FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Vivian King, 414-403-5314
Black & White Ball Raises More than $250,000
To Support Milwaukee Urban League
Area companies provide additional Capital Gifts of $100,000
Milwaukee, June 11, 2008 - Rain and a tornado warning failed to dampen spirits at the Milwaukee Urban League’s 23rd Annual Black & White Ball where a host of local companies, foundations and individuals helped raise more than $250,000 to support the league’s programs and services and another $100,000 in capital gifts. More than 750 of the confirmed 1,000 attendees braved the stormy weather to support the league’s largest fundraiser and one of Milwaukee’s most premier and diverse social events.
The event was highlighted by three special gifts that were presented during the evening beginning with Mary Dowell, Director of Community Relations for Johnson Controls who stepped on stage to present a $50,000 corporate gift to support the Milwaukee Urban League’s new capital campaign. Next, a second capital gift of $50,000 came from Northwestern Mutual, presented by Gloster Current, Vice President of Corporate Affairs. The gift-giving was capped off by Mike Jones, Senior Vice President at Miller Brewing Company who unveiled a $100,000 check to support programs of the Milwaukee Urban League.
The Miller Brewing Company donation will be directed at the league’s ongoing programs, services and operations. The Milwaukee Urban League has been providing a myriad of education, workforce development, economic development and entrepreneurship programs since 1919. The league has also undertaken a $2.4 million capital campaign to create a maintenance fund and to continue with improvements to its headquarters and grounds at 435 West North Avenue, in the heart of Milwaukee’s developing Bronzeville district. The gifts from Northwestern Mutual and Johnson Controls bring the capital campaign total to $800,000. Previous capital contributors include the City of Milwaukee/
Department of City Development and Park Bank as well as grants from The Greater Milwaukee, Helen Bader and Jane Bradley Pettit Foundations.
“We continue to be astounded by the generosity of our community,” said Milwaukee Urban League President and CEO, Ralph Hollmon. “The Urban League could not continue needed services without generous support from the corporate community.”
The guests at this year’s event, entitled “A Journey to Elegance Aboard the Orient Express, “ included Congresswoman Gwen Moore, State Senator Spencer Coggs, Milwaukee Alderman Willie Hines, Milwaukee County Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs-Jones, Northwestern Mutual President & CEO Ed Zore and his wife, Diane, WISN’s Mike Gousha, WTMJ’s Susan Kim, developer Gary Grunau, Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation’s Tom Boelter, WE Energies VP of Local Affairs, Thelma Sias and her husband, Steve Adams, Corey and Michelle Nettles and Cecelia Gore of the Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation. This year’s event co-chairs were Lynn Sprangers, Jackie Herd-Barber and Cathy James.
The crowd enjoyed a fantastic performance by the husband and wife songwriting and recording duo of Ashford & Simpson, the entertaining sounds of local legend, Berkeley Fudge during the champagne reception and silent auction and the opportunity to celebrate the Milwaukee Urban League into the wee hours of the morning at the post-ball reception featuring D.J. Chris Levy and Mr. Blackjack.
About the Urban League
Founded in 1910, the National Urban League movement strives to enable African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.
The Milwaukee Urban League was established in 1919 and employs a three-pronged strategy to realize these goals while serving the needs of the community: Education and Youth; Economic Self-sufficiency and Racial Inclusion. Under this umbrella, the Milwaukee Urban League provides a variety of youth programs and workforce development programs, advocates in the area of civil rights and can
boast of major accomplishments in housing with the Dr. Wesley L. Scott Senior
Living Community and other initiatives.
An Affiliate of the National Urban League · A United Way Funded Agency
Empowering Communities · Changing Lives