As City Year Milwaukee turns 5 years old, the education-based nonprofit organization will honor Julia Uihlein during its annual dinner fundraiser in May.
Uihlein, vice president of the David & Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation and board chair of City Year Milwaukee, is credited with starting the dialogue on establishing a City Year chapter in Milwaukee. The nonprofit assigns corps members to partner schools where they help students who are struggling get back on a promising academic track.
“She spearheaded the initiative to get City Year to Milwaukee and really…gathered all the right people in the community” with a stake in education, Jason Holton, vice president and executive director of the nonprofit, said of Uihlein’s involvement.
He describes Uihlein as an “authentic” leader fully committed to corps members and their success during their tenure with City Year as well as their future success.
“We’re really proud to be able to do this,” Holton said of the honor the organization is bestowing upon her.
During the May 4 dinner event, themed “Ripples of Hope,” attendees will also have a chance to interact with corps members and learn how their service is shaping Milwaukee students. Attendees can expect an event filled with energy and excitement around a group of committed young leaders and corps members invested in Milwaukee’s education scene, Holton said.
More than 270 individuals have completed City Year Milwaukee’s corps program in the last five years, the majority of whom have stayed in Milwaukee to continue their education or their career path, according to Holton.
“We want to keep talent here in Milwaukee and add to the brain gain, and so we’re excited to bring folks to Milwaukee in that way,” he said.
Along with taking pride in the accomplishments of City Year alumni, a pool that includes professionals who have gone on to become school principals, directors at nonprofits and leaders in their communities, Holton is proud of the ways corps members influence students’ academic tracks and pursuits as they prepare for life beyond high school.
“That’s why we do the work and (what) sort of gets us motivated every single day,” he said.
“Ripples of Hope,” whose proceeds will benefit City Year’s programming, will begin at 5:30 p.m. on May 4 with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a program at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held at Turner Hall Ballroom, 1032 N. 4th St. in Milwaukee. Tickets cost $150, and event organizers anticipate more than 300 attendees.
For more information, visit www.cityyear.org/milwaukee. BizTimes Media is serving as an event sponsor. Nationally, Bain Capital serves as City Year’s gala sponsor.
