Dairy Cares of Wisconsin Garden Party. PC: Fox 11 Online
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Hundreds of people will gather Saturday night for the 13th annual Dairy Cares of Wisconsin Garden Party.
Milk Source president/CEO/co-founder, Jim Ostrom, says it began as a small get together with friends – primarily in the dairy and agriculture industry.
“We thought we should do something with this so we got our group back together and said ‘let’s find a cause and let’s have a garden party,'” Jim Ostrom, Dairy Cares of Wisconsin Co-Founder, said.
They created Dairy Cares of Wisconsin and chose Children’s Wisconsin for the cause. The party with a purpose has raised $2.3 million dollars for Children’s Wisconsin so far.
“Some things in life are really difficult; this is easy,” Ostrom said. “The group, the industry, the community has gotten behind this cause. It has momentum that it’s bigger than any of us.”
Children’s Wisconsin is based in Milwaukee but has clinics across the state including in Appleton and De Pere.
“Somebody we love or a family member is an instant away from a crisis and having Children’s Hospital there with their expertise is truly amazing,” Ostrom said.
Some questioned if this year’s garden party would happen. Ostrom’s wife Annette was diagnosed with cancer in early 2022 and died in October.
“This is the right thing to do. Even in difficult times and in hardship that life can bring. Doing the right thing is important,” Ostrom said.
Annette Ostrom co-founded Dairy Cares of Wisconsin.
“She worked really hard to identify people that needed help,” Ostrom added.
Dairy Cares of Wisconsin already opened its virtual silent auction, anyone is welcome to bid on various packages including a an overnight stay at the Osthoff Resort, two rounds of golf at North Shore Country Club or a getaway to Lake Geneva.
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