s community, including co-workers, friends and family.

“Our mission statement is to bring awareness and education and offer it all with passion and support. OCD is so grossly misunderstood,” says Tiffany-Frey. “Just because your dresser drawers are neat as a pin does not mean you have OCD. OCD is consistent with two things – obsession and compulsion – and those two things together destroy lives.”

OCD Wisconsin was founded in 2014 to offer support for those with OCD and their families. In 2021, the organization amicably spun off from Rogers Behavioral Health after a seven-year partnership. It is now a nonprofit affiliate of the International OCD Foundation. With more and more people who need services, the organization is poised to grow. It remains volunteer-driven, with no paid positions, and is funded through financial donations.

“Weekly, we are getting phone calls from people in the state of Wisconsin that need help and can’t get the help,” says Tiffany-Frey, a retired special education teacher. “The upper areas in the state struggle with up to 1,000 people with mental health issues per one provider.”

Volunteers are needed to assist with event planning and accounting. OCD Wisconsin’s annual events include fundraising walks in Oconomowoc and Madison. Each year, a senior-year scholarship is awarded to an incoming college student to help with treatment and medications during this transition. OCD Wisconsin is also writing curriculum to help first responders identify symptoms, and not trigger or make a person’s OCD worse.

Other services are “Ask the Experts” simulcasts and monthly “Beyond Treatment Network” Zoom meetings. “We have more resources than we’ve ever had to help people,” says Tiffany-Frey. In 2024, the organization hopes to organize a 10-year-anniversary fundraising gala and create a camp for children affected by OCD. “I’ve taught students who have OCD and know how painful that is, not just for the child, but the family and the communities the child is in, which affects everything,” says Tiffany-Frey.

What We Do

OCD Wisconsin is a nonprofit that supports those with OCD and their families. It connects them with local resources and fosters a community where those with OCD and their caregivers can meet, interact and share their experiences. It also provides live Q&As with licensed professionals who offer OCD help, along with an annual scholarship for an incoming college student with OCD.

Where Your Money Goes

OCD Wisconsin is a volunteer-run organization funded through donations. Donations are used for its year-round programming for those with OCD. It’s looking for volunteers, including people who can help with education, outreach, fundraising and programming.

OCD Wisconsin

P.O. BOX 623, OCONOMOWOC, WI 53066 | 833-623-9472

ocdwisconsin.org

GPS Education Partners

What We Do

GPS Education Partners (GPS Ed) connects businesses with schools to provide quality work-based learning experiences and training that promote equity and career opportunity for youth. Through these partnerships and with the support of local communities, students can enter the GPS Ed Education Center and Youth Apprenticeship Program. This immersive, hands-on method of learning better prepares students to be work-ready right after high school or able to make more informed college decisions leading them to a more prosperous life and contributing to a thriving, and inclusive economy. “What we do is much more than just connecting students to businesses,” says Laura Derpinghaus, GPS Ed’s director of marketing and fund development. “What we’re really doing is inspiring curiosity in our students. We’re giving them the chance to acquire new knowledge, skills and understanding about potential careers so that all students can find their path in life.”

Where Your Money Goes

Every dollar raised is used to reach more students in need. Donations support students in GPS Ed’s Education Center and Youth Apprenticeship Program by covering a portion of the program costs that is shared between partnering schools and businesses. For freshmen and sophomores, GPS Ed works with schools to provide students with awareness and exposure activities like business tours. Donations also cover technology fees, industry credentialing, personal development training and community service trips. “Donations fuel the work we do,” says Derpinghaus. The organization is currently looking to open education centers in Fond du Lac, Waukesha and Madison.
Donations allow GPS Ed’s Intermediary Services Group to jumpstart work-based learning programs in new communities both in and outside of Wisconsin. GPS Ed also hosts an annual fundraising event, which this year surpassed its goal of $150,000. Next year’s event is set for Sept. 19, 2024.

GPS Education Partners

N19 W24075 RIVERWOOD DR., SUITE 300, WAUKESHA | 262-226-2001

gpsed.org/MakeSchoolWork

Humane Animal Welfare Society

What We Do

The Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) is an open admission, no-kill shelter dedicated to strengthening the relationship between animals and humans through adoptions and education. HAWS leads the way in animal welfare and community education – keeping pets in their forever homes, ending euthanasia and teaching all ages the values of kindness, compassion and empathy.
HAWS also hosts a Pet Pantry, open year-round, which distributes pet food and supplies to those who can’t otherwise afford it. To date, it has given out 33,000 pounds of food. The organization also runs its Safe Keep program, which provides temporary housing for pets at no charge, when owners have unexpected emergencies.
With facilities in both Waukesha and Delafield, HAWS provides humane education for people of all ages, including clubs, classes, field trips and more.

Where Your Money Goes

HAWS relies on donor support for all aspects of its work. Donations are used to support care of the animal residents, medical treatment and spaying/neutering for shelter and community pets, animal rescue, fostering and adoption. Money is also used for training and enrichment programs for the resident animals, as well as humane education for people of all ages.

Humane Animal Welfare Society

701 NORTHVIEW RD., WAUKESHA | 262-542-8851

HAWS Schallock Center for Animals

W330 S1205 COUNTY RD. C, DELAFIELD | 262-542-8851

hawspets.org

Bublr Bikes

If you’ve spent any time in Milwaukee in the past 10 years, you’ve almost certainly noticed Bublr Bikes. The bright blue bicycles are stationed around the city and suburbs for easy access – swipe a card, take a bike, drop it off at another station. Since its founding in 2014, the local nonprofit bikeshare has established over 100 stations in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and West Allis. “At its core, Bublr Bikes is an environmental organization,” says Elizabeth Grout, Bublr’s sponsorship and outreach manager. “Around 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are generated by the transportation sector. Since Bublr was founded, we’ve offset over 1100 tons of emissions.”

The company’s commitment to sustainability runs through every facet of its work. Its ebikes, which include a small motor, use a battery that is recycled, as are all the tires and tubes when they’re worn out. Every Bublr station is manufactured close by in Waterloo, reducing the carbon cost of transporting them to the Milwaukee area. And unlike the majority of bikeshare programs, Bublr is a small nonprofit, not owned by a major rideshare company, such as Uber or Lyft.

Bublr Bikes operates four major community programs. First, its Access Pass provides free, unlimited 60-minute rides for anyone who qualifies for FoodShare, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI or Section 8 housing. “This year, we’ve had more signups for the pass than ever before,” Grout says. “People rely on Bublr to get to their jobs, the store, the doctor.”

Bublr also offers weekly cycling classes on safe city biking. All attendees get a free month pass and a helmet. Partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee and DreamBikes, Bublr now provides a six-month workforce development program that trains students to become certified bike mechanics at no cost. And Bublr’s fourth community program is its Adaptive Bikes, available at its stations. At no extra fee, these bikes offer an option for pedaling with hands instead of feet, and another offers two seats so that multiple people can ride.

“We’re passionate about Milwaukee and bicycle safety and about improving our community,” says Grout. “Only about 30% of our revenue is from user fees – the rest is donations and sponsorship. Those donations are how we keep these programs funded.”

What We Do

Bublr Bikes is Greater Milwaukee’s nonprofit bikeshare program. Bublr provides sustainable and inclusive bike sharing and supports community programs including cycling classes, a workforce development program, and free passes for income-qualified members of the community.

Where Your Money Goes

User revenue only makes up about 30% of Bublr’s funds, which is why donors and sponsors are vital for Bublr’s continued growth. Donations help fund the nonprofit’s community programs, bike maintenance and environmental initiatives.

Bublr Bikes

PO BOX 235, MILWAUKEE, WI 53201 | 414-931-1121

bublrbikes.org

Kathy’s House

What We Do

Kathy’s House is a hospital guest house committed to providing affordable lodging and caring support in a “home away from home” environment for families who need to travel to Milwaukee for medical care.
In 2021, the organization opened a new 38-room house near Froedtert Hospital that’s more than twice the size of its previous building. “We’re fortunate to have this incredible state-of-the-art facility that we hope will serve as a national model for other organizations across the country,” says Patty Metropulos, the president and CEO. The new facility offers much more than just housing – it includes a fully stocked kitchen, dining room, lounges, laundry, library, wi-fi, fitness center and more.

Where Your Money Goes

’Most families facing serious illness cannot afford the full cost of lodging for weeks or months away from home while they access treatment. Donor dollars help to make sure that no family is turned away for an inability to pay.

’The organization relies heavily on donations to pay for the cost of maintaining the new house and its facilities. The majority of families that use Kathy’s House face multiple barriers to care, such as a low income, significant travel expenses, a forced leave of absence from their work and more. Donations help to lower costs so those families can receive Kathy’s House services.

’Kathy’s House is also largely a volunteer-run organization. It is always accepting volunteers, including groups, to make meals for its guests and staff the front desk. Opportunities are available at kathys-house.org. “We’re full to capacity – in fact, there’s a waiting list,” says Metropulos. “There are a lot of costs associated with running this house, and we’re looking to expand, so donations are really enabling us to keep providing this care and grow in the years ahead.”

Kathy’s House

9101 W. DOYNE AVE. WAUWATOSA | 414-453-8290

kathys-house.org

The Nature Conservancy

Great Lakes reefs – composed of rock piles left by ancient glaciers – are just as critical to the health of our “inland seas” as coral reefs are to our oceans. Important fish species, like Lake Trout, Walleye, Lake Whitefish and Cisco, rely on freshwater reefs for feeding and spawning. The quality and quantity of these reefs contribute to fish reproductive success, which benefits commercial and recreational fishers. Healthy fish populations are important indicators of the overall health of Lake Michigan, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and its partners are working together to understand the underlying factors that help them thrive.

TNC is a nonprofit that is developing innovative solutions to these challenges. According to TNC Sustainable Fisheries Ecologist Jamie Dobosenski, “Protecting and restoring Great Lakes spawning reef habitat, which is threatened by stressors such as sedimentation and aquatic invasive species, is key to helping rebuild important fish populations that are of significant ecological, economic and cultural importance.”

Through donor support and partnerships with state, federal and tribal agencies, TNC is helping assess the condition of reefs across the Great Lakes, including many in Lake Michigan, to better understand their important role in lake ecology. This work will provide resource managers with the information they need to plan and implement future restoration and protection efforts.

Why does it matter?

As a coastal city, Milwaukee has always had a deep connection with Lake Michigan and the broader Great Lakes system. From thriving fisheries to robust tourism and recreation, a healthy Lake Michigan contributes to a healthy economy and community.

Learn more about supporting TNC’s work in Wisconsin by visiting nature.org/givebackwi.

What We Do

The Nature Conservancy uses science to develop innovative solutions to the challenges people and nature face today, from climate change and habitat loss to sustainably growing healthy food and keeping water clean.

Where Your Money Goes

Donations support the protection and care of Wisconsin’s lands, waters and wildlife, and help promote policies that enable people and nature to thrive together.
Funds also support TNC’s Great Lakes Program, which is focused on protecting and restoring critical places and ecosystem processes across the region.

The Nature Conservancy

633 W. MAIN ST., MADISON | 608-251-8140

nature.org/givebackwi

Shepherds College

Carrie Park discovered Shepherds College while looking for a post-secondary school for her son, who has Down syndrome. When she found the Christian school, which offers career training, life skills and a full college experience for students with intellectual and development disabilities on its Union Grove campus, she knew it was the right fit.

Park, who has worked in leadership roles within the nonprofit industry for over a decade, was so impressed with the school that she offered her experience as a consultant to help it grow.

That effort quickly turned into a job. In January, she was named president of Shepherds Foundation Inc., the college’s fundraising and marketing arm.

“Shepherds College is a nation-leading educational service provider that offers non-degree granting accredited programs for young adults with IDD. Our placement rate post-graduation is four times the national average at over 80%,” Park says. “We’re giving them a true college experience where they discover their strengths, discover their spiritual gifts and relationship with Jesus, and learn to live a thriving, fulfilled, empowered life.”

Shepherds College offers occupational training programs in culinary art, horticulture and technology. Each offers extensive training in their respective fields, preparing students for employment after graduation.

Along with its life and social skills classes, the college helps prepare students to live on their own, offering several levels of dormitory and apartment-living options, catered to the level of independence that best suits each student’s needs.

On average, 65% of students benefit from a Shepherds College scholarship each year. As the new president of Shepherds Foundation, one of Park’s major goals is growing the endowment and increasing that scholarship fund so that no family will face a monetary obstacle if a loved one wants to attend the school.

“We would also love to see Shepherds College expand outside of Wisconsin,” Park says. “About 150,000 students with intellectual and developmental disabilities graduate high school every year and don’t fit the mold of larger universities’ programs. We want to serve as many of those students as we can.”

What We Do

Shepherds College offers a post-secondary education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It trains students in occupational and life skills and offers a residential college experience.

Where Your Money Goes

The school relies on donations to fund student scholarships. Shepherds College students do not qualify for financial aid, so scholarships are crucial in helping families afford the education
Donations are also used for campus renovation and improvement, as well as efforts to expand Shepherds’ reach outside of Wisconsin.

Shepherds College

1805 15TH AVE., UNION GROVE | 262-878-5620

shepherdscollege.edu

SecureFutures

“We started SecureFutures because kids across our state were graduating without a clue how to manage money,” says Brenda Campbell, president and CEO of SecureFutures. “Parents thought schools were doing it and schools thought parents were doing it.”

In 2006 Lloyd Levin, a mortgage broker, founded the organization, frustrated at having to turn away families due to low credit scores or bad credit. He saw the tremendous need for financial education and a way to make a difference. He and Campbell partnered with Milwaukee Public Schools, where they trained community volunteers to teach the organization’s Money Sense curriculum. This financial fundamentals program introduces teens to basics like banking, creating a savings plan, managing a budget and maintaining healthy credit.

Five years ago, SecureFutures launched Money Path, a web-based application that connects the dots between a student’s post-high school plan and their financial future. Money Path helps teens explore and compare different college and career paths, calculate costs, and learn how to budget and save for long-term goals while reinforcing personal finance concepts for increased confidence and transitioning into adulthood. “We believe strongly that every teen in the nation should have this tool,” says Campbell. “We have our sights set on nationwide expansion.”

SecureFutures’ financial mentoring program, Money Coach, has helped students like Amanda Jenkins, who participated when she was 17 years old. Working with a money coach, she established her first bank account, learned to track spending and create a budget, improve her credit score, and put $1,000 into savings within a year. “I try to advocate for this program as much as I can,” says Jenkins, who is now enrolled at UWM studying criminal justice and working as a paralegal. “If I could shout this program to the stars, I would totally do it. It’s free, and it’s something that high school doesn’t teach us.”

SecureFutures is 100% privately funded, providing programming at no cost to high schools and community organizations, thanks to volunteers and generous supporters. “We raise every dollar it takes to deliver these programs,” says Campbell. A $250 donation, for example, provides Money Sense lessons for five students, while $350 funds a Money Coach scholarship for one student. These programs don’t happen without volunteers, for which there is a continued need. SecureFutures provides volunteers with all necessary training and resources.

What We Do

SecureFutures, founded in 2006, is committed to equipping teens and young adults with vital money management skills, tools, and mentoring to achieve financial capability, reach their goals, and strengthen their communities.
SecureFutures impacts the lives of over 112,000 teens through free financial education and coaching programs. The organization’s Money Sense, Money Coach and Money Path programs serve teens and young adults, often from under-resourced communities, with the financial education, tech-based tools, and personalized mentorship they need to create financially secure lives.

Where Your Money Goes

SecureFutures is 100% privately funded, providing programming at no cost to high schools and community-based organizations, thanks to dedicated volunteers and generous supporters. Donations help provide these free programs.

In partnership with U.S. Bank

SecureFutures

710 N. PLANKINTON AVE., SUITE 1400 | 414-273-8101

securefutures.org

Milwaukee Rescue Mission

“I grew up thinking I couldn’t amount to anything,” says Samuel, one of the many people who’ve been helped by the Milwaukee Rescue Mission (MRM). “My father was abusive and my mother was a prostitute. It left a negative impact on my life.” Without parental guidance and love, it wasn’t long before Samuel dropped out of school and joined a gang. “Instead of working, I chose the cowardly way out – selling drugs. Ultimately, I was arrested and sent to prison.”

After being released, Samuel returned to his old neighborhood, old friends and old habits. “I was doing things I knew were wrong, and I hit my lowest point – homeless and desperate. I had nowhere to turn and didn’t value myself anymore. That’s what led me to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.”

MRM is a local nonprofit that provides food, shelter, clothing and rehabilitation services annually to thousands of people in Milwaukee who are facing hardship. That includes those who are homeless, as well as people struggling with addiction, job loss, domestic violence and more. MRM operates two facilities in the city – a shelter on 19th and Wells and its K4-12 school, Cross Trainers Academy, at 15th and Center – where they provide basic necessities and long-term resources for those in need.

Samuel was given a place to stay, food to eat and time to think. He joined MRM’s long-term recovery program, where he received the resources he needed to turn his life around.

“It’s a program for people that want to make a change in their life,” he says. “They offer counseling, hold you accountable and teach you structure, which I needed. They help with furthering your education, taking care of past debts. They get you ready for the workforce by giving you job training. It gives me pride.”

Samuel also took bible classes and received spiritual counseling from MRM. “I’ve seen God work in others, and that inspired me to change my life,” he says. “Because of God, I’m free from alcohol, free from marijuana and other controlled substances. I’m free from guilt and self-hatred.”

Today, Samuel is sober, employed, clear-minded and looking forward to the future. “This year I actually have something to be thankful for. … It’s about being thankful for another year, for positive accomplishments, for sobriety and for the time others put into helping me.”

What We Do

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission provides emergency aid such as food, shelter and clothing, as well as long-term rehabilitation programs to men, women and children in our community who are struggling. While receiving a nutritious meal and safe shelter can be the first step toward recovery, MRM also addresses the root causes of poverty. The long-term transformational programs include education, job training, counseling, addiction recovery, biblical instruction and life-skills classes.
MRM also operates a K4-12 Christian school, Cross Trainers Academy, which equips students with academic, social, emotional and spiritual tools for life.

Where Your Money Goes

MRM receives no government funding for its shelter programs and depends on support from the community. Donations provide food, shelter and life-changing care to men, women and children in need.

Milwaukee Rescue Mission

830 N. 19th St. | 414-344-2211

milmission.org

Chosen

What We Do

Chosen is a Christian nonprofit that supports foster and adoptive families. Its largest program is the Family Closet, with two locations in the Milwaukee area. Foster and adoptive families can shop for supplies for children in their care – all free of charge. The organization has given away 50,000 items to over 600 families, supporting over 1,250 children in southeastern Wisconsin.
Chosen hosts annual Family Outreach events to promote community for foster/adoptive families. Partnerships with other nonprofits and businesses further support families. In 2023, business partners provided a new roof, at no charge, for a Chosen foster/adoptive family.
Chosen’s annual Open Hearts, Open Homes Gala celebrates and supports foster and adoptive families. “The gala also raises awareness that we need many more families to help kids in need in Wisconsin,” says Karen Schlindwein, Chosen’s VP of education and development. “This gala helps us strengthen our programming to reach more families.” The upcoming gala is on Feb. 24 at Davians (N56 W16300 Silver Spring Dr., Menomonee Falls). Tickets are available at choseninlove.org/gala.

Where Your Money Goes

Donations help stock Chosen’s Family Closet with clothes, baby goods and more expensive items like car seats and children’s special needs adaptive equipment. Donations also help to fund Family Outreach events. Proceeds from Chosen’s Open Hearts, Open Homes gala benefit the organization’s family support programs.
Chosen welcomes volunteers to help with donations at its Family Closets, volunteer on a committee and much more! You can also become a financial sponsor or partner with the organization. Visit choseninlove.org/action to learn more.

Chosen

400 N. TRAVIS LN., SUITE 30, WAUKESHA | 262-724-6736

choseninlove.org

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

What We Do

Every year, over 30,000 students in grades K-12 experience live orchestral music through the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Concerts for Schools program. “Each concert is curated for different age groups,” says Rebecca Whitney, the director of education for the MSO. The concerts, performed by the MSO’s professional musicians, combine classical standards, contemporary work and popular favorites, such as movie themes. The concerts also include visuals and other engaging production elements to present information about the pieces being played. “We want to give these students the live orchestral experience, while also offering them the chance to learn more about the music,” Whitney says.
The MSO’s Education Department also supports other learning opportunities such as the Arts in Community Education (ACE) Program, Teen Choral Partners, Meet the Music Series, youth musician competitions and more.

Where Your Money Goes

All tickets for Concerts for Schools events are heavily discounted, especially for Milwaukee Public Schools and for students in free or reduced lunch programs. “Donations allow us to keep these prices low and accessible,” Whitney says. “We have students from as far as Green Bay and northern Illinois who come for these opportunities.”
Contributions also support facility costs, educational resources, staffing and musicians, program production, and other materials required to successfully host these events.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

212 W. WISCONSIN AVE. | TO GIVE: 414-226-7833 | FOR TICKETS: 414-291-7605

mso.org

YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee

The YMCA is known for its swimming lessons, summer camps and fitness classes. But the Y is invested in another critical activity – advancing health equity.

After observing that many at-risk people were cut off from their health care and support system during the COVID pandemic, the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee has seen an increased need for its healthy living programs. Currently, the Y provides six different evidence-based health interventions to delay or offset the effects of chronic diseases. The curriculum provided by Y-USA focuses on providing ongoing support for people at risk of developing heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure or pre-diabetes, as well as for individuals diagnosed with cancer or Parkinson’s disease.

“A lot of it is finding ways, tools and tricks that work for each individual,” says Hanna Misiak, a healthy living executive with the Y, about each program’s goal. “It’s about providing education and then helping problem-solve to figure out what’s going to work for them.”

For example, the Diabetes Prevention Program is a 12-month intensive on preventing diabetes, led by a health coach. Insurance may cover some of the cost for participants, who can also qualify for financial assistance from the Y. The group meets weekly for six months before transitioning to monthly meetings to discuss topics like handling stress, social support, sleep, eating healthy when dining out and maintaining lifestyle changes after the program is complete.

Another program, LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, provides a supportive community for adult cancer survivors. The group meets twice-weekly over 12 weeks with the goal of rebuilding strength after treatment. “We rely on grant funding and donations to be able to provide the program to participants for free,” says Misiak.

When YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee marketing executive Emily Salas’ mother-in-law entered the program, the family received a free membership. “That was an amazing outlet and opportunity to connect with those families,” says Salas. “It’s not just about the individual but the entire support system.”

Carolyn, a LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program graduate, adds, “The best thing about the LIVESTRONG [at the YMCA] program is that you can’t fail. It’s designed for you to succeed, and believe me, after diagnoses, biopsies, surgery, chemo and radiation, you just want to succeed at something.”

What We Do

The YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee has been a part of the lives of children and families in the greater Milwaukee area since 1858, but it is now embarking on a new journey to strengthen the link between health care and community.
The Y’s commitment to equity and inclusion is empowered by the organization’s vision “to become recognized as a leading community collaborator that achieves bold results in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, with an emphasis on youth, families and aging adults.”

Where Your Money Goes

The YMCA relies on donations to ensure that everyone – no matter their income level – has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive at the Y.
Financial support through grants, sponsorship and individual gifts helps the Y keep membership affordable and programs accessible for all.

YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee

P.O. BOX 2174, MILWAUKEE, WI 53201

ymcamke.org

Milwaukee Area Technical College

In the 16 months since it launched, the Ellen and Joe Checota MATC Scholarship Program has already given full rides to 728 students at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

The scholarship provides funding to students earning degrees in one of 90-plus technical programs, such as welding, accounting, IT, cosmetology and automotive. Medical focuses like dental technician, medical billing, emergency medical technician, nursing assistant and medical coding are also included.

“What Ellen and Joe are particularly interested in is focusing on short-term credentials that can get people into the workforce faster,” says Laura Bray, the vice president of college advancement and external communications and the executive director of the MATC Foundation. “This scholarship gives a path to enter careers that do not require a four-year degree. Many students are saying, ‘This is opening up a door that I didn’t even know existed.’”

The Checota MATC Scholarship Program is supported by a $2-to-$1 match, up to $5 million, to create a $7.5 million total fund. “By raising $450,000 more in donations, we’ll unlock the final million,” says Bray, referring to the Checotas’ commitment to match donations $2-to-$1.

Scholarship recipients have up to 18 months of financial support if they maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher and carry at least nine credits per semester in pursuit of scholarship-eligible technical diplomas or certificates. Scholarships cover tuition, transportation, books, food support, child care and housing. “It’s the most comprehensive scholarship we’ve ever offered – it’s a full ride,” says Bray, who notes that embedded case managers work with students to support their success. Scholarship recipients have higher GPAs and retention rates and graduate in less time than the MATC student body overall.

“Our average student’s age is around 28,” Bray says. “Eighty-seven percent in the current round had incomes below $27,000. If you look at the jobs they’re pursuing and the average income affiliated with those jobs, they stand to make $53,000 a year [within six months after graduation].”

Ninety percent of MATC students are part-time. “We want to jump-start your career prospects so you can earn more and support your family,” Bray says to potential applicants. One student, in his last semester, didn’t register for classes because he no longer could afford it – until he heard about the scholarship through an instructor. “Now he’s working and making a great wage,” Bray says.

What We Do

Milwaukee Area Technical College provides high-quality, affordable degrees in over 180 programs, including welding, accounting, IT, dental technician, nursing, STEM and more.
Founded in 1979, MATC Foundation is the college’s philanthropic partner – working together with civic leaders, employers, community members and alumni to develop the region’s talent pipeline and promote economic opportunity.

Where Your Money Goes

The Checota MATC Scholarship Program operates on a $2-to-$1 match, meaning that for every $1 donation, the Checota’ double the amount. Donations are used to fund full-ride scholarships to students in need, covering tuition, food, books, transportation, childcare and more.

Milwaukee Area Technical College Foundation

700 W. STATE ST. | 414-297-6282

matc.edu

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities casts a wide net. The social services organization operates in 10 counties in southeastern Wisconsin, offering mental health care, case management, pregnancy and parenting support, adoption assistance, refugee and immigration services, hoarding intervention and treatment, and care for older adults and those with intellectual and development disabilities. Its impact is vast across the many fields.

Laura Ramos, licensed therapist and director of community counseling, focuses on the mental health aspect of the Catholic Charities mission to alleviate the impact of poverty through high-quality human services where each person is treated with dignity and respect.

“We’re passionate about helping underserved communities,” Ramos says. “There are people who need this help, who haven’t been able to see a therapist in the past because they don’t have [insurance] coverage. Our team is passionate about eliminating barriers to reach those who are isolated, lack resources and other community supports.

“We never turn anyone away,” Ramos says. “We’re a unique organization because we can do that.”

Flexibility in treatment is a key component in providing quality care for people affected by poverty.

Catholic Charities is adept at tailoring solutions to meet individual needs across their various programs.

“There has always been a need to provide treatment when someone is experiencing any change, loss or crisis. In recent years, we have seen an increase in anxiety and depression, especially in youth and elderly populations,” Ramos says.

With bilingual therapists and case managers, Catholic Charities provides access to mental health services for Spanish-speaking families and a community advocate who can help with basic needs and assist in reaching goals to improve well-being.

Catholic Charities is a state-certified outpatient clinic for behavioral health care. The counselors hold master’s degrees in clinical social work or professional counseling and participate in ongoing clinical supervision and training.

“Thanks to donations and community support, we can offer counseling and mental health therapy at no cost to those who do not have access to health insurance or affordable coverage,” says Ramos.

What We Do

Catholic Charities provides social services for individuals and families affected by poverty. It provides culturally and linguistically competent services with dignity and respect for people of any religious background living in 10 counties in southeastern Wisconsin.
The charitable organization helps people who have no other support system. It cares for the well-being and stability of people with low or no income who are experiencing emotional or financial crisis, as well as refugees and immigrants, pregnant women and new mothers, older adults and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Where Your Money Goes

Donations are used to fund programs to provide free counseling and case management services; free, quality legal services for refugees and immigrants; and assist pregnant women, seniors and adults with disabilities.

Catholic Charities

PO BOX 070912, MILWAUKEE, WI 53207 | 414-769-3400

ccmke.org

International Institute of Wisconsin

The International Institute of Wisconsin (IIW) celebrates its centennial this year. The core focus of the organization is immigration and naturalization services, but it has also greatly expanded its services to include translation assistance and educational programs. IIW connects with refugees through two federal agencies: the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Bureau of Populations, Refugees and Migration.

“When refugees come to us, they’re already through the vetting process and eligible for services,” says Dr. Paul F. Trebian, the organization’s president and CEO, who joined the organization 12 years ago as a board member. “Wisconsin saw a lot of Afghans come here. All of the refugee resettlement agencies helped out by placing quite a few of the newcomers. That happened right around COVID times and was a very big challenge. It’s a 90-day program to get them set up and begin to become self-sufficient. After 90 days, it switches over to services provided by the state … up to five years. Anyone we place through that five-year period we can continue to provide services.”

Volunteers assist refugees with needs such as driving to medical appointments, navigating the bus system or helping to fill out paperwork to receive health services, green cards or work authorization. The organization also provides goods such as clothing. “Coats, shoes and socks – the things people take for granted – we can always use those,” says Trebian. “Our workers are trained to do all of the processing and the case management to make sure all of their needs are met.”

At the Holiday Folk Fair International, sponsored by the IIW each November, a naturalization ceremony honors new citizens of the United States. In 2023, more than 250 people were naturalized. “That’s always a joyous time because participants have their family and friends come. It’s one of my favorite days of the year,” says Trebian.

In a full-circle moment, some refugees served by IIW end up working for the organization. Halim Halimey, now IIW’s housing coordinator, arrived in Milwaukee in 2015 from Afghanistan. “They treated me as a family member with dignity and respect,” he says. “They picked me up at the airport, arranged housing, did grocery shopping.” They also helped enroll him in English as a Second Language classes at MATC, apply for benefits and take the bus. “Without the help of this agency, it can be very hard to set up your new life here,” he says.

What We Do

The International Institute of Wisconsin is an organization dedicated to the promotion of international cooperation, understanding and a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural perspective through education, arts, exchange, communication, social activities and immigration and naturalization services.
The Institute initiates, coordinates and sponsors refugee resettlement, interpretation and translation services, and an international visitor leadership program.

Where Your Money Goes

Donations are used to help with refugee resettlement services, such as providing clothing and household goods for those who can’t afford them. Funds are also used to provide educational programs for refugees, including translation services.

International Institute of Wisconsin

1110 N. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DR., SUITE 420 | 414-225-6220

iiwisconsin.org

City on a Hill

Three Milwaukee zip codes have some of the highest poverty rates in the country – 53233, 53208 and 53205. City on a Hill is working to alleviate childhood poverty in those neighborhoods.

“A lot of change we’re tackling involves generational trauma for families,” says Art Serna Jr., the organization’s CEO. “We talk about the stark reality that children remain the poorest age group in cities like Milwaukee.”

City on a Hill’s ultimate goal is to break the cycle of generational poverty. To reach that, the Christian organization provides health care and social services, youth and family programs, and spiritual formation and growth. It also offers educational programs for the public on compassion and racial justice.

“We’re not just clinical intervention but social and emotional,” says Serna. “If people don’t have hope, they’re not going to take the steps to change. What are the components of neighborhoods that are moving their residents up to a path of economic mobility? One of the components is the level of religiosity or belief in God or prayer in their lives.”

City on a Hill launched in 2001, taking over a former hospital on Kilbourn Avenue. It’s a fitting next chapter for the space, as the building dates back to 1863, when Lutheran deaconesses converted it into a medical facility for the poor, with volunteer nurses.

“The facility has enabled us to dream big. We have a lot of components within this campus,” says Serna. For example, partners like the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Health Department have hosted focus groups there over the years, with the shared goal of advocating for access to quality health care in underserved communities.

In 2024, City on a Hill will open a dental clinic, funded by a capital campaign. Donations are still needed to renovate the organization’s existing medical clinic. The organization is also planning to expand its “social enterprise” programs for young people, encouraging work in the food industry and construction trades alongside industry employers. It is also hoping to establish a more holistic case-management program across 10 neighborhoods by the end of next year.

“We also encourage people to give by giving their time. Their time is super important,” says Serna. This includes literacy tutoring, staffing the medical clinic and maintaining the facility and grounds.

What We Do

City on a Hill’s goal is to break the cycle of poverty in some of Milwaukee’s poorest ZIP codes. It aims to reduce childhood poverty by 50% in the neighborhoods it serves by 2033.
City on a Hill extends a range of health services: behavioral health care, medical outreach, telehealth, nursing triage and enhancing health literacy. It also delivers youth, family and spiritual formation programs. These include an after-school youth center, life skills and employment readiness initiatives, and faith-fostering activities aimed at spiritual and communal growth rooted in Christian values.

Where Your Money Goes

Donor support grows the holistic programs that help families reach economic self-sufficiency and restore neighborhood health. Recent donations are helping build a new dental clinic and upgrade the current medical clinic.
City on a Hill also relies on volunteers, who help with meal prep, youth mentoring, medical clinic assistance and more.

City on a Hill

2224 W. KILBOURN AVE. | 414-931-6670

cityonahillmke.org

What We Do

Jason Gonzalez founded 4th Dimension Sobriety after getting sober himself. In 2012, after four years of sobriety and with $500 in his bank account, he bought beds and welcomed people who were struggling with substance abuse into his home to help them recover. The organization has grown dramatically in the 11 years since then. Now 4th Dimension Sobriety has multiple sober living homes, a treatment center, and a 33-person housing facility in Riverwest.
4th Dimension Sobriety offers residential treatment programs and outpatient treatment for people who want to live free from drugs and alcohol. Residents work together, with daily meditation, support exercises and other activities to help them on their path to recovery.

Where Your Money Goes

100% of donations go toward paying for residents to stay in 4th Dimension’s house. “By increasing the time people stay with us, we increase the probability of them having lifelong sobriety,” Gonzalez says, “This doesn’t just affect the individual, it affects Milwaukee as a whole.”
Donations to 4th Dimension Sobriety also help fund programming for residents, including job readiness and parenting skills workshops, as well as scholarships for those unable to pay for treatment.

4th Dimension Sobriety

500 E. CENTER ST. | 414-617-3917

4thdimensionsobriety.com

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

OCD Wisconsin

What We Do

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GPS Education Partners

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Humane Animal Welfare Society

HAWS Schallock Center for Animals

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Bublr Bikes

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Why does it matter?

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

The Nature Conservancy

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Shepherds College

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Milwaukee Rescue Mission

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Chosen

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Milwaukee Area Technical College Foundation

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

Catholic Charities

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

International Institute of Wisconsin

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

City on a Hill

What We Do

Where Your Money Goes

4th Dimension Sobriety

This story is part of Milwaukee Magazine’s December issue.

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