Wilson Center Gala breaks attendance, fundraising records
The Big Event serves as the major channel through which the Wilson Center raises funds for educational programming and outreach that serves more than 8,000 students each year. Guests enjoyed a pre-show party featuring open top-shelf bar, hand-passed hors d’oeuvres and food stations from Lee John’s Catering, and voice auctions; an exclusive concert from Naturally 7, the opening group for Michael Bublé’s Crazy Love Tour; and a post-performance party featuring Milwaukee’s own Streetlife with Warren Wiegratz.
“On behalf of the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts’ Board of Directors, staff, and patrons, I would like to thank everyone that supported our premier fundraiser,” said Wilson Center President & CEO Jonathan Winkle. “To see our metro-Milwaukee community come together to support the Wilson Center’s education programs is immensely gratifying and inspiring. Of the more than 8,000 children served by the Center last year, 2,000 experienced our multi-disciplinary arts integration program at no cost due to the generous support from our donors. With the record-breaking ‘raise the paddle’ funds at our 2015 Big Event, we hope to increase access and enhance our educational programs for our regional community.”
As part of this celebrated fundraising event, Greater Milwaukee community leader and philanthropist Jodi Peck was honored with the eleventh annual EDDY Award, which is presented annually by the Wilson Center’s Bridge Committee to an arts organization, corporation, or individual(s) whose commitment to regional collaboration has created a higher standard of excellence in arts and education. In addition, Wisconsin’s oldest fully professional performing arts organization Florentine Opera Company received the inaugural Educational Excellence Award, which recognizes organizational achievement of a nonprofit that exemplifies collaboration in the arts.
Danielle and Craig Husar and Agnes and Geoff O’Connor (pictured above) served as the 2015 Big Event Co-Chairs. Sponsors included Beer Capitol (Pre-Show Sponsor); Cynthia and Jeff Harris and Kate and Don Wilson (Box Seat Sponsors); Lyle Husar Designs, WE Energies, Badger Meter, American Transmission Company, Mark and Julie Steinhafel, Red Star Yeast Company, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee/Peck School of the Arts, Murph and John Burke, Land Rover Waukesha, HUSCO International, Deb and Wayne Larsen, ProHealth Care, The Peck Foundation, and Boelter SuperStore (Event Sponsors); Gonzalez Saggio Harlan, VJS Construction, Kim and Jack Nelson, Enterforce, Martha and Mike Klinker, Carrie and Paul Matteson, Johnson Controls, Karen and Dean Potratz, Mary Ann and Charles LaBahn, Katie Heil, WISN TV, Robert W. Baird, Moore Oil, Johnson Bank, Milwaukee Brewers, The Marcus Corporation, and Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. (Preferred Ticket Sponsors).
“We have attracted more attendees and higher levels of donations year-over-year at the Big Event. I think this reflects the growing awareness that the arts are critical to the education of our children. And, the event itself is great fun,” said Winkle. “We look forward to next year, as we continue to expand our capacity to serve the regional community.”
The 2016 Big Event will take place Saturday, June 4, 2016. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Amber Nelson at anelson@wilson-center.com or 262-373-5033.
About the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts
The Wilson Center is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary cultural arts center that offers performances by regional and touring groups, arts education, and an art gallery with changing exhibits. The Center nurtures lifelong learning through innovative programs and classes for all interests, ages, and abilities in state-of-the-art studios and classrooms. Some of Southeast Wisconsin’s finest arts organizations offer professional instruction at the Wilson Center, including First Stage Theater Academy and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Wisconsin fine artists are showcased at the Hidden River Art Festival in September and in the Ploch Art Gallery with numerous exhibitions each year. The Wilson Center is just minutes west of Milwaukee, located in Brookfield’s Mitchell Park off of Capitol Drive, just west of Brookfield Road. For information about the Wilson Center, call (262) 781-9470 or visit www.wilson-center.com.
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