#FridayGiving: Ronald McDonald House makes sure children have a place to stay

In the 36 years since it opened, the Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee has provided more than 45,000 families with a place to stay when children seek medical care at nearby hospitals. Its incredible mission continues despite the COVID-19 outbreak, and We Energies is proud to support the Ronald McDonald House as it navigates these difficult times.

The Ronald McDonald House offers young patients and their families a place to call home at little or no cost. The organization will never turn a family away because they are unable to pay, but it costs almost $130 to house a family for just one night. The average stay is one week.

Normally, a team of over 550 volunteers help a dedicated staff do whatever they can to make a family’s stay a little easier. But because of the pandemic, volunteer services have been suspended, and the full-time staff is taking turns working in the house or remotely each week.

Recently, the We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service foundations pledged $1 million to help communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ronald McDonald House is one of the many nonprofit organizations receiving some of that emergency funding.

If you’d like to help the Ronald McDonald House, please visit https://rmhc-easternwi.org/how-to-help/donate/.

#FridayGiving
Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our yearlong effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.

We Energies fills unique role in supporting raptor’s population recovery

This year’s peregrine falcon families aren’t the only feathered friends that will benefit from We Energies-provided nesting areas. Employees from We Energies joined representatives from the Harrison Athletic Association (HAA) to install an osprey nest platform near Menasha, Wisconsin, Feb. 24. American Transmission Co. (ATC) donated the platform, MJ Electric provided the used power pole (from an ATC project), and We Energies provided the labor and equipment to install the pole and platform.

We Energies crew digs the hole where the used light pole and nest platform will be located

We Energies employee Steve Nissen, approached HAA about partnering with We Energies to install a platform after the pair of ospreys that had been nesting at the Harrison Athletic Field lost their nest last year.

“There is a pair of ospreys that have been nesting on top of one of the softball diamond light poles for about six years,” explained Nissen, who has been an umpire for the HAA for the past 10 years. “Last summer, the high winds blew the nest down, and one of the chicks was lost. The ospreys tried rebuilding on that same light pole and another light pole with little success.”

The new platform is approximately 200 feet behind the softball field, providing a safer and less threatening environment for the birds, which would often protect their chicks by dive-bombing players on the field. The osprey pair was expected to return to the area separately between late March and early April, and Nissen spotted one osprey in the nest April 7. “Ninety-five percent of the time, ospreys will use a nesting platform that is provided,” he said. 

Since 1980, We Energies field crews have constructed and erected alternative nest structures for osprey breeding pairs in key habitat throughout Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, significantly contributing to the recovery of the osprey population. Today there are more than 550 nesting pairs in 58 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, up from fewer than 100 nesting pairs in the northernmost counties in the 1970s.

More information on WEC Energy Group’s osprey recovery efforts

#FridayGiving: We Energies supports Make-A-Wish Wisconsin during unprecedented times

Seven-year-old Shelby wished to meet a unicorn. Seven-year-old Isaac wished to see the northern lights. These are just two of the thousands of wishes that Make-A-Wish Wisconsin has granted to kids in our community battling critical illnesses.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis has forced the organization to postpone 100 wishes so far this year, with more to come. But Make-A-Wish Wisconsin is still hard at work granting the wishes they can, and We Energies is proud to support their efforts. 

This past Wednesday, April 29, was World Wish Day, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the very first wish being granted. Currently, there are more than 430 wishes in progress. Now, more than ever, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin needs help to deliver hope to kids in our community. To donate, please visit www.wisconsin.wish.org/give.

#FridayGiving
Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our yearlong effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.

#SquawktheVote: Vote to name our falcon chicks after your favorite things about Wisconsin

♫♩ Brandy old-fashioneds and scoops of fresh custard. Kringles, you betcha! And brats served with mustard. A nice hoppy brew and tailgating for teams … these are a few of our favorite things! ♫♩

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Julie Andrews. Now more than ever, it’s important to remember the things that make us happiest about our home state. That’s why we want you to name our peregrine falcon chicks after your favorite things about Wisconsin.

Starting today and running through Sunday, May 17, you can vote on your favorite names. The top vote-getters will be used to name the falcon chicks born this spring at We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) power plants across the state.

Choose from:

·        Cheesy in honor of dairy farmers

·        Hoppy in honor of our many breweries

·        Gemütlichkeit in honor of Wisconsin’s welcoming spirit

·        Kringle in honor of our favorite pastry

·        Scoop in honor of delicious custard

·        YouBetcha in honor of our unique expressions

·        Cream Puff in honor of a State Fair tradition

·        Blaze in honor of blaze orange and pink worn by hunters

·        Tundra in honor of the longest season

·        Brandy in honor of the state cocktail

·        Bubbler in honor of our clean, fresh water

·        Polka in honor of the state dance

·        Brat in honor of our favorite sausages

·        Tailgate in honor of one of our favorite pastimes

·        Forward in honor of the state motto

Peregrine falcon program

We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) are honored to be a part of a statewide effort to restore the peregrine falcon population. The Department of Natural Resources added peregrine falcons to Wisconsin’s endangered species list in the 1970s.

Since our first successful nest box in the mid-90s, 402 peregrine falcons have hatched at our facilities. The falcons are drawn to tall structures along Lake Michigan or major rivers, which make many of the We Energies and WPS facilities ideal nesting sites.

This program is another way We Energies and WPS demonstrate environmental stewardship. From helping endangered animals and restoring natural habitats, to building new solar facilities and reducing carbon emissions, we are committed to a cleaner future.

#FridayGiving: We Energies supports The Women’s Center during a critical time of need

While social isolation is a necessary step to control COVID-19, experts are concerned it may cause a spike in cases of domestic violence. That’s where The Women’s Center comes in. Located in Waukesha County, the organization provides survivors a safe home every day, including during this critical time of need. The We Energies Foundation is proud to support its efforts.

The Women’s Center serves women, children and men impacted by domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual violence and trafficking. It is the only agency of its kind in Waukesha County, and its confidential services are provided free of charge to thousands of survivors each year. The center’s goal is to heal and empower adults and children as they work toward a future free from violence.

Even now, The Women’s Center emergency shelter and 24-Hour Hotline are available, and it continues to provide tele-advocacy to survivors. If you are able to help, you can donate directly on the center’s website.


#FridayGiving

Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our yearlong effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.

The foundations of We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service commit $1 million to COVID-19 relief effort

We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) — part of the WEC Energy Group family of companies — announced on April 14, that they are contributing $1 million through their charitable foundations to help communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundations will provide grants to nonprofit organizations supporting front-line efforts — primarily hospitals, first responders and food pantries.

“At a time like this, our commitment to the safety and welfare of our employees and the communities we serve has never been more critical,” said Kevin Fletcher, president and CEO — WEC Energy Group. “Our foundations have supported organizations serving our communities for decades. It is in that tradition that we are driven to support these vital services as they face unprecedented challenges.”

To increase the impact of the relief effort, the foundations are earmarking $300,000 of the $1 million to match, dollar for dollar, the personal donations made by employees to organizations fighting the effects of the pandemic.

The foundations have already taken actions to address the urgent needs of this crisis through donations to numerous groups including the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Brown County United Way and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.

Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for COVID-19 grants should follow the normal grant process outlined on the We Energies Foundation website and the WPS Foundation website.

About We Energies Foundation and WPS Foundation
Since they were established, the We Energies and WPS foundations have provided more than $200 million in contributions to programs that support nonprofit organizations that promote education, community development, arts and culture, and the environment in the communities served by We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Michigan Gas Utilities and Minnesota Energy Resources.

The We Energies Foundation and WPS Foundation are funded by stockholders of WEC Energy Group, not by the customers of its utility subsidiaries.

Learn more at we-energies.com and wisconsinpublicservice.com

#FridayGiving: Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is solving hunger during this time of need

Now, more than ever, people are relying on organizations like Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin to get the food they need for their families.

We Energies has been a proud supporter of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin for nearly 15 years. Through volunteering and financial support, we are working to help the food bank achieve its mission to solve hunger in eastern Wisconsin.

Warren Dugan, credit manager — We Energies, exemplifies the commitment of our company and employees. He has been volunteering at the Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Milwaukee food bank for five years and was honored as its Volunteer of the Year in 2019.

“Over my 18 years at We Energies, I have worked with customers that sometimes have to make very difficult choices with their money,” said Dugan in a blog post by the food bank. “Knowing that organizations such as Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin exist can make the difference in not having to make those difficult choices.”

Organizers with Feeding America say that they need funding, food and friends right now to continue to fulfill their mission. To volunteer or make a donation, please reach out to feedingamericawi.org.

#FridayGiving

Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our yearlong effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.