The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) Wisconsin Chapter will wrap up its call for nominations today for its 2013 Milwaukee’s Finest campaign.
Young professionals interested in being considered to take part in the charity campaign can also submit applications, themselves, through Friday, Feb. 22.
The second annual Milwaukee’s Finest event distinguishes young professionals throughout Milwaukee who have made significant strides in their careers, leadership skills and contributions to community service. Honorees selected are challenged to raise a minimum of $2,500 over 10 weeks for CFF’s efforts in spreading awareness about cystic fibrosis and collecting funds toward research for a cure.
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic lung disease that causes mucus to accumulate in the lungs and digestive tract among other areas in the body.
Molly McElligott, program manager in the Institute for Building Efficiency at Johnson Controls, was last year’s “finest” honoree, raising the most money among her peers for the campaign – just over $5,000.
McElligott’s brother Matt, 27, has cystic fibrosis and also competed as an honoree last year.
“My whole life has been involved in the foundation, specifically the Milwaukee chapter,” McElligott said.
Milwaukee’s Finest offered her a new outlet for fundraising.
“This was an opportunity to do something completely new,” McElligott said.
In fundraising, McElligott sent out an email blast to her network of family, friends and coworkers. She also used social media to reach out to people which, along with her emails, raised about half her total funds.
“I was just really shocked and honored by what the response and generosity was,” she said.
The other half of her contribution to the foundation came from fundraising efforts at Johnson Controls where she held an employee raffle for two donated packages of Brewers tickets and also hosted a $5 jeans day in which employees could pay $5 toward her cause to wear jeans on a designated Friday.
For raising the most money of any honoree, McElligott was recognized with the Breath of Life Award at the conclusion of the campaign.
This year, she remains active in Milwaukee’s Finest as a committee member, helping to plan the logistics of the campaign, spread the word about it and recruit candidates.
“I think this is a chance to really get new faced involved (in the foundation),” McElligott said.
The 2013 Milwaukee’s Finest campaign will officially begin with a kick-off event Thursday, March 14, and will run through May.
Milwaukee’s Finest nomination and application forms are available at http://wisconsin.cff.org/finest. Completed forms can be submitted to Julie Brzostowicz, development manager at the Wisconsin Chapter of CFF, at jbrzostowicz@cff.org.
For more information about CFF and the Milwaukee’s Finest campaign, visit www.cff.org/Chapters/wisconsin/.
BizTimes Media is serving as a media sponsor of the event.
