Thysse: We Can—Do It Together

For Immediate Release

WE CAN—DO IT TOGETHER
The Community of Oregon Unifies Through Art Installation

Brooke Barney
Thysse
608.249.6951

OREGON, WI, May 22, 2020 — After campuses made a nationwide decision in March to close, Maddie LeBrun, Oregon native working through her last semester of undergrad at St. Norbert College, returned home.

In light of the pandemic, Maddie resolutely believes that art can serve as an instrument for healing, encouragement, and public understanding. Because of the sudden inaccessibility of printing presses, her printmaking class switched gears from letterpress to public text-based installations, prompting the creation of her hand-painted WE CAN series, initially installed at Firefly Coffeehouse.

“Art is especially important right now because it can be a contribution when we have nothing else to give” stated Maddie LeBrun. “We place so much of our identity and value on ephemeral titles—the jobs we have, the places we go, the people we talk to—that most of us feel lost when we can’t maintain those routines. These days we wake up in the morning and we can’t always do whatever we want, but we can still choose to make something good, and we can still choose to make something for others.”

“I’d like to thank Jeanne and Uriah Carpenter at Firefly for housing my original work,” continues Maddie, “Thysse for reaching out to print posters for the community, and my family for graciously working around my studio endeavors, even (and especially) when they take up the entire kitchen table.”

Today, this message of hope and unity can be seen in the windows of residents and businesses throughout Oregon’s Village.

“We at Firefly Coffeehouse are absolutely committed to supporting both the arts and education, and view our very public role downtown as a place to build community” said Jeanne Carpenter, Owner, Firefly Coffee House and Village President. “We are delighted to showcase Maddie’s original work and thank her for brightening Oregon’s spirits while the world is paused.”

Poster prints are provided free to the public by Thysse and available at all three Oregon Kwik Trip locations as well as Bill’s Food Center.

WE CAN—DO IT TOGETHER

About the artist

Maddie LeBrun is a designer and illustrator from Oregon, Wisconsin. She loves lettering, late nights spent in-studio, and the color yellow. Her public work is continually featured across campus as she works part-time as a poster designer for the St. Norbert College Art Department. Maddie’s most recent personal work uses a traditional alphabet to share her steadfast love for the earth and the belief that living a more sustainable life is within reach for everyone. You can learn more about Maddie and see more of her work on Instagram @mlebrunstudio

About Thysse

Thysse is a third-generation, innovative company in Oregon, WI, specializing in visual communication. We are a design, printing and manufacturing company and we have the imagination and tools to customize projects, whatever they may be. We think about how your story is being told through your direct mail, your catalog, your fleet vehicles, your apparel, the sign outside your door, and the design of the lobby inside your door. We are where you go with your brand. For more information about Thysse, please visit www.thysse.com.

Monona Bank Supports Contributes $82,300 to 19 Area Non-Profits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2020

Contact:
Mark Schellpfeffer, 608-223-5141
mschellpfeffer@mononabank.com

Monona Bank Supports Contributes $82,300 to 19 Area Non-Profits

(MONONA, Wis.) – Monona Bank announced today it will donate $82,300 to 15 area food pantries, and four other Madison-area non-profits who are working to assist our neighbors in need during the COVID-19 crisis. The donation was made possible through the bank’s “Strength in Neighbors” campaign which was initiated by a $20,000 grant the bank received from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s (FHLB Chicago) COVID-19 Relief Program.

“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in requests for COVID-19 assistance, specifically asking for help in providing meals for area residents,” Paul Hoffmann, President & CEO of Monona Bank, said. “As a locally-owned community bank with close ties to many non-profits in our communities, we are in a unique position to notice the needs facing our communities quickly,” Hoffmann added. “Monona Bank knew they needed to get involved, especially since we believe we are only truly successful when the communities we serve prosper.”

Hoffmann and the Monona Bank Board of Directors quickly decided to create a “Strength in Neighbors” campaign to help our neighbors survive the COVID-19 crisis. With so many qualified groups asking the bank for assistance, the bank decided to apply for the FLHB Chicago grant. But Monona Bank wanted to do more and increased its total contribution to $82,300 through a combination of bank, board, and employee contributions. “Our Board leadership was outstanding in immediately donating their own personal funds and encouraging others in our bank to give generously,” Hoffmann added. To make even more funds available, the bank also redirected funds they normally would have spent on various community and bank events which were cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

The hardest part for the bank was deciding where to donate the grants due to the numerous worthy requests the bank had received for assistance. “We kept hearing the pressure on our local food pantries was incredible, so we focused our funding in this one key area that we knew would have significant impact on our neighbors,” Hoffmann said. Based on stats from the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Monona Bank’s donation to area food pantries will provide more than 192,000 meals for Dane County area families.

Monona Bank chose 15 local meals-related non-profit organizations to support including:  Goodman Center Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM), St. Stephen’s Food Pantry in Monona, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southwest Wisconsin, The River Food Pantry, FEED Kitchens, Dane County Humane Society, NewBridge Senior Services, Oregon and Brooklyn Area Food Pantry, Belleville Food Pantry, Sauk Prairie Food Pantry, Northwest Dane County Senior Services, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Cottage Grove Food Pantry, and the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens.

In addition, the bank decided to support Forward Community Investments (FCI) in their campaign for Nonprofit Emergency Capacity Building Grants, Common Wealth Development, the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center and Operation Fresh Start.

About Monona Bank (www.mononabank.com)

Monona Bank is a locally owned and managed bank with over 160 employees at nine locations in an around Dane County. Monona Bank believes that “together, we prosper.” Founded in 1991, Monona Bank believes there is “Strength in Neighbors” and is committed to making our communities great places to live, work and raise a family.

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M3 Becomes First Wisconsin-based Member of TechAssure

MADISON, WI – M3 Insurance has been named a new member of TechAssure, the international nonprofit association of insurance and risk management experts for technology-related risks, effective immediately.

“A partnership with TechAssure is a natural fit for M3,” said Brad Reitzner, Vice President of Sales – Property & Casualty. “TechAssure allows us to network and share best practices with the leading insurance brokers in sectors like technology, life science, cyber, etc. We look forward to supporting the network’s mission of delivering best-in-class insurance advice and program design to the area’s most innovative companies.”

TechAssure is an invitation-only organization, comprised of the top performing brokers in the tech-risk space. This partnership allows M3 to tap into a global network of insurance brokers that specialize in the technology and life science sectors, as well as cyber risks, and gain access to an unparalleled body of intellectual capital and resources that no other broker can bring.

“Madison, WI has been emerging as one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the country over the past few years,” said TechAssure Executive Director, Garrett Droege. “M3 has one of the best reputations in the industry and has the talent and resources to be the brokerage of choice for innovative firms in and around the Silicon Prairie.”

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ABOUT M3

M3 is a top 50 insurance broker and risk management firm in America. They are leaders in the products they represent and the industries they serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And their focus on community builds better places to live and work.

ABOUT TECHASSURE

TechAssure is a unique consortium of risk management experts serving innovative industries, such as technology, telecommunications, life sciences, clean tech, as well as the venture capital and private equity firms that fund them.   Comprised of over 30 specialist firms located in strategic locations across the world, TechAssure members collectively serve over 5,000 tech-industry clients and represent over $10 Billion in premium volume.    The association also produces a proprietary annual benchmarking report for the industries it serves. TechAssure is currently celebrating its 20^th year.

Keeping music alive: WCO unveils new look, more digital concerts and 20/21 season series

May 18, 2020

For Immediate Release

Media contact:
Jake Miller, 608-957-4797, jake@hellosundaypaper.com

Keeping music alive: WCO unveils new look, more digital concerts and 20/21 season series
With its musicians at center stage, the WCO aims to bridge classical music and community

MADISON –  The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra today unveiled its new look and feel, an upcoming digital concert and several new programs – all with the goal of bringing the community closer to classical music and the musicians behind it.

As many art and music organizations nationwide have been forced to hit pause, the WCO has worked tirelessly to march forward, ensuring the 60-year-old organization, famous for its Concerts on the Square series and top-tier musicianship, remains relevant and engaged with its audience.

Focused on the artistry, richness, quality and intimacy of its performances, the WCO has captured that essence in a new look, including an updated logo and website, wcoconcerts.org. More importantly, though, is what the new look stands for during this time. The WCO is putting its musicians in the spotlight, bridging the gap between audience and artist and making classical music accessible without sacrificing what makes it magical.

“Experiencing music is about so much more than just what you hear,” said Joe Loehnis, WCO CEO and a professional cellist. “It’s about getting to know the musicians, diving into the stories behind them, what inspires them. When you go deeper, the music means more. It sounds even better. That’s the connection we want to make with existing and new audiences.”

The WCO worked with Suz Brewer of SUZCO, to capture the brand’s soul in its new image. Brewer is known nationally for her work with Duluth Trading Company’s now famous advertising. She also positioned EatStreet for its rapid growth, and is known for her ability to unearth what audiences want to experience.

Online concert series expanded

As part of the effort to better connect musicians and audience, while making classical music more accessible and enjoyable, the WCO is ramping up its new digital concert series.

At 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 21, the WCO will air a recorded PBS Wisconsin rebroadcast of one the  most popular Concerts on the Square on wcoconcerts.org. The concert, like Concerts on the Square, is free to everyone.

“For 37 years, we’ve been the orchestra that instigated and hosts these magical summer concerts with 250,000 people attending each year,” said Maestro Andrew Sewell, WCO’s music director for 20 years. “Concerts on the Square means a lot to this community and while we work to bring back the live performance, we wanted to find a way to keep the music coming while keeping everyone safe.”

Additionally, the WCO will continue to showcase its Coucherto Series, featuring home performances by its musicians, Sewell and Loehnis. The Coucherto Series launched within two weeks of the Safer at Home Order and compelled musicians to perform from their homes – and sometimes doing so in flannel lounge pants.

20/21 season, Friends of the WCO announced

Keeping the music going is more critical than ever, which is why the WCO also is unveiling its 20/21 season, which includes Masterworks I on Nov. 20. The concert will feature John O’Conor on Piano at the Capitol Theatre, Overture Center for the Arts.

“We’re optimistic that we’ll be able to have live performances as the months progress, and that includes a number of concerts this fall,” Loehnis said. “But, if we have to pivot we will. Ultimately, our goal is to make sure everyone is safe, our musicians can play, and our community can enjoy the WCO – no matter the platform.”

To view the entire schedule, visit the WCO’s event calendar.

As part of its focus on connecting with its supporters, the WCO has launched Friends of the WCO, a new program that makes it possible for the WCO to employ some of the best musicians in the nation.

While donations and the Payroll Protection Plan has allowed the WCO to pay its musicians despite having to cancel performances, it’s the community support that keeps the organization going.

As a member of Friends of the WCO, you receive discounted concert tickets, invitations to member-only parties, gifts and other perks. To donate, visit the Friends of the WCO page online.

About the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra

Founded in 1960, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) is one of the elite chamber ensembles in the United States and is dedicated to advancing Wisconsin communities through the transformative power of music. Under the direction of Maestro Andrew Sewell, the WCO leverages the unique characteristics of chamber music to bring a wide variety of repertoire to audiences in settings that range from the formality of the concert hall to the intimacy of smaller community venues and the open accessibility of parks and other public spaces. Through collaborations with regional performing arts groups and touring performances, the WCO extends its artistic programming to broader audiences and communities across Dane, Columbia, Jefferson, Waukesha, and Sauk counties.

The WCO is nationally known for its summer series Concerts on the Square®, drawing 250,000 patrons annually to downtown Madison. Via its annual education programs, including the bi-annual Side-by-Side concert with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, WCO provides artistic development opportunities for young musicians.

To learn more about the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra visit wcoconcerts.org.

Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation Spring Grants

In early April Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation joined with other philanthropic businesses and announced a gift of $100,000 to United Way’s Dane County Covid-19 Emergency and Recovery Fund. That gift pushed them over the $1 M mark, providing food, shelter, security, counseling, and safety during the pandemic outbreak. Now it is making additional grants of $88,750 to 11 other non-profits which provide essential area services.  Among the May 2020, grant requests awarded are:

Big Brothers Big Sisters, $5,000 – food, meals and family services

Centro Hispano, $15,000 – special needs for low-resource families

DAIS, $10,000 – extra security and counseling services

Down Syndrome, $5,000 – classes for special distance learning

Goodman Center, $10,000 – diverse emergency services

Independent Living, $5,000 – Meals on Wheel and food for elderly

Madison Reading Project, $5,000 – distribution of books for kids

Madison Children’s Museum, $10,000 – Discovery Kits for in-home learning

Newbridge Senior Center, $8,750 – special needs during senior isolation

Second Harvest Food Bank, $5,000 – increase in free meals and deliveries

St. Vincent de Paul, $10,000 – meat purchases for a month

The Endres Foundation is also giving it’s annual sponsorship of $1,000 for a “Big” to BBBS, $15,000 in its partnership with Dane Arts, and a pledge payment to the new Madison Youth Arts Center which is set to open in spring of 2021.  Construction is going well, and the Children’s Theater and Madison Youth Choirs are eager to gather in their new space.. as well as many other youth-arts education entities.

A sincere “THANK YOU” goes out from the Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation for the diligent work done by area non-profits to make our world a better place, especially during this challenging pandemic period. We want you to know that we are sincerely grateful for your mission, your passion, and your diligence to improve the quality of life for so many people. If you know of any non-profit organizations that would benefit from our help, please let us know and pass this on to those non-profits. Grant applications can be found at www.endresmfg.com by following the foundation link. Anyone can contribute to the foundation and 100% of the funds are given back to the community.  The contact for making donations is also on the website.