WISN 12
Press Release

$88,280 Raised in ‘WISN12 Day of Giving’ Campagin to Support Autism United

 

By - Apr 17th, 2026 11:18 am
Photo courtesy of WISN 12.

Photo courtesy of WISN 12.

MILWAUKEE, WI (April 17, 2026) – Through the ‘WISN 12 Day of Giving’ initiative, $88,280 was raised in support of Autism United of Wisconsin. On Thursday, April 16, 2026, generous viewers and local organizations donated to empower the organization in improving the lives of people with autism and their family members. The timely campaign took place during Autism Acceptance Month, which is celebrated every April.

“The generosity of our viewers is unparalleled,” says Shawn Oswald, president and general manager of WISN 12. “Roughly 1 in 26 Wisconsin children are diagnosed with autism, so this charitable campaign will make a big impact on so many lives in our state.”

Earlier this week, WISN 12 devoted significant coverage on-air, online, and through a phone bank for the fundraising effort. As a result, community members across Southeastern Wisconsin donated money to support Autism United of Wisconsin in developing resources, providing training, hosting events, offering programs, and more. Those donations were bolstered by matching contributions from John and Bonnie Meerschaert, Nick and Kelly Backus, Riv and Alan Goldman, Unisource Insurance, Sysco, West Bend Insurance, and the Autism United of Wisconsin Board of Directors.

“Autism Acceptance Month is a call to action each April,” adds Oswald. “And Southeastern Wisconsin answered that call to help promote inclusion, understanding, and active participation involving people with autism.”

WISN 12’s support for Autism United of Wisconsin is the latest fundraising effort in the ‘WISN 12 Day of Giving’ campaign. The ongoing charitable initiative supports a different local non-profit each month. Through the campaign, WISN 12 is helping organizations in advancing their mission, pursuing their goals, and most importantly, improving people’s lives. Since the launch of the ‘WISN 12 Day of Giving,’ the station has raised $357,631 for non-profit organizations in Wisconsin.

CLICK HERE for article on wisn.com.

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.

Mentioned in This Press Release

People:

Recent Press Releases by WISN 12

Seasoned Meteorologist Jason Dunning to Join WISN 12 News on Weekday Mornings

Dunning brings more than a decade of severe weather experience to the weather watch 12 team

WISN 12 Hosts Rescheduled Wisconsin Supreme Court Debate

The first and only debate among candidates Lazar and Taylor is postponed due to Taylor's kidney stone diagnosis

Leave a Reply

You must be an Urban Milwaukee member to leave a comment. Membership, which includes a host of perks, including an ad-free website, tickets to marquee events like Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and the Florentine Opera, a better photo browser and access to members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, starts at $9/month. Learn more.

Join now and cancel anytime.

If you are an existing member, sign-in to leave a comment.

Have questions? Need to report an error? Contact Us