March of Dimes honors volunteers
Terry Klippel, attorney at Storm, Balgeman, Miller & Klippel S.C., and Anthony Machi, owner of USGUYS Racing and former municipal judge were recently recognized by the Wisconsin Chapter of the March of Dimes for their volunteer service to the organization.
State director Babette Honoré and volunteer development chair Mary Fields, vice president of business development at Aurora Health Care, presented Klippel with a plaque acknowledging his years of service with March of Dimes. Klippel has volunteered for March of Dimes for more than 20 years and served on the board of directors for most of those years. Klippel is a past Volunteer of the Year for the Wisconsin Chapter. As a polio survivor, Klippel always kept March of Dimes volunteers rooted in the organization’s esteemed beginnings and bridged the connection to the current mission of improving the health of babies. Machi recently celebrated his 30th year of volunteer service for March of Dimes. Over the years with the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter and the subsequent Wisconsin Chapter, Machi has served as President, leading the chapter to high fund-raising achievements; member of the Advocacy Network, during which he was instrumental in convincing then governor Tommy Thompson to sign a pending Birth Defects Surveillance bill into law and as a member of the Nominating Committee was responsible for recruiting many volunteers to the chapter and division boards.
Sharp Literacy adds new employees
Nandini Sinha has been appointed vice president of Fund Development at SHARP Literacy. Prior to SHARP, Nandini served as chief development officer for St. Joan Antida High School. Over the past 15 years, she has successfully spearheaded several fundraising campaigns in organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs and Neighborhood House of Milwaukee. Lorilyn Jacobsen-Tews has also joined SHARP Literacy as director of programs. Jacobsen-Tews is a seasoned grant writer and program coordinator, with more than 20 years of experience working with museums, art centers and historic sites, including ten years with the Milwaukee Public Museum as a grant writer and exhibit developer. She also served as a senior member of the educational programming team for Wisconsin’s Flagship, the three-masted schooner S/V Denis Sullivan.
Equality Wisconsin names new executive director
Equality Wisconsin has hired Jason Burns as its new executive director. Burns was previously employed by The Pride Center of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, one of the country’s largest LGBT Community Centers, where he worked as the major gifts officer and development director.
“Jason has the experience doing the organizing and political work that changes minds and laws, the kind of work Equality Wisconsin is known for. What’s more, he has the energy and fundraising experience to make us more formidable as we take on antigay forces in Wisconsin," said Ray Vahey, Co-President of the Board of Directors.
Burns also has a history of local activism, serving on the Board of Directors for The Dolphin Democrats, as a member of the Broward County School Board’s Diversity Committee, and as the co-chair of Oakland Park Main Street’s Events committee. Burns has also worked as both a paid consultant and volunteer on numerous political campaigns.
"I am honored to have been selected to assume the post of Execute Director for Equality Wisconsin. As a premier grass roots organization, Equality Wisconsin has unlimited potential, and we will continue to work towards equality for all of Wisconsin’s residents,” Burns said. “I look forward to partnering with a very engaged board, dedicated staff and volunteers, and a diverse community as we work together to lead Equality Wisconsin into a new and exciting future."
Daystar Inc. names new board members
Daystar, Inc. announces the appointment of two new board members to its Board of Directors, New members include Kenneth Ginlack, a case manager and substance abuse counselor for ATTIC Correctional Services, and Stephanie Schreiner, a recent graduate of UW-Milwaukee and a volunteer at Daystar since 2010. The two will share and work together as co-chairs of Daystar’s Public Relations Committee.
“It’s great to have a new breath of energy to our board. We’re looking forward to see what will come for Daystar in the next few years,” said Melanie Parks Alberts, Daystar’s Board President.
The two new members join a 10-member board that oversees Daystar’s case management, finances, policies and practices, programming, strategic planning and outreach efforts.
Girl Scouts receive Opus Foundation grant
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE) is pleased to announce that they have received a $25,000 grant from the Opus Foundation. The funds will be used to support the
council’s growing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) continuum which will serve a broad base of at least 3,900 girls throughout the GSWISE seven-county service area, with a special focus on service to girls in Milwaukee’s central city.
“We are extremely grateful for the support from the Opus Foundation,” said Molly Fuller, chief executive officer of GSWISE. “This support will help us to introduce the most vulnerable girls in our community to STEM concepts and career pathways and, ultimately, increase the number of women working in STEM fields.”
Careers in technology represent some of the fastest growing segments in the labor market, yet only 25 percent of women work in technology-related fields.
“I know firsthand the importance of educating girls in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Julie Ledger, vice president and general manager of Opus Development Corporation’s Milwaukee Office. “Through the Opus Foundation, we are proud to support the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Wisconsin and the instrumental role they play in the lives of girls throughout our community.”
