Backed by support from Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, SHARP Literacy’s annual fundraiser on Monday brought in more than $300,000 for the Milwaukee-based nonprofit.
Cobb delivered the keynote at the organization’s “A Novel Event” at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, and announced he and his wife Aiyda were giving $20,000 to the cause.
Cobb stressed the importance of education in his address. Growing up, Cobb said, he did just enough to get by in school, viewing education as simply a vehicle for him to achieve his dream of becoming a professional athlete.
“I didn’t know then that education would have such an impact on my life, but I do now,” he said.
Cobb attended the University of Kentucky, where he played football for five semesters before being drafted by the Packers. He returned to his alma mater to complete his degree last summer and became the first member of his family to graduate from college.
Funds raised at the event will support SHARP Literacy’s educational programming, which serves nearly 9,000 elementary students in 38 schools in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Student enrollment in the program has grown 42 percent over the past four years.
Event co-chair Omar Shaikh, president and co-owner of SURG Restaurant Group, presented Jim Mueller, president of Mueller QAAS, with a Literacy Champion Award for his support of the organization. Co-chair Linda Gorens-Levey, partner at General Capital Group, presented Cecelia Gore, executive director of Brewers Community Foundation, with SHARP Literacy’s EDGE Award.
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- Omar Shaikh, president and co-owner of SURG Restaurant Group, co-chaired the event with Linda Gorens-Levey of General Capital Group.
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- Randall Cobb, wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, spoke about the importance of education at SHARP Literacy’s “A Novel Event” fundraiser.
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- Cecelia Gore of the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation and Susan Kim of WTMJ-TV.
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- Litza Jankowski and Russ Jankowski, both of SVA Certified Public Accountants.
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- Bruce Nyenhuis, Sue Nyenhuis and Sandy Claerbout, all of Dutchland Plastics.
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- Charlie Conley and Dan Casper, both of Associated Bank.
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- Kim Schaffer and Cheryl Sorgi, both of Park Bank.
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- Amy Moller, Elizabeth Browning, and Robin Hayes of Conveyor Solutions Inc.
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- Kim Guerrero of Wangard Properties Inc. and Tashiana Guerrero.
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- Nicole Thomsen of Downtown Kenosha Inc. and Tim Gokhman of New Land Enterprises.
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- Jenny Zuperku, Mary Lopez and Adele Lindstrom, all of P.E.O. Wisconsin State Chapter.
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- John Bodden of Annex Wealth Management and Steven Walden of Steven Walden Art.
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- Bill Johnson, Jim Henry, Oscar Johnson and Jimmie Johnson, all of Andrew Toyota and Mary Henry of SHARP Literacy.
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- John Goman of North Shore Bank, Sue Goman of Wells Fargo Advisors, Jeanne Forester of the Museum of Wisconsin Art and Jim Henry of Andrew Toyota.
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- Liz Smith-Lisota, Joe Zizzo and Michael Shank, all of Zizzo Group.
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- Kaitlin Henze, Jennifer Fadrowski, Paige Vazquez, Zoe Muehl and Danielle Mutchie, all of EmPower HR.
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- George Justice, Roger Jensen and Kent Eliason, all of Town Bank.
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- Kristen Glatzel and Katy Sommer, both of Ritz Holman LLP.
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- Ryan Luck of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Nahid Afsari of Cotter Consulting.
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- Silent auction items at “A Novel Event” fundraiser.
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- Jim Mueller of Mueller QAAS and Lynda Kohler, president and CEO of SHARP Literacy.
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- Linda Gorens-Levey of General Capital Group and Michael Levey of Quarles & Brady LLP.
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- Ellie Gettinger and Mitch Nelles, both of the Kelben Foundation, and Stacy Zaja of Rockwell Automation.
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- Rosmarie Colla, Laurie Mahoney and Mike Mahoney, all of Park Bank.
