UW-Green Bay philanthropy class announces $10,000 grant
Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Brown County to benefit
Green Bay, Wis.—University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Philanthropy class plans to announce today at 3:30 p.m. in the Mary Ann Cofrin Hall Wintergarden Atrium that a $10,000 grant will be given to the nonprofit organization Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Brown County. Half of the funding is provided by the Learning By Giving Foundation and the other half from an anonymous Brown County donor.
The Philanthropy class funding will be used to operate a fully accessible Food Truck Nutrition program in rural areas of the county in summer, 2023. Older adults residing in rural areas have much more limited access to food and are at high risk of isolation and poor nutrition. The ADRC is the major provider of the nutrition program in Brown County – serving over 600 meals per day to underserved older adults mostly in the Green Bay area. The purchase and renovation of the food truck itself was accomplished through a grant by the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. While the federal government provides the meals, the class’ $10,000 will provide for supplies, staffing, gas, and other needs to run the truck for the summer.
This year the class chose to award this grant after conducting community research in the Green Bay area. Students formed a giving circle and applied concepts of trust-based philanthropy, where the onus is on the students to investigate the mission and services of area nonprofit organizations before making their decision on where to award funding. Aside from their interest in the growing needs of older adults in the area, students also studied the concerns of homeless youth and LGBTQ+ youth. The two other finalist organizations included, respectively, House of Hope and the Gay-Straight Alliances of the Green Bay Area Public Schools.
“I am immensely proud that we decided to give to the ADRC, especially since older adults often don’t receive the attention they deserve. The ADRC’s food truck is an innovative way to reduce isolation and food insecurity,” said student Maria Aldana. “This grant will bring ADRC’s resources to rural and isolated populations. I am glad we will be able to provide “seed” money for this wonderful project and organization. Our class remains excited to see the impact our grant will have on our community!.”
The UW-Green Bay class, “Philanthropy: Civic Engagement Through Giving,” is in its 10th year and has donated over $100,000 to Green Bay area organizations since 2012. Most of this funding has come from the Learning by Giving Foundation based in Boston. The class offers a hands-on approach to help college students develop commitment to, and engagement in the community. Classmates agree on a cause, and then go through a process of vetting nonprofit organizations that address that cause and selecting a recipient. Through the experience they learn how to discuss varied opinions and develop consensus with people holding divergent points of view.
“Many of our students come into the class feeling as though philanthropy is for the rich. I aim to empower them to be strategic in how they invest their money, but also use their voices and their time to make a difference,” said UW-Green Bay Associate Professor Lora Warner who teaches the course, the only Learning by Giving course in Wisconsin. “Now they know how to create a simple giving circle among family or friends and how to significantly help a cause they care about.”
This will be a LIVE event on Facebook where students will discuss the project, the class, and what the experience has meant to them. The UWGBphilanthropy Facebook page and blog page feature essays by students about their experiences this semester and hosts an award presentation video. (Photo of the class is available to media upon request).
About Aging & Disability Resource Center
The mission of the ADRC is to empower and enrich the lives of older adults, adults with disabilities and their caregivers through information, education, prevention programs and benefit advocacy. It is an easily accessible, welcoming place where individuals can find current, unbiased and comprehensive information about services that help them live as independently as possible. For 50 years, the ADRC has been a source of nutrition in our community. In 2022, the ADRC served over 600 meals a day to homebound recipients as well as diners at its Community Café.
About UW-Green Bay
Established in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving more than 9,600 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students and 95,000 continuing education learners each year. We educate students from pre- college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. In 2021, UW-Green Bay was the fastest-growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
–37-23–
