WPS Charitable Foundation donates $188,000 so far in 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS Charitable Foundation donates $188,000 so far in 2023
Focus is on mental health, education, and underserved populations

MADISON, Wis.—June 7, 2023—So far in 2023, the WPS Charitable Foundation has donated more than $188,000 to local organizations that support mental health, education, and the essential needs of children, senior citizens, and veterans.

Organizations that received money from the Foundation this year include:

• Boulder Crest Foundation
• Edgewood College Foundation
• Mental Health America
• NAMI National
• PsychArmor
• United Way of Dane County
• Wisconsin Policy Forum
• WMC Foundation

“This year, our Foundation chose to redefine our giving strategy so that half of available funds support organizations that work to destigmatize mental health,” Moira Klos, the Foundation’s Vice President of Board of Trustees, said. “Removing stigmas makes it acceptable to acknowledge when the coping mechanisms people use are not working. It also helps individuals acknowledge the need to seek assistance in their mental health journey.”

About the WPS Charitable Foundation

The WPS Charitable Foundation was formed in 1986 to honor WPS’ first president, Ray Koenig. The Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that focuses on enhancing the communities we call home by supporting organizations focused on health and wellness, especially of women and children, seniors, military and veterans, and underserved populations. The Foundation also funds the Ray Koenig Memorial Scholarship program. Each year, the program makes educational opportunities available through scholarship awards to children of employees of WPS Health Solutions and its subsidiaries.

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Hy-Vee Awards $50,000 in Grants to Local Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses During Products, Services Showcase in Madison

Today, Hy-Vee, Inc. awarded $50,000 to local minority- and women-owned businesses during the Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit at Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison. Today’s event was the fourth summit Hy-Vee has hosted in support of these business owners with access to funding and valuable business development resources. These summits are part of Hy-Vee’s ongoing commitment to diversifying its supplier base and product offerings, as well as supporting minority communities across its eight-state territory.

During the pitch competition component of the event, 13 companies from Wisconsin and surrounding states presented to a panel of judges and more than 200 event attendees. Each company leader was given the opportunity to demonstrate their product or explain their service for the chance to win a small-business grant from Hy-Vee. Local community business experts served as judges and selected the finalists from a pool of more than 90 applications.

Hy-Vee recognized the following businesses during its awards presentation for the pitch competition:

Grand Prize Winner – $30,000: FAVORYT Brand, Amy and Josh Woods, Seymour, WI
About: FAVORYT Brand manufactures natural body care products for sensitive skin. Products are designed to be compact and convenient for on the go.

Category: Food & Beverage
1st place – $5,000: Yips Snacks, Madison, WI
About: Yips Yogurt Chips are the first chips made from real Greek yogurt; no fridge required. Imagine a smoothie with all your favorite ingredients packed into sweet, crunchy chips.

Category: Innovation & Technology
1st place – $5,000: Altruize, Beloit, WI
About: Altruize is the first data management platform that is volunteer driven creating a centralized database with verified volunteer activities and easily accessible by all parties involved for seamless usage. 

Category: Health, Wellness, Beauty
1st place – $5,000: EverFit, Shawnee, KS
About: EverFit is a small gym that aims to make fitness fun! In additional to regular training, unique classes like the EverFit60 (20 mins each of Cycling, Boxing, and HIIT), and Sweat & Sip (Workout and Wine Tasting), and other pop-ups happen monthly to keep fitness top of mind. 

Luscious Beauty by Courtney (Madison, WI) and Valley Self Defense (Stillwater, MN) were named Judges’ Choice Winners and presented with smaller cash prizes for their business ventures.

In addition to the above winners, the following also participated in the pitch competition:

• Bear’s Bites, East Peoria, IL
• FlavR Beverage Company, Kansas City, MO
• theEATbar, Lake Forest, IL
• T-Rex Cookie, Eagan, MN
• FerskTech, Corcoran, MN
• Melanin Minded, Milwaukee, WI
• Nerdbugs, Madison, WI

The event featured an expo that offered resources for small businesses, learning opportunities through presentations and panel discussions, the chance to learn about local brands and more.

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Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 285 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of more than $13 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 5 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 3 favorite grocery stores. The company’s more than 80,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.

Great Lakes Roofing Corporation Helps Open Camp Hometown Heroes in Time for Campers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2023

Contact: Tiff Brennan
(608) 402-6072
tiff@brandhouse.marketing

GLRC Helps Open Camp Hometown Heroes in Time for Campers

Campbellsport, WI – Great Lakes Roofing Corporation (GLRC), a leading provider in commercial and industrial roofing and 2022 Better Business Bureau Torch Award Recipient, served at Camp Hometown Heroes on May 15, 2023, in preparation for the summer camp’s seasonal opening. GLRC’s work honors the families of fallen US military personnel, a cause that is close to their hearts.

Camp Hometown Heroes is a non-profit organization that has been providing a free week-long overnight summer camp for children (aged 7 to 17) of fallen US military personnel for ten years. GLRC celebrates Camp Hometown Heroes’ mission to assist community building among peers, help them process grief, support the healing process, and know they are not alone.

“Many adults shouldering their own grief and new reality find it difficult to also help their kids navigate through. These children, grieving the loss of a parent or sibling, often feel alone in relation to other kids at school. Camp is here to help them realize there is a whole community of kids just like them, but they’re widespread. To achieve Camp’s unique mission, they fly kids in from all over the nation at no cost. This is a mission worth leaning into and supporting any way we can,” said Kris Moran, GLRC Marketing Director.

“We recognize that the loss of a parent is something like no other but the loss of a parent in a tragic and often sudden way is even harder for children to handle and fathom. The Camp Hometown Heroes program is designed to provide recreational programming with an embedded element of trauma-informed support throughout the experience. This includes art therapy, meditation, yoga, effective communicating surrounding grief and so much more. Further, we honor the fallen family members – the service men and women – throughout the week at camp in some very special ways so the kids can fondly remember their loved ones. While there are tears, this is the time in which the campers get to celebrate their loved ones and remember them fondly,” said Liz Braatz, Director of Development, Hometown Heroes, Inc.

Over 85 GLRC staff – from office and production teams – devoted their time cleaning the cabins, fixing roofs, clearing trails, and more, capping off the day with over 30 projects around the camp accomplished in time for the season opener.

“One of the projects that we finished was a rebuild of camp’s outdoor amphitheater seating, President of GLRC, Chris Lampien, recounts. “After removing the old splinter-ridden seats, we leveled all the stones and installed new wooden benches. Finally, we added our logo and signatures to the benches, so in a fun way our whole crew left our mark on camp! It was great to come together as a team to offer tangible support to all future Campers,” says Lampien.

GLRC also brought three pickup trucks full of much needed supplies for the summer camp, which they sourced with the help of their staff, the community, and their generous business partners through a donation drive. Snacks, art supplies and outdoor sporting gear were at the top of Camp’s wish list this year.

“These donated items are so greatly needed and appreciated. Art supplies allow us to conduct our art therapy programming and many of the other donated items, such as sporting gear is costly for our organization. Thanks to your donation, we are able to utilize our resources in other areas, such as flying in the children from other parts of the country to Wisconsin. Every donation to our small organization makes a big difference!” Braatz said.

Volunteering at Camp Hometown Heroes is among the many events that GLRC has planned during 2023 to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Living out their culture of community building, GLRC staff were eager to work together and contribute their time and skills to Camp Hometown Heroes’ mission.

“Everybody was working with smiles on their faces and enjoying the effort that they were putting in. Our office staff worked side-by-side with our production crews and got to know each other personally, which they loved because their daily tasks don’t often overlap. It was not only a great event to support a cause we’re passionate about, but also a great team bonding experience for our employees,” said Moran.

You can help too! Camp Hometown Heroes needs continuous support to carry out their mission. They are currently seeking staff and volunteers to help them run the camp 24 hours a day and fill roles like grief counselors and safety marshals. In addition, they are actively requesting donations and supplies to keep the camp running and fully stocked for their campers.

“Our organization thrives on the kindness of others. Volunteers who cook, clean, can do ground keeping work, laundry and assist in caring for the kids are treasured. Further, we sincerely love the kindness of volunteers who are also veterans. The campers really taking a kinship to those who have served and the veterans also get so much from helping the kids,” said Braatz.

For more information on how to volunteer, please contact Tommy Losch, Camp Program Director at losch@hometownheroes.org or visit camphometownheroes.org.

Headquartered in Germantown, WI, Great Lakes Roofing Corporation (GLRC) is a national award-winning roofing company providing commercial/industrial building owners with the solutions they need to keep their products and people safe. GLRC is celebrating 40 years as a quality roofing contractor that maintains its core values and family culture while providing clients with the safest and best services. GLRC’s mission is to be their clients’ trusted partner and first choice in roofing solutions. Learn more at www.greatlakesroofing.net.

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Great Lakes Roofing Corporation Extends “Helping Hands” for the Re-Roofing of RMHC-Marshfield

Contact: Tiff Brennan
(608) 402-6072
tiff@brandhouse.marketing

Great Lakes Roofing Corporation Extends “Helping Hands” for the Re-Roofing of RMHC-Marshfield

Marshfield, WI, May 17, 2023 – Great Lakes Roofing Corporation (GLRC), a leading provider in commercial and industrial roofing and 2022 recipient of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Award for Ethics, donated time and materials for the re-roofing of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Marshfield (RMHC-Marshfield).

The RMHC-Marshfield re-roofing project is part of GLRC’s “Helping Hands” program that aims to build and support communities. It proudly upholds the company’s adherence to the Roofing Alliance’s commitment to adopting all RHMC chapters nationwide. Materials for this project were donated in part by GAF and ABC Supply, who often work with the Roofing Alliance to support RMHC projects.  

In 2017, when the Roofing Alliance committed to adopting Houses, President of GLRC, Chris Lampien spearheaded the adoption of the RHMC-Madison location. Because of his personal experience with a medically fragile child at birth, he feels drawn to provide what he can to support other families experiencing complex medical situations.

“In 2022, our staff member, Karlie McNulty, reached out to the Ronald McDonald House in Marshfield to see if they could receive some holiday turkeys as a donation. Karlie learned the House no longer had an adoptive roofing partner, so we stepped up meet their needs. We believe in the mission of RMHC and are committed to giving what we can,” said Lampien.

“Ronald McDonald House Charities of Marshfield serves hundreds of families every year as a home away from home that provides comfort, support, and resources to families with hospitalized children. We’re incredibly grateful to Great Lakes Roofing and their partners at the Roofing Alliance for the generous donation of a new roof. Thanks to their generosity, our Ronald McDonald House will continue to provide a safe respite for families with sick kids when they need it most,” said Iilee Pederson, Executive Director of the RMHC-Marshfield.

Both established in 1983, GLRC and RMHC-Marshfield are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, making the latter’s re-roofing notable among GLRC’s community projects. Having gone through his own experience with a medically fragile child, GLRC Field Manager David Kaufman recounts how much the project means to him:

“My son was born two months premature, and I can relate to what the parents are going through with a sick child. My wife and I resided close enough to the hospital to be able to return home daily while our child received care, but if we lived further away we would have stayed at the local Ronald McDonald House. When your main concern is the care and wellbeing of your child, knowing that RMHC is available so that you can stay close enough to be there for your child, that’s an invaluable support system for parents,” said Kaufman.

Kaufman and his colleague McNulty will volunteer at the RMHC-Marshfield home in September, representing GLRC.

RMHC has 165 chapters across the U.S. The nonprofit seeks to support children’s access to medical care and ensure their families’ active involvement by providing secure and comfortable shelters near top children’s hospitals. GLRC, a member of the Roofing Alliance, has serviced the roofs of RMHC-Madison since 2017 and RMHC-Marshfield since 2022.

Headquartered in Germantown, Wis., Great Lakes Roofing Corporation is a national award-winning roofing company providing commercial/industrial building owners with the solutions they need to keep their products and people safe. GLRC is celebrating 40 years as a quality construction company that maintains its core values and family culture while providing clients with the safest and best services. GLRC’s mission is to be a client’s trusted partner and first choice in roofing solutions. Learn more at www.greatlakesroofing.net.

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One Community Bank Hosts Power of ONE Community Week!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2023

Contact:
Ameilia Abraham
One Community Bank
608-838-3141
aabraham@onecommunity.bank

One Community Bank Hosts Power of ONE Community Week!

(May 2023) – One Community Bank is proud to participate in Wisconsin Banker Association’s Power of Community Week. OCB celebrated the week with a two-week food drive, a teach children to save initiative, ONE last push to apply for the OCB scholarship, announcement of the OCB Shred Event at its Oregon location and celebrating our partnership with WayForward Resources.

“One Community Bank is proud to play an active role in our community, after all, community is our middle name. I am proud of all the colleagues that made Power of Community Week possible and took the time out of their workday to give back to the communities we serve,” said Steve Peotter, President and CEO. “One Community Bank is thrilled to deepen our relationship with WayForward Resources, Porchlight and school districts in south central Wisconsin. We are delighted to contribute to the impact they are making,” added Peotter.

One Community Bank was proud to host a community food drive again this year from April 17-29 at its Adams, Grand Marsh, McFarland, Middleton, Oxford, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, and Waunakee locations. Our Oregon location ended its food drive on May 9. OCB is ecstatic to donate a total of 810 pounds of food and other requested items to our communities’ food pantries! The food drive consisted of donations from clients and colleagues.

OCB was delighted to provide financial literacy to students across the rainbow of its communities in south central Wisconsin. Our educational program was geared towards students in grades K-2. We are happy to have educated 1,112 students!

The deadline to apply for the OCB Scholarship was Friday, April 28. OCB made ONE last push for applicants to apply to the scholarship with messages on social media, message centers and in bank lobbies.

During the Power of ONE Community Week, OCB announced the upcoming OCB Shred Fest at its Oregon location on Saturday, June 3 from 8-10 AM. We are proud provide this free service to our community and kick off our Hygiene Drive to support Porchlight. This two-week drive will kick off on Saturday, June 3 and run through Saturday, June 17 at all of our bank locations. We will be collecting travel/individual size soaps, shampoos, lotions, and personal hygiene products.

OCB is honored to partner with WayForward Resources formerly known as Middleton Outreach Ministry in Middleton, WI. We celebrated our partnership with WayForward Resources with a video highlighting our past six-month volunteer commitment and announced the extension of our partnership for an additional six months. Additionally, colleagues volunteered at ONE of our volunteer opportunities with WayForward Resources.

OCB hosted this event in honor of Wisconsin Bankers Association’s annual Power of Community Week. This week is dedicated to showing the collective support community banks provide to businesses and their communities.

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One Community Bank is one of the largest community banks in south central Wisconsin. The locally owned bank has 10 bank locations and $1.8 billion in assets. It provides both personal and business
banking solutions, with an intense focus on serving clients, supporting colleagues, and investing in its
communities. Five years in a row named one of Madison’s best places to work, One Community Bank
serves the communities of Oregon, McFarland, Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Middleton, Adams,
Oxford, and Grand Marsh.