Nonprofit changes its name
VSA Arts of Wisconsin, a nonprofit dedicated to using dance, drama, creative writing, music, and visual art to celebrate the creative power and artistic accomplishments of children and adults with disabilities, changed its name to VSA Wisconsin.
The name change became official on June 1, and was part of a sweeping change initiated by the organization’s national office.
Formed in 1974, 18 years before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, VSA was originally known as National Committee – Arts for the Handicapped. The organization was and continues to be a pioneer in the field of arts and disability.
VSA has played a significant role over the years in changing society’s attitudes toward people with disabilities. With that change, the organization has regularly looked at its own identity to ensure it is consistent with current attitudes and language used by the disability community.
Breakfast at Wimbledon
Elite Sports Clubs will host its Breakfast at Wimbledon fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Southeastern Wisconsin chapter, on Saturday, June 26, at Mequon Elite Sports Club, 11616 N. Port Washington Road beginning at 10 a.m.
“Hosting a Breakfast at Wimbledon event is a wonderful way for us at Elite to not only raise funds for the local JDRF chapter, but also to showcase one of tennis’ top events to the community,” said Kay Yuspeh, owner of Elite Sports Clubs. “We invite everyone to bring their families for breakfast, watch the match, and enjoy our newly expanded club,”
Guests will enjoy a traditional English-style breakfast while seated at center court on the club’s tennis court. Wimbledon will be show live on a large outdoor screen.
The menu for the event will be catered by the Marcus Corporation and include an entrée of strawberries and cream, crumpets, bangers (British sausage), French Toast, eggs, potatoes, tea, champagne and more.
Following breakfast, all attendees can enjoy the Mequon Elite Sports Club for the remainder of the day, including the recently completed indoor and outdoor salt-water pools, exercise equipment and family gym.
Cost to attend is $35 for adults and $10 for children and under, guests are encouraged to wear their tennis whites and tickets can be purchased by calling 262-241-4250.
An evening with the arts in Milwuakee
MKE Live in partnership with the Southeastern Wisconsin Arts Guild will host An Evening with the Arts at Discovery World Pier Wisconsin’s Pilot house, 500 N. Harbor Drive, on Monday, June 14 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The evening will feature members of the Milwaukee Arts and Entertainment community engaging business leaders on topics like The Art of Improv, Some Refelctions on a Life in Theatre, Guerilla Music-Making and Neighborhood Arts Advocacy and much more. “It is the first in a series of events designed to integrate the Arts and Business communities together to form a mutually-beneficial cultural alliance,” said Dan Laske, President of the Southeastern WI Arts Guild.
Cost to attend is $20 at the door or $15 if you pre-register at www.mkelive.com/calender.
Salvation Army partners with Feed the Children
The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County recently partnered with Feed The Children to distribute boxes of non-perishable food items, toiletries and Avon products to 3200 Milwaukee families.
“It is local and national partnerships that help The Salvation Army continue doing the most good,” said Major Jesse G. Collins, Salvation Army Milwaukee County Commander. The distribution was the latest stop on Feed The Children’s “Americans Feeding Americans” Caravan, which has helped more than 75,000 families across the country in cities that are most affected by the nation’s economic downturn.
Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Woodland Courts Apartments, the 4th District Police Station, Alderman Robert Puente and more than 100 volunteers helped provide the needed household items to one of Milwaukee’s most impoverished neighborhoods, said Collins.
Tasting Tuesday at the Ale House
The Center for Communication, Hearing & Deafness will host Tasting Tuesday at the Milwaukee Ale House, 233 N. Water St., on Tuesday, June 15 from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the annual event support critical programs and services for children and adults throughout Wisconsin who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Attendees will have the opportunity to sample hand-crafted beers and wines from around the world, while enjoying food from the Milwaukee Ale House and music from Dan Dance. A live and silent auction will also be held.
Cost to attend is $40 per person or a $350 for a ten pack. Purchase tickets online at www.cchdwi.org or by calling 414-604-2200. An online silent auction will also take place as part of the event at www.biddingforgood.com/cchd from Tuesday, June 1 until Tuesday, June 14.
YWCA to host breakfast series
The YWCA of Greater Milwaukee will kick off its Professional Women’s Breakfast series on Wednesday, June 16 at Mount Mary College, north dining room, 2900 N. Menomonee River Parkway, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The first session, Experience Speaks will feature panelists Shelia Cochran, chief operating officer, secretary/treasurer of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Patricia Pearman, director of disparity programs & U.S. partnerships, General Electric Company and Ursula Twombly, president of Continuum Architects + Planners. Cost to attend is $25; tickets can be purchased at www.ywcammilw.org Future series dates are scheduled for Aug. 18, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20.
Riding for the arts
United Performing Arts Fund’s 30th Annual Ride for the Arts will be held on Sunday, June 6, 2010.
The fundraising event supports the 2010 $9.3 million goal of UPAF’s spring campaign, but is also the nations largest one day recreational bike ride.
The Ride features five routes including 75, 65, 25, 12 or five-mile options to meet the needs of riders of all ages and abilities. The new 12-mile route debuts this year which will head west along the Menomonee Valley Parkway to Miller Park and features the Harley-Davidson Museum as a rest stop. After the Ride, participants and all UPAF donors can enjoy the Finish Line Party at the Potawatomi Stage on the Summerfest grounds with performances by UPAF Member Groups. It is a great photo opportunity to catch the Milwaukee community cycling the area streets and celebrating the local performing arts groups.
Since the inception of the event, the ride has raised more than $6.7 million to help support Milwaukee’s performing arts groups.
