GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Green Bay Packers Foundation hosted charitable groups from across the state at Lambeau Field on Tuesday as they announced their annual grant distribution.
The Foundation announced this week it has distributed $1 million in annual grants to 274 civic and charitable groups throughout the state of Wisconsin in its annual distribution of grants.
“It’s so important. It gives us, as the foundation, an opportunity to really connect with these people that are all doing really great things,” said Foundation Chairman Thomas Cardella. “At the end of the day, this is all about people that are dedicating their lives and organizations that are driven for helping other people and improving their communities.”
The recipient groups were guests at a luncheon in the Lambeau Field Atrium, which honored the outstanding efforts and services performed by each of the organizations.
“My favorite time of year is when we actually do the grant reviews. You hear all kinds of unbelievably great stories, and this year was no different,” Cardella told WTAQ News. “It’s just a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for the organizations to be able to come here and really be recognized. That’s what it’s all about, people that are spending their lives dedicated to help others. It’s their day, and it’s just a wonderful day…It’s so inspirational. It just really, really makes you feel good about humanity and what people are doing out there for other people.”
Of the Foundation’s contributions Tuesday, 34 grants – aggregating $136,000 – were awarded to Brown County organizations. Additional grants, totaling $864,000, were made to 240 other groups around the state.
One of those groups was the Hope Squad from the Ashwaubenon School District. The squad is a peer-nominated suicide-prevention program that serves the middle and high schools.
“We know that kids are talking to their peers more than they’re talking to staff. So once we have someone nominated, they go for a training process with trained staff members to get support in how to respond to a peer or a friend in need,” said Laura Briese, a school social worker. “Once that peer is trained, we offer them support and assistance so that when the peer identifies a concern, they know how to respond both by asking the appropriate questions and then referring to a trusted professional in the school community.”
She says any additional funding for that program can make a huge difference.
“It’s an opportunity for us to serve more kids, to get the community involved, and to be able to offer additional support to students and families in need of support through mental health assistance, mental health awareness, and just reducing the stigma associated with mental health in the area,” Briese said. “We’re just excited to get support and make opportunities available to our students and our community – to be able to offer assistance and additional training, as well as community events.”
This year’s grant cycle focused on organizations that will direct the funds toward the need areas of arts & culture, athletics and education. Grants were awarded to organizations located in 47 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, with 88 grants going to arts & culture groups, 40 grants to athletic organizations and 146 to education initiatives.
“The Green Bay Packers look at themselves as the team for the entire state. It gives us an opportunity through the foundation to reach every corner of the state, and in a way that has a very nice impact. And we’re very proud of that,” Cardella said.
To learn about where each organization will be focusing the grant dollars and for more information on the grant cycles, please visit packers.com/foundation and navigate to Project/Program Focus Area.
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