Waukesha County Community Foundation hands out nearly $135,000 to 27 different charities
A big announcement at the annual Giving Forward breakfast that is renewing a sense of community.
The Waukesha County Community Foundation announced that through its competitive grant application process, it will be awarding 27 non-profits a total of $134,500 in support.
The foundation serves as a hub for generous individuals, families, businesses and other nonprofit organizations to turn their assets into action.
"In 2017 it is on track to award over $3 million in total grants," President Shelli Marquardt tells CBS 58. "Historically nearly 80% of those dollars will benefit programs and services right here in Waukesha County. This past year we focused on growth, partnership and increased engagement of the organization."
This year's recipients are:
·ABLE: Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement
·Addiction Resource Council
·ARCh: Association for the Rights of Citizens with handicaps
·Blessing in a Backpack - Waukesha County
·Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation
·Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha County
·Community Memorial Foundation
·Easter Seals
·ERAs Senior Network
·Generations Against Bullying
·Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County
·Hope Center
·Ice Age Trail Alliance
·Independence First
·Junior Achievement
·Lutheran Social Services
·Prevent Blindness
·ProHealth Foundation for Angel’s Grace Hospice
·SAFE: Student Alliance for Equality
·Salvation Army
·St. Joseph’s Medical Clinic
·Waukesha String Academie
·WCAP: Waukesha Community Arts Project
·Wisconsin Historical Foundation
·The Women’s Center
·Workforce Development
·Your Choice
"These organizations are making our community a better place," foundation board member Ann Bartos Merkow MD. "Please join me in one more round of applause."
This was also a chance for different groups to speak before the hundreds who gathered at the Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee.
They included Waukesha County Provides which works with several critical safety net services and is planning a day of giving event in March 2018.
NAMI of Waukesha which is focusing on ridding the stigma attached to mental illness and getting families into free support groups so they can help a loved one in recovery.
Regina Estrada of Blessings In a Backpack Waukesha County shared her story about a group of moms coming together making sure kids got food to take home from school for the weekend. The demand has more than quadrupled.
Then there was Lauri McHughe-Badura of S.O.F.A. or Saving Others for Archie.
She lost her son at 19 just as the pain killer and heroin epidemic was beginning to take hold.
"I'm so thrilled," Badura said of her involvement with WCCF. "This will empower SOFA to grow. This will help me in Waukesha County make policies and procedures and making unmet needs that I hear families talking about and nobody's putting in to change. And I can bring that."