Summit Donates $2 Million to the Center for Black Excellence

Largest donation in credit union’s 86-year history

MADISON, WIS. — Summit Credit Union, Wisconsin’s second largest credit union, today announced a $2 million donation to launch The Center for Black Excellence and Culture in South Madison. It is the first company to contribute to the multi-million-dollar effort and the largest gift in the history of the credit union founded in 1935.

“This Black-led, Black-inspired and Black-designed center aims to create a space that uplifts the Black Community and Black-owned businesses, especially those run by women,” said Kim Sponem, CEO and President. “The time is now for all of us to join the Black community to transform Madison from one of the worst cities for Blacks to live in, to one of the best.”

Sponem said Summit Credit Union strongly supports the center’s unique blend of building Black wealth in its planned incubator and co-working spaces, and its art events and community services spaces.

Summit Credit Union has dedicated itself to the financial wellness of its members for 86 years and has been firmly focused on women’s financial empowerment for 12 years.

The Center is slated to open in 2023. For more information, visit the Center for Black Excellence and Culture.

Endres Foundation Announces $203,500 in Fall Grants

In November, 2021, Endres Manufacturing Company (“EMC”) Foundation announced grants of $203,500 to 18 non-profits which provide essential area services.

The seven Trustees met online to consider 34 grant requests. Also, annual gifts of $1,000 to Big Brothers and Big Sisters, $1,000 to Artists on Main in Waunakee, and $15,000 to Dane Arts have been made. And finally, the final payment of $34,000 was made to the Youth Art Center to complete our $100,000 pledge, and $25,000 will be given to match grant decisions made by the UW Philanthropy Lab Class at their graduation celebration in December, a class mentored by the EMC Foundation.

The grant requests awarded are:
Aldo Leopold Nature Center – $25,000
Badger Childhood Cancer Network – $8,000
Bethel Horizons – $5,000
Family Services Madison – $10,000
First Tee – $5,000
Girls on the Run – $500
Horizon High School – $5,000
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin – $5,000
Little John’s Restaurants – $25,000
Lussier Community Center – $5,000
Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens – $25,000
Madison Reading Project – $5,000
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin – $5,000
Ronald McDonald House – $5,000
Saint Patrick Catholic Church – $20,000
Second Harvest Food Bank – $5,000
Urban League Black Business Hub – $25,000
UW Odyssey Project – $20,000

The Endres Foundation grants cover a diverse array of focus areas: including education, arts, human services, environmental and health. If you plan to apply for one of the grant cycles in either May or November be aware that agencies in the local area are a priority and the Foundation seeks to support new programs or projects rather than funding the same agencies annually. We want you to both grow your base of donors and your impact on a positive future. $449.64 billion was given by U.S. philanthropists in 2019, and of that, Corporate giving grew by 13.4% to $21.09 billion, Foundation giving grew by 2.5% to $79.69 billion, and Individual giving grew to an all-time high of $309.66 billion. And it has continued to increase due to the needs encountered during COVID. We are fortunate to have caring, compassionate, and generous people giving our communities hope and optimism for a brighter future. Thank you!

WPS joins Disability:IN Wisconsin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WPS joins Disability:IN Wisconsin
Partnership promotes inclusion of people with disabilities

MADISON, Wis.—Nov. 8, 2021—WPS Health Solutions commits to support Disability:IN Wisconsin as a Sustaining Partner. Disability:IN Wisconsin is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-to-business network of professionals with disabilities and allies across the state. The partnership allows WPS to share best practices and local resources on disability inclusion.

Events organized by Disability:IN Wisconsin will allow WPS employees to engage with local, regional, and national experts on important topics in disability inclusion. Working with the organization also allows WPS to connect with local certified disability-owned businesses.

Jihan Bekiri, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at WPS, said, “Joining Disability:IN is a conscious step toward disability inclusion at WPS. I am thrilled to have WPS join this group of dedicated advocates so we can learn more and move forward together.”

Disability:IN Wisconsin offers participating employers resources for recruiting candidates with disabilities, information on disability issues/topics, recognition for best disability employment practices, and exposure to an untapped market for goods and services.

The new partnership follows on the heels of other WPS diversity, equity, and inclusion work, including hiring Bekiri in January, signing the CEO Action Pledge and participating in the Day of Understanding, joining the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber in June, and the creation of the ‘WPS Diversity in Insurance’ scholarship, which helps underrepresented Madison College students pursuing careers in insurance, in September.

About WPS Health Solutions

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,800 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

Eppstein Uhen Architects: Beyond Design Bike Tour Online Auction Raises Money for Local Charities

MILWAUKEE + MADISON, WI, October 11, 2021 —For the past 15 years, Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) has held a Beyond Design Bike Tour (BDBT) to raise money for charities within the community. Due to circumstances related to the pandemic, the 16^th Annual Beyond Design Bike Tour was canceled out of an abundance of caution and safety for our bikers, sponsors, and volunteers.

Although the event was canceled, EUA held an Online Silent Auction from August 23^rd – 26^th that raised over $7,500 with proceeds benefiting the intended charities of Camp One Step and Shining Stars Foundation.

EUA would like to thank all our sponsors who contributed to the 16^th Annual Beyond Design Bike Tour and a special thank you to the sponsors who opted to still contribute their donations of $40,350:

Baker Tilly, BMO Harris Bank, CD Smith, CG Schmidt, Gilbane Building Company, Giles Engineering Associates, Graef, Grumman/Butkus Associates, Grunau Company, Kapur & Associates, M3 Insurance, Mortensen Construction, Next Generation Wealth Management, Riley Construction, Ring & DuChateau, RTM Engineering, Tour of America’s Dairyland

EUA looks forward to hosting the 17^th Annual Beyond Design Bike Tour on August 25^th, 2022 in support of Camp One Step and Shining Stars Foundation in the fight against childhood cancer.

To learn more about how the charities will be utilizing the donations contact Katie Weil at Camp One Step and Mackenzie Brenneman at Shining Stars Foundation:

Camp One Step
Katie Weil
Vice President, Philanthropy
kweil@camponestep.org

Shining Stars Foundation
Mackenzie Brenneman
Director of Programs and Events
Mackenzie@ShiningStarsFoundation.org

About Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) 

Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) is best known for designing environments that elevate people’s potential. Nearly 180 employees in Denver, Milwaukee and Madison demonstrate unparalleled commitment to the markets, communities and clients they serve. The respected 114-year-old firm specializes in several markets including aerospace, education, workplace, industrial, healthcare, senior living, mixed-use, community and science + technology. For additional information, please visit the firm’s website at eua.com.

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Megan Kocchi, Marketing Leader, at 414.298.2204 or megank@eua.com.

WPS Health Solutions: Army veteran Eric Bebee saluted for Operation Fan Mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Army veteran Eric Bebee saluted for Operation Fan Mail
WPS Health Solutions and Green Bay Packers honored Bebee Oct. 3

MADISON, Wis.—Oct. 4, 2021—The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Solutions paid special tribute this week to Army veteran Eric Bebee and his family in conjunction with the Oct. 3 game against Pittsburgh. Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game, marks its 15th season in 2021.

Bebee, originally from Birchwood, Wis., enlisted in the U.S. Army after seeing news coverage of the 9/11 attacks 20 years ago. At the beginning of his military career, he was in the infantry, serving as a rifleman, machine gunner, and Fire Team Leader. He finished his Army career as an Information Technology Specialist, helping troubleshoot computer and network issues, operating and maintaining radios, and facilitating battalion communications.

During his time in the Army, he traveled all over the world. He was stationed from 2003–11 in Germany, deploying from there to Afghanistan three times. He was then stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, from where he deployed to Afghanistan once more, as well as Liberia, Africa, in 2014 as the Lead Information Technology Specialist in support of Operation United Assistance to assist with the Ebola Outbreak Crisis.

In 2016, Bebee transitioned from active duty to the Iowa Air National Guard, and he and his family now live in Hornick, Iowa. He works full-time as a cyber security manager at the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, as a Department of Defense civilian during the week. He serves as a traditional Air Guardsman on drill weekends. During his time in the military, he has received five Army commendation medals, three Army achievement medals, the Combat Infantry Badge, and an Iowa Air Guard Commendation medal.

Bebee met his wife, Patricia, while stationed in Germany, and their family includes their daughter, Suriana, and their son, Wyatt. After Patricia became a U.S. citizen in 2018, she also enlisted into the Iowa Air National Guard to serve her country.

As the honoree for Operation Fan Mail this week, the Bebee family also received four tickets to the game and a $150 Packers Pro Shop gift card, courtesy of WPS.

The program, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor families with a member who is on active duty, or a member who is a veteran. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family at each 2021 home game and recognize the members on the video boards during pregame activities. A total of 140 individuals, families, or groups have been recognized through the program since it began.

The Packers and WPS Health Solutions invite interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular family should be saluted this year. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty, or a member who is a veteran. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter, or sibling.

Essays can be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or online at packers.com/lambeau-field/operation-fan-mail.

About WPS Health Solutions

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 3,100 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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