Winners named for 2021 BizTimes Nonprofit Excellence Awards

The winners of the 2021 BizTimes Milwaukee Nonprofit Excellence Awards were named today at the eighth annual program.

The program honors top area nonprofit organizations for their work in the community and private individuals and businesses that support area nonprofits.

The winners and finalists of the 2021 Nonprofit Excellence Awards are:

Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year:

• Winner: Latino Chamber of Commerce of Southeastern Wisconsin in collaboration with North Shore Bank, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp.
• Finalists: Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Health Department and Division of Milwaukee Housing; Milwaukee Area Technical College and College Possible Milwaukee; and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in collaboration with TRUE Skool and Hanson Dodge.

Nonprofit Executive of the Year:

• Winner: Eduardo Garza, Jr., president and CEO of The Center for Veterans Issues.
• Finalist: Mark Niehaus, executive director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Large:

• Winner: SaintA
• Finalists: Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and St. Augustine Preparatory Academy

Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Small:

• Winner: Silver Spring Neighborhood Center
• Finalists: HEAR Wisconsin and African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin.

Social Enterprise:

• Winner: Franciscan Peacemakers
• Finalists: i.c. stars and CannedWater4Kids

Corporate Citizen of the Year:

• Winner: Yabuki Family Foundation
• Finalists: Kohl’s and Milwaukee Bucks Foundation

 Corporate Volunteer of the Year:

• Winner: Joe Scala, sales representative for Metalcraft Automation Group
• Finalist: Mike Levey, partner/attorney with Quarles & Brady

In-Kind Donation of the Year:

• Winner: Great Lakes Roofing Corp.

Next Generation Leadership:

• Winner: Wes Warne, director of ticket sales and career advancement for the Milwaukee Bucks
• Finalists: Karthik Palaniappan, lead engineer for Milwaukee Tool; and Sorrina Beecher, owner of The White Agency & Write MKE Ink

Lifetime Achievement Award:

• Winners: Keith Mardak and Mary Vandenberg

The Nonprofit Excellence Awards program also featured two panel discussions about how nonprofit organizations and businesses are partnering to meet the region’s pressing workforce needs.

Panelists included Jeremy Joecks, director of partner services for GPS Education Partners; Jim Johnston, vice president of operations for Bradley Corp.; Amy Leahy, director of corporate work study at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee; Mark Farrell, executive director of talent deliver at Froedtert Health; Bill Caraher, chief information officer and director of operations for von Briesen & Roper s.c., and board chair of i.c. stars Milwaukee; Blanca Gonzales, executive director of i.c. stars Milwaukee; Eric Wynn, general manager of J.H. Findorff & Sons, and board vice president of Milwaukee Christian Center; and Karen Higgins, executive director of MCC.