Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
Press Release

Summerfest Fans Invited to Give Back – Donation Drive-Up Benefiting Hunger Task Force and Next Door

Public Encouraged to Donate and Receive Summerfest 2021 Ticket

By - Sep 30th, 2020 07:01 am

Image from Summerfest.

Milwaukee, WI (September 30, 2020) – Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance and its partners are giving back to the community with a Drive-Up Donation event, benefiting Hunger Task Force and Next Door, on Saturday, October 10, 2020 from 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. in front of the South Gate of Henry Maier Festival Park.

This promotion is being held in collaboration with longtime Summerfest admission promotion sponsors Johnson Controls and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. Summerfest stage sponsor, Klement’s, is also supporting the collection, and will distribute 5,000 Snack Sticks (while supplies last) during the event, in addition to a donation of 2,000 pounds of sausage to Hunger Task Force. Media partners FOX6 and iHeartRadio will help promote the event.

All patrons who donate the minimum cited below from the hours of 12:00 p.m. –3:00 p.m. will receive one (1) free ticket to Summerfest 2021 – June 24-26, July 1-3, and July 8-10.   The following donations are requested:

  • Three (3) cans of non-perishable, healthy food items, canned low-sodium vegetables, or fruit in 100% juice are appreciated, benefiting Hunger Task Force
  • New or gently used children’s books with a $10 value, benefiting Next Door

“Summerfest fans have a long history of providing critical donations to our community, and we want to ensure everyone has this opportunity in 2020. The need is even greater this year due to the pandemic, and we invite our fans to stop by and bring non-perishable canned food items, or a book donation, and help make a difference” said Don Smiley, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

To participate, fans will be directed to drive up to the South Gate and hand their donation from their vehicle to a volunteer, who will provide one (1) Summerfest 2021 ticket, and one (1) Klement’s Snack Stick, per person. Organizers ask that all participants follow the directional signage and to not leave their vehicle. Social distancing measures and safety precautions will be in place.

“Hunger Task Force is excited to work with our friends at Summerfest for the Summerfest Donation Drive-Up,” said Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of Hunger Task Force. “This event comes at a crucial time when Wisconsin’s COVID-19 cases are on the rise and many families in Milwaukee are still out of work or in need of food. Be generous, Milwaukee. We’ll see you out in our masks and gloves, ready to accept your donations and look forward to 2021!”

“Having a major donation drive like the Donation Drive-Up is critical to helping us keep our libraries stocked with new and gently-used books for Next Door students and children in the community,” Next Door President Dr. Tracey Sparrow said. “We give these books away throughout the year to help children build their home libraries and develop their literacy skills early on. With the pandemic, we’re in need of more books to maintain our distribution and put a smile on a child’s face with books to call their own!”

For more information on the Donation Drive-Up event, visit Summerfest.com

About Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance
Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance has evolved into what is now recognized as “The World’s Largest Music Festival” and Milwaukee’s cornerstone summer celebration.  Summerfest hosts the music industry’s biggest acts, emerging talent and local favorites along with approximately 750,000 fans, for an unforgettable live music experience. The festival got its start one year prior to Woodstock, in 1968, and today features over 1,000 performances on 12 stages, along with food, beverages, and activities, all in a world-class festival setting, on the shores of Lake Michigan. The 53rd edition of the festival will take place June 24-26, July 1-3, and July 8-10, 2021. For more details, visit Summerfest.com, or Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @Summerfest.

About Hunger Task Force
Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization provides healthy and nutritious food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force was founded in 1974 by a local advocacy group who then formed Milwaukee’s first food bank. Today, Hunger Task Force is 100% supported by the community and provides a safety net of emergency food with dignity to a network of 75 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Through legislative analysis, education and community organizing, Hunger Task Force continues to advocate for anti-hunger policy at the local, state and federal level. For more information, visit HungerTaskForce.org

About Next Door
Next Door supports the intellectual, physical and emotional development of children by partnering with their families for success in school and the community. Next Door serves more than 1,400 children, from birth to five years old, with two locations in Milwaukee’s central city and 11 early childhood education partnership sites in the community. Through home- and center-based programs, Next Door strives to create a long-term foundation for success by closing the achievement gap for children living in poverty. Next Door’s highly qualified team provides critical educational support during a child’s most important developmental years with a focus on academic achievement, building social-emotional skills, and helping children become better prepared for school. Visit Next Door online at nextdoormke.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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