Next Door is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2019!
On October 3, 2019, Next Door hosted a 50th Anniversary Celebration at Northwestern Mutual in downtown Milwaukee.
More than 400 guests attended the event including representatives from the following companies/organizations: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Gruber Law Offices, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Helwig Carbon Products Inc., ManpowerGroup, Milwaukee Bucks, Northwestern Mutual, North Shore Bank, Park Bank, Rexnord, Summerfest, US Bank, Walbec Group and We Energies.
- Advertisement -
Through this celebration, Next Door raised more than $250,000 to support the critical early childhood education programs and family support services that Next Door’s dedicated team delivers to central city families.
1 of 12
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Our-Savior’s-Lutheran-Church_10319.jpg)
Current and past members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Milwaukee – Next Door’s founding organization.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Buffett-Early-Childhood-Fund_10319.jpg)
L-R Bottom Row: Michael Burke with the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, Next Door alumni and event guest speaker JohnQuell Tucker, Diamond Wright, Next Door Vice President of Finance and Administration Bonnie Wesson. L-R Top Row: Robert Charles, Next Door President Dr. Tracey Sparrow, Brenda and Bob VanHimbergen (Next Door Board Chair) and event guest speaker Dasha Kelly Hamilton.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Brenda-and-Matt-Levatich_10319.jpg)
50th Anniversary Event Co-Chairs, Brenda and Matt Levatich. The couple was also a Presenting Sponsor for the event.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Mary-and-Ted-Kellner_10319.jpg)
L-R Top Row: Marge Laughlin (Next Door Board Director), Mary Kellner, Patty Schuyler, Dick Larsen, and Peter Schuyler. L-R Bottom Row: Linda Allen, Ted Kellner and Edie Brengel Radtke. Mary and Ted Kellner were a Presenting Sponsor for the event.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Linda-Groth_10319.jpg)
Linda Groth (fourth from the left) with her daughters beside her and guests. Linda and her husband, Michael (not pictured), were a Gold Sponsor for the event.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Herb-Kohl-Philanthropies_10319.jpg)
JoAnne Anton (third from left) with Herb Kohl Philanthropies and her guests. The foundation was a Gold Sponsor for the event.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Bucks_10319.jpg)
Representatives from Milwaukee Bucks including Next Door Board Director Paul Bee (fourth from left). The Bucks were a Gold Sponsor for the event.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Helwig-Carbon-Products_10319.jpg)
Representatives with Helwig Carbon-Products, Inc., including third generation family support from Judy and Paul McGhee (top row, first couple from left) and Dawn and Jay Koenitzer (top row, second couple from the left). The company was a Gold Sponsor for the event.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Northwestern-Mutual_10319.jpg)
Representatives from Northwestern Mutual including Next Door Board Director Jeb Bentley (second from left). Northwestern Mutual was a Presenting Sponsor for the event.
![](https://assets.biztimes.com/uploads/2019/10/Next-Door-50th-Anniversary-Celebration_Harley-Davidson-Motor-Company_10319.jpg)
Representatives from Harley-Davidson Motor Company including Next Door Board Director Tanika Murphy (far right). Harley-Davidson was a Presenting Sponsor for the event.