A civic foundation in Milwaukee earlier this month donated to dozens of community groups, including symphonies, children’s health clinics, and anti-hunger programs. The donations, which totaled $5.6 million, bring the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s total disbursement for 2009 to $15.8 million so far, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
The largest donation – $160,000 – went to the Social Development Commission of Milwaukee county as part of an effort to support free tax preparation for lower-income workers. La Casa de Esperanza, located in Waukesha, also received $100,000 for this purpose. The Journal-Sentinel says that these efforts have resulted in tax credits and refunds totaling $85 million for low-wage earners since 2002. Doug Jansson, the president of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation told the paper that "[f]or low income families, and the community, the earned income tax credit is hugely important. For a family of four, this can amount to 20 percent of their annual income."
Other notable grants included $100,000 for a new children’s dental clinic at the Next Door Foundation, a Milwaukee charity that works to provide opportunities for disadvantaged inner-city kids. The foundation also gave $50,000 to the Fondy Food Center to improve the availability of Women, infants and children’s vouchers for healthy farmer’s market food. Milwaukee’s ballet company and two symphonies each received $25,000 to help cover operating costs.
With disruptive behavior at area schools rapidly becoming a serious problem, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation gave $50,000 to the Foundation for Neighborhood Enterprise, which will use the money in an effort to reduce suspensions, and violent incidents at eight of Milwaukee’s most troubled schools.
