The Packers Foundation awarded $1.75 million in impact grants to 10 Wisconsin nonprofit organizations at a ceremony at Lambeau Field, June 19, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — 10 nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin, including five based in Brown County, were honored Wednesday for the work they’re doing in their communities.
During a luncheon held at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers distributed 10 impact grants totaling $1.75 million. Officials say this is the highest total amount awarded at one time since the Impact Grant Program began in 2013.
Some grants are matching grants, which require each recipient organization to raise the same amount to secure the donation.
Along with the five Brown County recipients, two nonprofits are in Dane County, two are in Milwaukee County and the 10th serves both Brown and Milwaukee counties.
Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy and Packers alumnus Dexter McNabb delivered remarks at the luncheon.
“From education, mentoring and community building programs to providing care and support for our most vulnerable neighbors, the grant recipients will create direct and lasting impacts throughout the state of Wisconsin,” Murphy said.
Missy Schmeling, executive director of Encompass Early Education & Care, one of the local recipients, said these grants provide nonprofits with a “wonderful” opportunity to continue to advance their missions.
“We were really excited and elated to be able to be a recipient of something so important that could really leverage the importance of early care and education in our community and surrounding communities, so really for the greater good for all the community. We were really, really excited to be a part of it,” Schmeling said.
A full list of the recipient nonprofits and their areas of focus is listed below.
Brown County:
- Brown County United Way received a $125,000 matching grant to support the development, implementation and evaluation of programing offered to community members at the City East Center in Green Bay.
- Cornerstone Community Center Inc. received a $200,000 matching grant for updating and expanding their facility to enhance ice availability and youth development, increase seating to attract more events, and provide a state-of-the-art facility for St. Norbert College Men’s Hockey.
- Encompass Early Education and Care, Inc., received a $250,000 matching grant to expand childcare opportunities in Northeastern Wisconsin.
- Friends of Pals Youth & Families Inc. received a $250,000 matching grant to help expand and enhance their Family Center facility to provide a safe, home-like environment for court ordered supervised visits.
- The National Railroad Museum received a $200,000 matching grant for their Fox River Expansion Project, which is working to nearly double the size of the Museum’s Lenfestey Center.
Dane County:
- Agrace Hospice Care Foundation received a $125,000 grant to expand Dementia and Alzheimer’s services throughout Wisconsin through Agrace’s Institute of Dementia Excellence.
- The Nature Conservancy’s Wisconsin Chapter, headquartered in Madison, received a $150,000 matching grant to devote toward the East River Collaborative, which is building flood resilience within the East River Watershed in Brown County.
Milwaukee County:
- College Possible received a $125,000 matching grant to grow their college-readiness strategy program to be more accessible statewide by helping implement new staffing strategies, providing career exploration and expanding support to students transitioning from a two-year to four-year degree-granting institution.
- MENTOR Greater Milwaukee received a $75,000 matching grant to enhance mentorship through community building and increased awareness to the surrounding areas.
Brown and Milwaukee counties:
- Marian University, Inc., received a $250,000 matching grant to contribute to their Dr. George E. Koonce Scholars Program to provide support to first-generation, low-income students in Green Bay, Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine.
The Packers Foundation has disbursed $11.15 million since the inception of its Impact Grant Program in 2013. In total, the Foundation has awarded over $24 million in charitable funds since 1986.
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