BizTimes Media recently hosted its sixth annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards program at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee. The program honors reader-nominated corporate citizens and nonprofit organizations and leaders for their efforts to lift up those in need and make the Milwaukee area a better place. The event also included a panel discussion about the Milwaukee area’s homelessness and housing challenges, along with possible solutions and paths to stable housing.

The winners and finalists of the 2019 Nonprofit Excellence Awards are:

Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year

• Winner – Medical College of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Academy of Science
• Finalists – UMOS, LUMIN Schools

Nonprofit Executive of the Year

• Winner – Héctor Colón, Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
• Finalists – Sue Smith, Nativity Jesuit Academy; Mike Thirtle, Bethesda Lutheran Communities

Nonprofit Organization of the Year (Large)

• Winner – Pathfinders
• Finalists – Curative Care Network, La Causa Inc., Zoological Society of Milwaukee

Nonprofit Organization of the Year (Small)

• Winner – ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis
• Finalists – Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation, Revitalize Milwaukee

Social Enterprise

• Winner – Beyond Vision
• Finalists –  Alliance for Strong Families and Communities – FEI Behavioral Health

Corporate Citizen of the Year

• Winner – Kapco Metal Stamping
• Finalists – First Bank Financial Centre, Komatsu Mining Corp., Sargento Foods Inc., The Starr Group

Corporate Volunteer of the Year

• Winner – Christy Engel
• Finalists – Gwen Erickson, Velvac Inc.; Kathryn Keppel, Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP

In-Kind Supporter

• Winner – Tall Guy and a Grill Catering
• Finalist – The Corners of Brookfield

Next Generation Leadership

• Winner – Justin Juley, HNTB Corp.
• Finalist – Jackson Bubolz, Elevated Insurance

Lifetime Achievement

• Winner – Jim Mueller, mueller QAAS

Award winner and finalist profiles written by Catherine Jozwik

Photos taken by Dan Profio