30 Children’s Charities Win Big During Heart of Canal Street Finale

MILWAUKEE, WI (December 10, 2025) – Big smiles and big checks for local children’s charities. Thirty organizations heard their names called today as part of the 31st Heart of Canal Street finale celebration at Potawatomi Casino Hotel.

This year’s Heart of Canal Street campaign raised $722,380, meaning each charity selected during the event will receive $24,079 to support their vitally important children’s programming over the next year.

This year 26 of the organizations were selected randomly during the finale, four media outlets worked with a partner charity, and the remaining charity was selected by a Potawatomi team member through a “What Does Heart of Canal Street Mean to Me” essay contest.

Here are the 2026 winners (listed alphabetically):

• Advocates of Ozaukee
• All Hands Boatworks
• Arts at Large
• Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee – Presented by Clear Channel Outdoor
• Blue Lotus Center
• Centers for Independence – Presented by Milwaukee Media Group
• Chosen Inc. of Wisconsin
• Ex Fabula
• Family Promise of Waukesha County
• FRIENDS, Inc.
• Future Urban Leaders
• Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center
• Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center
• Healing Hearts of Southeast Wisconsin
• Hope House of Milwaukee
• I Have a Dream Foundation of Milwaukee
• Junior Achievement of Wisconsin – Presented by FOX 6
• La Causa, Inc.
• Latino Arts, Inc.
• Little Warrior Foundation – Potawatomi Casino Hotel Team Member Selection
• Milwaukee Baseball Club
• Milwaukee Diaper Mission – Presented by CBS 58
• Old World Wisconsin Foundation
• Outreach Community Health Centers
• Pets Helping People
• Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation
• REDgen
• Riveredge Nature Center
• Wisconsin Community Services

Heart of Canal Street is Potawatomi Casino Hotel’s signature charity giving program. In 1994 donations totaled about $100,000 split between a handful of charities. In the 30 years since nearly 400 local organizations have benefitted from a fundraising total now topping $23 million.

To learn more about Heart of Canal Street go to potawatomi.com.heart.

About Potawatomi Casino Hotel – Milwaukee:
Set in the heart of Milwaukee, Potawatomi Casino Hotel is the Midwest’s premier entertainment destination, offering guests the best in gaming, dining and entertainment. The property features a 6,500 sq. ft. retail-betting Sportsbook that includes a 2,000 sq. ft. LED screen, professional-quality broadcast booth, and both kiosks and ticket writers. Guests of the casino can also enjoy a 14-table Poker Room, 12-restaurants, including Rock & Brews (partnership with KISS rock legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons), and four bars. The Potawatomi Hotel is the second largest in Milwaukee with 19 floors, 500 rooms, exquisite corner suites that oversee the city’s skyline. The hotel also showcases top-floor Presidential and Chairman suites. To discover more about Potawatomi Casino Hotel, call 800-paysbig (800-729-7244) or visit www.potawatomi.com.

*If you or someone you know needs information on how to deal with a gambling problem, call the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling’s 24-hour helpline, 1-800-426-2535 or visit our website, potawatomi.comcom/business/responsible-gaming.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.