Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee recently held its 50th Anniversary Big Bash. The celebration drew hundreds of program participants, families, volunteers, donors and community partners to Cathedral Square Park in downtown Milwaukee.
Since its founding in 1975, BBBSMM has provided mentorship services to tens of thousands of youth across Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. The nonprofit served 1,074 youth in 2022; that number rose to 1,806 in 2024 thanks to expanded programs addressing a 500-plus youth waiting list.
The 50th anniversary event featured a ceremonial ribbon cutting for BBBSMM’s new headquarters office space, located just south of Cathedral Square, on the second floor of 770 N. Jefferson St. There was also music by DJ Shawna of the Milwaukee Bucks, appearances by local college athletes and civic leaders, carnival games and an outdoor rock climbing wall, a live recording of the “Little BIG Chats” podcast, community resource fair and food trucks.
The event was held in partnership with the East Town Association and also sponsored by BMO, Fiduciary Real Estate Development, Bader Philanthropies, Gruber Law Offices and KPMG.
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- (left to right) Blake Eason, WISN-TV anchor, event emcee and Big Brother; La’Ketta Caldwell; Tiffany Henry, director of Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Milwaukee office; Lorene Jackson, vice president of agency services with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Drew Glaubke, client relationship executive at Deloitte and board chair of BBBSMM; Neil Willenson, president and CEO of BBBSMM; Stevie Mitchell, former Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball player; community-based Little Sister Lexie and her Big Sister Suzanne J.; Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski; Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman; and Andy Hesselbach, SVP gas operations at WEC Energy Group and former BBBSMM board member. Photo credit: BBBSMM
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- A family involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee program. Photo credit: BBBSMM
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- The event featured a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new BBBSMM office. Pictured left to right: Neil Willenson, president and CEO of BBBSMM; Drew Glaubke of Deloitte and board chair of BBBSMM; youth involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program; Carole Meekins, retired Emmy Award-winning anchor and BBBSMM ambassador; Sara Dostal, director of people and culture at BBBSMM; Joe Zizzo of Zizzo Group Engagement Marketing; Joel Lee of Van Buren Management, which owns the building the new office is located in; and Brian Parrish of PARADIGM Real Estate Group. Photo credit: BBBSMM
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- (left to right) Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski; Neil Willenson, president and CEO of BBBSMM; City of Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson; and Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman. Photo credit: BBBSMM
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- The event featured music by DJ Shawna. Photo credit: BBBSMM
