As the holiday season nears, gift giving starts to be top of mind for many. Keeping an eye out for great deals on Black Friday, supporting small businesses on Small Business Saturday and stopping by local markets like the Wauwatosa Holiday Market for one-of a kind gifts are likely shared holiday traditions that many return to again and again.
But the holidays are about so much more than material things and gifts. It’s also about generosity, pouring yourself out to others and offering your resources to other people, your community and the planet.
In the spirit of giving back, we’re highlighting 5 of our favorite Wisconsin-based non-profits for you to consider giving your time or a donation towards this year. Even a small amount of money or a few hours of your time can change everything for one and in turn impact hundreds.
We hope that this year your holiday season will play to the tune of giving back and paying it forward!
What is Giving Tuesday and How Did it Begin?
Giving Tuesday is a movement sparked by Henry Timms, the executive director of the 92nd Street YMCA and now the president and CEO at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The idea was to provide a counterpoint to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and dedicate a day to doing good for others. It’s an idea that took hold and has spread to more than 75 countries.
Below are our 5 favorite Wisconsin-based non-profits for you to consider giving towards this holiday season. For fun we matched each one with a gift-giving persona. Let us know how you think we did on the matching at the end of this blog post.
Drumroll please……
HEAR Wisconsin – For Those Always Lending An Ear
For almost 100 years, HEAR Wisconsin has been providing comprehensive and critical services to those with hearing loss across the state of Wisconsin. This non-profit is on a mission to “…help infants, children, and adults by eliminating communication and language barriers through personalized services, technology, and education.” HEAR Wisconsin provides comprehensive services to improve the quality of life for those impacted by hearing loss. One of their programs we personally love – and currently are a part of – is the Kellogg Child & Family program which delivers intervention services to children identified with hearing loss, many at birth. The program is designed to help the child with hearing loss learn to communicate effectively so that they can fully participate in the world around them. Trained audiologists not only work with the child but also help equip parents with tools and knowledge to cultivate their baby’s auditory, communicative, and social development. When a baby is diagnosed as Deaf or with hearing loss it oftentimes comes as a surprise leaving parents to feel overwhelmed and stressed (trust us, we’ve been there!)
Having the support of HEAR Wisconsin early on in a child’s hearing loss journey is truly transformative for an entire family. A donation to HEAR Wisconsin will go a long way to help families and their littles impacted by hearing loss. They even have a curated Amazon Wish List! The toys on this list will be given to newly enrolled families and clients to be used as learning language tools.
Light the Hoan – For the Cool Kids
The Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge is an iconic bridge and a treasured Milwaukee landmark. Since 2020, this yellow bridge that spans Lake Michigan, has been made more beloved by Light the Hoan. A 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, Light the Hoan, is on a mission to “unite the community and inspire future innovators through our programs.” From supporting local interns to shining a light on important community non-profits and nationwide causes, we believe Light the Hoan helps make Milwaukee’s skyline more beautiful while also investing in the development and enrichment of our city.
There are countless ways to contribute to Light the Hoan. Our personal favorite way to donate to this non-profit is through their bulb dedication initiative. We dedicated a bulb to my Mom in 2021. Each time we look at the Hoan Bridge we feel extra warm and fuzzy inside. My Mom passed a few weeks after we dedicated a bulb to her on the Hoan bridge so now the dedication has taken on even greater significance in our lives for it serves as physical reminder that my Mom is here with us shining her light and warmth over us from the Hoan. Click here to dedicate a bulb or learn more about the donation tiers. Each donation – regardless of amount – includes a certificate of dedication like this:
Ice Age Trail Alliance – For the Outdoor Explorers
If you know anything about us, you likely know we are huge supporters of the Ice Age Trail National Scenic Trail – the 1,200-mile-long footpath that spans the state of Wisconsin. We’re on a mission to hike the entire trail and even rolled up our sleeves and planted some trees while participating in an Ice Age Trail Alliance reforestation volunteer project (at Brownrigg-Heier in 2021). The Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA), a non-profit organization, leads efforts to conserve, create, maintain and promote the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. A donation to the Ice Age Trail Alliance helps maintain this trail for generations to come by:
- Impacting the maintenance and expansion of the trail
- Helping permanently protect land and habitat restoration activities;
- Promoting outdoor education and community engagement programs.
You can make a one-time donation or a recurring, monthly donation through a membership subscription. For as little as $5 per month you can become an official IATA member! We have been IATA members for years. With a membership you can unlock perks like discounts on merch plus a subscription to Mammoth Tales – a printed publication featuring news, stories and photos from the trail – that is sent directly to your home three times a year. Learn more about contributing to the Ice Age Trail Alliance.
Tricia’s Troops Cancer Connection– For the Compassionate Hearts
Tricia’s Troops is a non-profit that brings beauty, meaning and connection to the lives of people in southeast Wisconsin who have been impacted by cancer. A donation to Tricia’s Troops allows this small but mighty organization to keep being a source of comfort and support for cancer patients and survivors in need. Salon services, financial assistance to pay utility bills, Chemo Care and Radiation Relief Tote Bags are just some of the programs provided by Tricia’s Troops. You can give back to this organization in so many ways be it a one-time donation, attending their annual fundraiser event or by purchasing something on of their headquarters wish list.
United Way Greater Milwaukee Area – For the All-Around Do-Gooders
The United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County is on a mission to “change lives and improve our community by mobilizing people and resources to drive strategic impact in health, education, and financial stability.” It’s all about solving local problems with local solutions with emphasis on education, health, safe and stable homes, helping kids succeed and financial stability. There are many organizations in and around Milwaukee that benefit from United Way funding so by donating to United Way, you are directly contributing to countless organizations and programs that uplift local residents, families and communities in meaningful ways.
Learn more about how to get involved or donate to United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
Final Thoughts
We hope this post will inspire you to give back to a non-profit that is meaningful to you this holiday season. Be sure to share the causes that are important to you in the comments below & let’s end the year by making an impact!
– Justin + Alyssa
Disclaimer: Parks and Planes LLC has taken great care to ensure accuracy of this post as much as possible. However, over time, things like hours of operations, admission policies, even names of things may change. We suggest double-checking details when planning a trip. As always, all opinions, photos and content are our own. We only recommend places, products and experiences we love.
