Executive Letter: Champion Financial Literacy in Wisconsin at the Second Annual WBF Gala
By Rose Oswald Poels
As chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation, I am looking forward to the return of our Gala event for a second year. The event is coming up in just over a month on Thursday, September 12 from 5:30–9:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison. Last year’s inaugural gala was a fantastic event and a festive way to both celebrate and support the work being done by the Foundation.
The Foundation, which was established in 2015, is the non-profit arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association and is dedicated to promoting financial literacy and capability through education, scholarships, and research. Its programming includes the beloved Reading Raises Interest Kits distributed statewide in conjunction with National Teach Children to Save Day, higher ed scholarships for students attending Wisconsin institutions, Banconomics reports, and grants to other non-profit organizations aligning with its mission.
The gala is open to the public, and I encourage you to attend and invite clients, family, and friends.
The Wisconsin Historical Society is an ideal venue for this year’s Gala; it is both elegant and welcoming with impressive views of Library Mall and Memorial Union. Semi-formal attire is encouraged, but if you are coming straight from work there is no need to worry about your business attire.
If you are not sure what to expect, Blue Plate catering will be providing an enticing array of heavy appetizers, desserts, and beverages and Geoffrey Sandler with Celebrations Entertainment will again serve as DJ, auctioneer, and all-around party host. Last year it was fun to see Geoffrey put attendees in a celebratory mood while ramping up the energy (and generosity) in the room, particularly during the live auction.
Once again there will be an appealing variety of both silent and live auction items to bid on. You can feel good about giving generously because your winning bid helps to actualize a stronger financial future for Wisconsinites. I recently reflected in an Executive Letter that WBA is fortunate to have dedicated bankers who are working every day to carry out our long-standing industry commitment to financial literacy and capability. This Gala provides an ideal way to celebrate that commitment and reflect on the impact of the foundation and our industry.
In addition to ample opportunities to network and enjoy the food and beverages while taking in the ambience, attendees will hear firsthand about the positive effect of WBF grants and scholarships. Representatives from the four very deserving non-profit organizations receiving 2024 WBF Grants will be recognized at the event. Additionally, a former WBF Scholarship recipient will share about the impact of the scholarship program on his education and career path.
I invite you to take an active role in this event by sponsoring the Gala or donating items for the auction. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (FEIN 46-3791061), your sponsorship payments to WBF are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by IRS rules.
For sponsorship opportunities or to donate auction items, please contact Nick Loppnow at nloppnow@wisbank.com or Cassandra Krause at ckrause@wisbank.com.
I feel confident that if you attend this year’s Gala that you’ll look forward to the event every year!
Check out this short video to get a sense of how beautiful the venue is and an overview of the fun that attendees had at last year’s inaugural event.
