Impact Stories

Challenge The Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps (Great Lakes CCC) provides job training and education for disadvantaged individuals in southeastern Wisconsin, with programs that address both social and physical challenges in the region. Financing to acquire a clean energy training vehicle enables Great Lakes CCC to provide a multitude of industry-focused training programs, including the […]

Challenge Pantheon Industries is a leader in employment opportunities for a wide range of qualified individuals with disabilities. For nearly twenty years, they have been matching individuals with positions that will allow them to develop skills to benefit both themselves and the community. Pantheon’s approach is effective, and they have grown to have offices in

Challenge The Northside Planning Council undertakes an innovative approach to community and economic development with the construction of a new facility that provides multiple kitchen spaces, a produce processing area and a training kitchen. The FEED Kitchens allow area entrepreneurs to avoid the overwhelming start-up costs (renting and renovating a facility and outfitting it with

Diane Beckley Chief Operating Officer, Bucyrus Campus St. Ann Center specializes in adult and child day services in a safe, home-like intergenerational setting, where compassion, care, and dignity are key. We do this by bringing all ages together—from 6 weeks old to 100+. Youngsters learn to respect and socialize with all types of people. And

George Hinton CEO, Social Development Commission For more than 50 years, the Social Development Commission (SDC) has served as a planner, coordinator, and provider of human service programs for low-income individuals and families in Milwaukee County. Our Mission: Empowering Milwaukee County residents with the resources to move beyond poverty. With assistance from Forward Community Investments,

Jill W. Pfeiffer Development Director at Operation Fresh Start Operation Fresh Start (OFS) provides Dane County youth a path to self-sufficiency through education and job training. In Dane County there are over 4,000 disconnected youth, ages 16 – 24. The vast majority of them have not completed high school and many lack the connections and

A small loan enables an agency to provide real-world job skills training to people with disabilities while producing healthy food for the surrounding community. Challenge Opportunity Center in Prairie du Chien, WI is a 50-year-old nonprofit that provides real-work employment opportunities, skill development training and socialization/communication activities to clients with disabilities. The produce and tilapia

Challenge Jo’s is located in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Milwaukee, an area with a 26% poverty rate and an unemployment rate of nearly 10%. Of the 300 children served by Jo’s Early Learning Academy prior to this expansion, nearly all receive assistance through the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. There is a severe

Challenge Launched in 2007, Achieve Center, Inc. (ACI), provides mental health and learning services for children, adults, and families impacted by learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, memory problems, concussion/brain injury, and various other cognitive, developmental, and physical challenges. A large share of ACI’s clients are low-income, with 60% of them eligible for Medicaid. ACI’s

Challenge Community First, Inc. (CFI) offers vital services to distressed inner-city Milwaukee neighborhoods by managing rehabilitation projects to ensure that families are provided professional, insured, licensed and timely contractor services. In terms of social impact, you would be hard-pressed to find an organization that delivers such life-altering services for clients, and for no out of