*Friday, Feb. 1, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Urban Studies Program will present a panel focused on Urban Home Ownership and Neighborhood Vitality during the Foreclosure Crisis. The event will also feature an exhibit of student projects from the 2012 Buildings-Landscapes-Cultures summer field school, sponsored by Historic Milwaukee, Inc. The panel discussion will be held at the Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda, 200 E. Wells St., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Carrie Beranek in UWM’s Urban Studies Office at 414-229-4751 or at beranekc@uwm.edu.
*Friday, Feb. 1, through Thursday, Feb. 28, Stan’s Fit For Your Feet will host its seventh annual “Share-A-Pair” shoe drive. Interested donors can drop of new or gently used shoes Mondays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at collection bins at Stan’s store locations in Brookfield, Glendale, Greenfield. Stan’s New Balance Stores in Brookfield and Greenfield will also be collecting shoes. Participants will be thanked with a $10 Stan’s gift card for donating adult shoes and a $5 gift card for donating children’s shoes. Shoes collected benefit homeless residents at Milwaukee’s Repairers of the Breach and Fr. Gene’s Help Center in West Allis. The drive also supports the Nashville-based charity Soles4Souls. For more information about the shoe drive and Stan’s store locations, visit www.stansfootwear.com.
*Monday, Feb. 4, IndependenceFirst Mobility Store will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its store location, 12040 W. Feerick St., Unit N in Wauwatosa. During open houses, area residents can purchase like new equipment such as wheelchairs and bath aids and also donate mobile and medical devices. Donations will be eligible for tax deductions. People attending the open house will be entered into a drawing for an iPod touch and will receive an extra entry for bringing a friend. IndependenceFirst Mobility Store will hold open houses every Monday through mid-March. For more information about the store, visit www.ifmobility.org.
*Friday, Feb. 8, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will hold the ninth annual Milwaukee Wine Opener with Johnson Brothers Beverages at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 509. W. Wisconsin Ave. The event, scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., will feature samples of 70 wines, food from 20 Milwaukee-area restaurants and live music. The event aims to raise $75,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Tickets cost $70 in advance and $80 at the door. Discounted and sponsorship packages can also be purchased. For more information, visit www.wineopenermke.com.
*Saturday, Feb. 16, Horizon Home Care & Hospice will hold its seventh annual Matters of the Heart Gala to support its Grief Resource Center, which offers resources and support to individuals struggling with grief. The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. at the Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee. General admission to the fundraiser costs $160 and includes a three-course dinner and entertainment, VIP admission costs $250, and an overnight package is available for $500. For details about each ticket option and more information about the event, click here.
*Tuesday, Feb. 26, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) Greater Milwaukee Chapter will hold its annual meeting to discuss accomplishments made in 2012 and goals for the coming year. The free event will include food and beer and will be held at the Miller Inn from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Networking will also be part of the event before and after the panel discussion. The Miller Inn is located in Miller Valley at 4251 W. State St. in Milwaukee. For more information about the event, email the YNPN membership committee at membership@ynpnmke.org.
