2022 Simply Giving Recap
At Great Midwest Bank, we developed Simply Giving to actively do more good for our local community. We put Simply Giving into practice by volunteering, educating, and donating throughout the year. Here’s what we did in 2022!
Revitalize Milwaukee’s Block Build
Our team got together in August to help fix up local houses with Block Build Milwaukee. Great Midwest Bank was a sponsor of the event, and we also got right into the action as volunteers! It was a lot of hard work and camaraderie, and it felt amazing to give back to our neighbors.
The team was led by VP/loan officer Mark Scaduto and Brenda Brown, one of our talented CRA loan officers. Brenda has also served on Block Build’s Board of Directors. She shares her thoughts about the initiative this year:
“I knew there were seniors, low-income families, and veterans in the Lindsey Heights Neighborhood in need of free home repairs. So last year I personally asked the Block Build CEO if she would help me bring Block Build 2022 into the Lindsey Heights neighborhood. I also have worked closely with families in that neighborhood. Last year, Great Midwest Bank, with myself as the lead loan officer & Emem-Group, built 3 newly-constructed homes in the Lindsey Heights area and Josey Heights Subdivision.”
Brenda Brown
We can’t wait to get our hands dirty again in 2023.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
The Great Midwest Bank team had a wonderful time volunteering with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in November.
We sorted 4,025 pounds of food, providing an estimated 3,354 meals! This opportunity was so popular that we had too many volunteers, which was a great problem to have. We’ll just have to volunteer more there this year!
Garding Against Cancer
We were excited to continue our sponsorship of Garding Against Cancer in 2022 — not to mention cheering for the Wisconsin Men’s Basketball Team every time they scored a point!
Coach Greg Gard and his wife Michelle started Garding Against Cancer to raise funds for cancer research and care in Wisconsin. Last Spring we donated $4,616 to the cause. We look forward to the 2022-2023 season of basketball and giving. Go Badgers!
Casual for a Cause
If you’ve seen us wearing blue jeans on Fridays, it’s for a reason! In our Casual for a Cause initiative, every month our staff members donate to a specific charity or local organization. In turn, we dress more casually as we head into the weekend. Donations go to a different cause each month so that we can help out lots of different local organizations.
In 2022 we proudly supported:
- Make-a-Wish Wisconsin
- YMCA of Dane County
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Inner Beauty Center
- Camp Hometown Heroes
- Best Buddies in Wisconsin
- Emma Loves Dogs
- Habitat for Humanity
- Shop with a Cop
- Franciscan Peacemakers
- Feeding America
- Rawhide Youth Services
Stay tuned for our 2023 Casual for a Cause selections!
We’re Ready for Several Seasons of Simply Giving in 2023!
2023 is just beginning, and we’re enthusiastic about finding more ways to volunteer, donate, and educate in our Wisconsin community through Simply Giving. Keep an eye out for updates on Facebook and our blog.