The Milwaukee Urban League’s 25th Anniversary Black & White Ball was a silver anniversary celebration to remember. Nearly 850 guests commemorated the milestone and helped raise $200,000 for the League, including $17,000 from a special appeal to purchase backpacks and school supplies to be distributed to needy children at the League’s 2010 health and back-to-school resource fair. The Ball was also the setting for special presentations by four area companies and foundations which provided another $173,000 in donations for a variety of League programs.
The Roundy’s Foundation donated $20,000 to the League’s literacy and education programs. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank Foundation donated $28,000 for workforce development and employment programs. The Wisconsin Energy Foundation presented $50,000 to be used for the League’s economic development programs. Finally, MillerCoors donated $75,000 to support workforce development and employment.
“I am humbled by these generous grants and donations, especially during these difficult economic times,” said Milwaukee Urban League President and CEO, Ralph Hollmon. “This demonstrates that our corporate leadership will respond when there are unmet needs in the community.”
Thirteen companies and community foundations served as major sponsors for the Ball this year: American Family Insurance, Brewers Community Foundation, Coca Cola Enterprises, Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation, Harley- Davidson Motor Company, M&I Community Development Corporation, MillerCoors, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Roundy’s Supermarkets, Time Warner Cable, UPS, We Energies and the Wisconsin Energy Foundation.
The triumphant trio of Lynn Sprangers, Jackie Herd- Barber and Cathy James returned for an 8th year as the Ball’s co-chairs. They created a wonderful celebration, complete with ‘The Spinners’ as the featured entertainment, activities from a welcome reception featuring Berkeley Fudge to a post-ball reception featuring D.J. Chris Levy, and special 25th anniversary desserts to reinforce this year’s silver anniversary theme.
