NONPROFIT

THRIVEON GIVING $5 MILLION TO CHILDCARE CENTERS, NAMES EARLY EDUCATION PROVIDER FOR KING DRIVE FACILITY

The ThriveOn Collaboration has selected Malaika Early Learning Center to operate the new early childhood education center opening in the ThriveOn King building in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville district.

The collaboration, which includes the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the Medical College of Wisconsin and Royal Capital, also plans to give $5 million over five years to existing early childhood care and education providers in the Harambee, Halyard Park and Brewers Hill neighborhoods. The gift will be used for facilities improvements and community building.

The $105 million ThriveOn King project will redevelop the former Gimbel & Schuster’s building, at 2153 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, into a center focused on addressing social determinants of health, including lack of access to affordable early childhood education. Malaika Early Learning Center will occupy nearly 14,000 square feet on the first floor of the building. It will be a second location for the five-star-rated organization, which operates a facility in the city’s Harambee neighborhood.

Once complete, ThriveOn King will include community gathering space, 89 residential units for seniors and families and 100,000 square feet of office space. It will serve as ThriveOn Collaboration’s physical home and GMF’s new headquarters. — Maredithe Meyer, staff writer

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The Lupus Foundation of America Wisconsin Chapter will host its Walk to End Lupus Now on Saturday, May 14, at Hoyt Park, 1800 N. Swan Boulevard, in Wauwatosa. The event raises awareness and funds for lupus research, education and support. More information is available at lupuswi.org. The United Performing Arts Fund will host its annual Ride for the Arts on Sunday, June 5, featuring a new “Hoan Loop Course” that is completely closed to vehicular traffic for the entire event. The course will include a 12-mile loop, utilizing I-794 from downtown Milwaukee to Cudahy and back. From 7 - 10 a.m., people on bikes can ride the route and travel over the Hoan Bridge multiple times selecting distances between 5 to 60 miles. More information is available at upaf.org. YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin will host its Circle of Women event on Wednesday, June 8, from 5-8 p.m. at Alverno College in Milwaukee. The event is focused on the philanthropic power of women and their advocates. More information is available at ywcasew.org.

DONATION ROUNDUP

Marquette University’s student-alumni mentorship program, Marquette Mentors, received $1.5 million from Bill Krueger, a 1987 MU College of Engineering graduate and president of the university’s Alumni Association, to endow a directorship in perpetuity. | The Milwaukee Bucks and the NBA made a $25,000 donation to Safe & Sound Inc. to help redevelop an old church in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood into its new office and community center. | College Possible’s annual Dream Big Dinner raised $225,000 for Milwaukee higher education support programs. | Pick ‘n Save and the Bucks have teamed up to donate $50,000 worth of food to six Milwaukee-area nonprofit organizations: MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary, the Benedict Center, Pathfinders, Meta House, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center and Maroon Calabash.

nonprofit SPOTLIGHT

ACTS HOUSING

2414 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee, 53205 (414) 933-2215 | actshousing.org Facebook: Facebook.com/actshousing | Twitter: @ACTSHousing

Year founded: 1995

Mission statement: Acts Housing provides access to housing stability and maximum family independence through homeownership. It’s a one-stop shop for homeownership, surrounding a family with a team of coaches that provides them with timely and individualized guidance throughout their homeownership journey. Primary focus of your nonprofit organization: There is tremendous strength in families, especially those who work hard and live on modest incomes. However, these families have traditionally been locked out of the home-buying market and, therefore, been denied the safety, affordability and stability a home can provide. Countless families are spending an unsustainable portion of their incomes on unsafe, unsanitary rental units. These rental situations can easily lead to eviction or constant relocation. Acts Housing partners with families faced with barriers to homeownership and helps them overcome these barriers and improve their lives through sustainable homeownership. As these families improve their homes and become leaders on their blocks, their neighborhoods improve. Number of employees at this location: 26

Key donors: Kohl’s Corp., Zilber Family Foundation, Advocate Aurora Health, U.S. Bank, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Executive leadership: Michael Gosman, president and chief executive officer; Dorothy York, chief operating officer; Kelly Andrew, chief development and marketing officer Board of directors: John Beagle, Pam Evason, Anthony Franda, Kristen Gagliano, Doug Howe, Anthony McHenry, Victoria Navarro, Marc Perry, Heather Ramirez, Joe Schlidt, Christopher Schreiber, Allison Steinhafel, John Syburg, Oscar Tovar, Joshua Yamat, Michael Zimmerman Is your organization actively seeking board members for the upcoming term? We are always looking for board members. Ways the business community can help your nonprofit: Sponsorship, advocacy and referrals Key fundraising events: Longest Neighborhood Table - Sept. 14, in the Deer District, downtown Milwaukee.