The Milwaukee Bucks Foundation is distributing $250,000 worth of grants to 20 Wisconsin-based nonprofit organizations as part of its summer grant cycle.
Aligning to the Foundation’s five pillars of health and wellness, economic and individual empowerment, education, civic engagement and criminal justice and law reform, funding this cycle will be used to support mental health initiatives, voting and justice reform work. Specifically, these initiatives include funding for youth sports, pro bono civil legal aid, therapy for marginalized groups, youth empowerment programming and environmental change.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to provide grants to these 20 organizations, whose hard work and dedication to the community we want to amplify and support,” said Milwaukee Bucks Foundation Executive Director Arvind Gopalratnam. “We look forward to strengthening our relationship with these grantee recipients so that together, we can continue to make a positive impact on our community.”
The Bucks Foundation will celebrate the 20 grantee recipients during a reception and panel discussion at Fiserv Forum on Thursday, Aug. 11. The panel discussion will feature representatives from the ACLU Wisconsin, the Alma Center and previous grantee recipients. Media is welcome to attend Thursday’s event from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Gopalratnam and representatives from the grant recipients will be available for interviews. Media may enter through the atrium.
The 20 Wisconsin-based nonprofits receiving grants as part of the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation’s summer grant cycle are:
- 100 Black Men of Greater Milwaukee, an organization dedicated to creating motivational environments and overcoming cultural and financial obstacles for African-American youth, is receiving a grant to help fund their 100 Summer Academy.
- All Hands Boatworks creates an opportunity for young people to promote youth development, STEM understandings, character growth, and craftmanship through boat building. The Bucks Foundation is supporting general operating efforts for All Hands Boatworks to continue their work supporting Milwaukee youth in a unique way.
- Black Space, an organization that works to destigmatize mental health and provide free group therapeutic experiences for Black and Brown communities, is receiving funding to help execute their Group Therapeutic Experience sessions.
- Boys and Girls Club of Dane County is a youth development organization that works to empower the young people of Dane County. Support from the Bucks Foundation will go towards the Vel R. Phillips statue at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
- Groundwork aims to improve the environment through community-based partnerships by promoting environmental, economic, and social well-being. The Bucks Foundation is providing a grant to support their Greenspace Action program.
- Maroon Calabash is an organization that benefits Black birth-workers in Milwaukee County to practice liberatory Reproductive Justice. The Bucks Foundation will be providing funding to pilot the Little Elders Growers club.
- Ma’Ruf, a Muslim nonprofit that is dedicated to improving the quality of life and well-being of disenfranchised and marginalized communities in Milwaukee, is receiving funding for their Creative Author Jam, Reading-Writing Jam, and Creative Illustrator Jam programs.
- Mentor Greater Milwaukee is a program that establishes mentor and mentee relationships to improve connections and development for Milwaukee youth. The Bucks Foundation is providing a grant to assist in general operating.
- Milwaukee Public Libraries provide the community with resources to help people read, learn and connect. They will be receiving a grant for their Super Reading Summer Reading Squad and Teen Summer Challenge programs.
- MYSA, a program that provides high quality sports programs for the young people of Milwaukee, is receiving a grant for sports-based youth development programs.
- My Way Out is an organization that works with employers to provide jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals. The Bucks Foundation is providing funding for their Bridging the Tech Gap for Returning Citizens Program.
- PRISM offers access to resources to expand sustained economic growth and personal achievement. PRISM is receiving a grant for their Brigade MKE program.
- Purpose Driven Sisters impacts the lives of young women through sisterhood, faith and empowerment. They are receiving a grant for their It’s My Dad for Me program and Summer Summit.
- The Benedict Center works to help women in the criminal justice system so they can live safer and healthier lives. Support from the Bucks Foundation will go towards their pre-arrest diversion program.
- The Community, an organization that works to develop and showcase the full potential of those with a criminal record, is receiving funding for their Correcting the Narrative campaign.
- The Literacy Lab focuses on offering individualized reading instruction to children from low-income families to further their literacy and educational success. They will be receiving funding for the Leading Men Fellowship program.
- True Skool uses hip-hop culture as a positive and empowering force to provide opportunities to Milwaukee youth. True Skool is receiving funding for after school programming.
- Wisconsin Conservation Voices is an organization that unites people to improve public health, protect natural resources, and promote democracy in Wisconsin. The Bucks Foundation is supporting the Wisconsin Native Vote Initiative, which focuses on improving policies that impact Native communities’ access to the polls.
- Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund provides funding for pro bono civil legal aid to ensure equal access to legal support in Wisconsin. They are receiving a grant for general fund support.
- Wisconsin Voices, an organization that focuses on eliminating racial, ethnic, and other barriers to achieve democracy for all Wisconsin citizens, is receiving funding for their Youth Advocates for Change program.