The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) Milwaukee Chapter unveiled the eight honorees of its 2013 Milwaukee’s Finest campaign during a kick-off event held Thursday night at Coast.
In its second year, the Milwaukee’s Finest campaign recognizes young professionals in the Milwaukee community who have both excelled in their professions and demonstrated a concerted commitment to civic duties and community involvement.
The selected honorees, narrowed down from 30 applicants and nominees, will spend the next 10 weeks competing against one another to raise the most funds for CFF and its mission of spreading awareness about cystic fibrosis and researching a cure. Honorees are challenged to raise a minimum of $2,500 through whatever fundraising mechanisms they have the time and capacity to organize.
Selected honorees include Julie Gahl of Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Meghan Gartman of Ernst & Young, Matthew Overman of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Alex Paszkowski of Shorewest Realtors, Raymond Poole of Eaton’s Cooper Power Systems, Ashley Rusch of The Benefit Services Group, Inc., Mary Ryan of Wisconsin Voices, and Timothy Schmitt of Revere’s Wells Street Tavern.
In addition to fundraising throughout the next 10 weeks, honorees will attend a workshop with Elm Grove-based Action Coach, a tour of a CF care center, and a separate leadership event conducted by Action Coach.
CFF also pairs each honoree with a cystic fibrosis ambassador family who can help put a face to the disease.
At the campaign kick-off Thursday, honorees were already brainstorming their fundraising plans, according to Rick Verthein, co-chair of Milwaukee’s Finest and 2012 honoree.
“The energy that they had leaving the event was pretty neat,” Verthein said.
The 2013 Milwaukee’s Finest campaign will conclude May 23 with a recognition event at Coast, located at 931 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee. The event, set for 7 p.m., will be open to the public. Advance tickets cost $50, and tickets at the door are $65.
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic lung disease that causes mucus to accumulate in the lungs and digestive tract among other areas in the body.
For more information about CFF and the Milwaukee’s Finest campaign, visit www.cff.org/Chapters/wisconsin/. Sponsors of this year’s campaign include BizTimes Media, FM102.1, Action Coach, The CF Care Center, White Dog Photography and Design, and Zilli Hospitality Group.
