Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation

Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation
Name	Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation
Type	Nonprofit
Founded	2001
Location	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Focus	Community development, youth programs, health initiatives, education
Key people	Mark Attanasio, Russell Schanbacher

Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation is the philanthropic arm associated with the Milwaukee Brewers professional baseball franchise, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established to channel the club's charitable activity, the foundation supports youth development, health and wellness, education, and community revitalization across Wisconsin and surrounding regions. It partners with local institutions, civic organizations, and national nonprofits to deliver programming tied to the Brewers' public profile and venue operations at American Family Field.

History

The foundation was launched in 2001 during the ownership of the Milwaukee Brewers by a period that included figures such as Bud Selig and later principal owner Mark Attanasio. Early efforts aligned with community-response organizations including United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County and local school districts in Milwaukee Public Schools. Over time the foundation expanded grantmaking to include collaborations with statewide entities like Boys & Girls Clubs of America affiliates in Wisconsin and public-health partners such as the Milwaukee Health Department. Milestones included program rollouts concurrent with renovations at American Family Field and partnerships formed during civic responses to events that engaged organizations like Greater Milwaukee Committee and Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

Mission and Programs

The foundation's mission emphasizes youth opportunity, health, and education through targeted grants and direct programming with partners such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and regional healthcare systems including Aurora Health Care and Froedtert Hospital. Core programs have supported youth baseball and softball clinics, concussion-awareness efforts in coordination with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and literacy initiatives implemented with Milwaukee Public Library and the Milwaukee County Historical Society. Seasonal outreach often ties into league-wide campaigns led by Major League Baseball while leveraging local assets like American Family Field and fan engagement through events with the Milwaukee Brewers front office and alumni including past players whose names are associated with community efforts.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include contributions from the Milwaukee Brewers ownership, corporate sponsorships from regional businesses such as Johnson Controls and ManpowerGroup, fundraising drives that engage the fanbase during regular-season games, and in-kind support from stadium partners. The foundation has partnered with national nonprofits like Feeding America and Habitat for Humanity for disaster relief and housing initiatives, while collaborating with educational institutions such as the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and Marquette University for research, program evaluation, and internship pipelines. Public-private partnerships have involved municipal entities like the City of Milwaukee and county departments, enabling community investments in parks and recreation tied to athletics and youth programming.

Impact and Community Initiatives

Measured impact includes thousands of youth served through clinics and after-school programs run with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and neighborhood-based nonprofits including Latino Community Center and Urban League of Greater Milwaukee. Health initiatives have included vaccination clinics and nutrition education in partnership with Milwaukee Health Department and federally connected programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program providers. The foundation has supported facility upgrades at local fields and playgrounds collaborating with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and municipal parks departments, and launched workforce-development efforts linking young adults to employers like Rockwell Automation and Northwestern Mutual through mentorship and apprenticeship introductions.

Governance and Leadership

Governance is structured under a board drawn from the Milwaukee Brewers ownership group and civic leaders; notable figures have included owner Mark Attanasio and team executives. Operational leadership coordinates fundraising, grantmaking, and program management while liaising with Major League Baseball’s community relations infrastructure and external auditors. Strategic oversight has involved partnerships with regional philanthropic bodies such as the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and advisory relationships with academic partners at University of Wisconsin System campuses to ensure compliance with nonprofit standards and to measure program outcomes.

Notable Events and Campaigns

The foundation has mounted high-profile campaigns tied to Brewers game-day activations and season-long awareness efforts, including food drives aligned with Feeding America and health drives in partnership with Aurora Health Care and the Milwaukee Health Department. Special events have included celebrity softball games and benefit auctions supported by Brewers alumni and personalities from Major League Baseball, and coordinated relief efforts in response to regional crises involving collaborations with American Red Cross and Salvation Army. Community celebrations and annual fundraisers often feature partnerships with media outlets like TMJ4 and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to amplify impact.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Wisconsin Category:Milwaukee Brewers