Other Nonprofit News

U.S. Bank Tower shines purple for Alzheimer’s
During November, in honor of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month, the top of the U.S. Bank Tower, 777 E. Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee will shine a purple hue.
“The U.S. Bank building is such a community icon. Having the top floor lit purple will cause some buzz and start a lot of discussions in the community,” said Tom Hlavacek, executive director, Alzheimer’s Association, Southeastern Wisconsin chapter.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association the disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It affects 5.3 million in the U.S. and over 26 million worldwide. “Our goal at the Alzheimer’s Association is to provide support, education and care, and to fund research for prevention, treatment, and someday a cure,” said Hlavacek, “but first, we need to make sure everyone knows we are here as a resource. Lighting the U.S. Bank building purple is a huge step in raising awareness.”

Turkey Ticker returns to highway billboard
Hunger Task Force has announced it will bring back its annual Turkey Ticker on it’s billboard along Hwy 94 as well as its website, www.hungertaskforce.org. The ticker will keep track of the number of Thanksgiving turkeys donated online or in person at Hunger Task Force office, 201 S. Hawley Court.
“Witnessing folks turn out by the car load to take care of their hungry neighbors is really special,” said Sherrie Tussler, executive director of the Hunger Task Force. “Watching the Turkey Ticker numbers go up on the signboard and online really adds to the holiday spirit around town.”

United Way awards urgent need grants to two local organizations
The United Way of Greater Milwaukee recently awarded two urgent need grants to The Fondy Food Center and the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center. Each grant totaled $25,000 and will be taken out of the 2010/2011 Urgent Need fund.
Fondy Farmers Market offers the only opportunity for people to use food stamps to purchase affordably priced, fresh, locally-grown food directly from small scale farmers during the growing season. The requested funds will be applied to a new initiative for 2010:  the Fondy WIC Match Program which will allow the program to provide a one-to-one match to families bearing free market produce vouchers from the federal WIC program, effectively doubling their purchasing power. The funds will also help enhance two existing programs at the market:  the SNAP Food Stamp Redemption and the Taste the Season Cooking Demonstration programs.  The Jewish Community Pantry was destroyed in the July 2010 flood.   The Center has identified a new site for the pantry and has retained an architect who has developed a plan that creates a space that meets code and will serve JCC clients efficiently and respectfully.  JCC is currently in negotiations with the property owner and will work with the City of Milwaukee to enable them to reopen in December.The additional $25,000 emergency grant from United Way will help build out the space and bring it up to code.