#FridayGiving: Pathfinders provides stability to young people in need

Weathering the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard for all of us, but imagine trying to weather it without a safe or reliable home. That’s the reality for thousands of young people in Milwaukee. 

For decades, Pathfinders has offered resources to Milwaukee’s youth to help them find stability. The organization aims to make sure young people’s basic needs are met by ensuring they have a safe place where they can sleep, shower, eat, do laundry, and be with trusted peers and adults. The We Energies Foundation is proud to support Pathfinders’ efforts.

In addition to helping with day-to-day needs, the organization also offers case management, employment resources, education and mental health services to individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or exploitation, youth aging out of foster care, youth of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and other vulnerable young people. In 2019, Pathfinders reached more than 5,000 young people.

To learn more about this organization and find out how you can help, visit their 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.

Don’t let a high energy bill haunt you this Halloween

This Halloween, don’t let your energy bill give you a fright. You don’t have to recreate Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory to get in the spirit. Follow these simple tips to scare up some fun while still managing your energy costs. 

Trick-or-treat! Lower your thermostat 7-10 degrees while you’re collecting candy and when it’s time for bed. Better yet, install a smart thermostat and let it do all the work.

Ward off energy vampires. Did you know that electronics like cellphone chargers consume power even when they’re not in use? Use a smart power strip or unplug electronics when you’re not using them to save $100-$200 a year.

Clear off the cobwebs. Change your furnace filter and schedule your yearly furnace tuneup to make sure everything is running safely and efficiently, and to save money in the long run.

Right-size your cauldron. Match your pot or pan size with a similar-sized burner. Your witches brew will use heat more efficiently and be ready sooner.

Got goosebumps? Is that chill in the air something spooky, or just a drafty window? Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal gaps and cracks around your home and keep warm air inside.

As always, if you have questions about your bill, give us a call at 800-242-9137. For more energy efficiency tips, visit our website. 

#FridayGiving: An elephant ton of excitement at the Milwaukee County Zoo

Head over to the Milwaukee County Zoo to check out resident African elephants, Brittany, Ruth and Belle, at the Adventure Africa Elephant Exhibit. The exhibit is thanks in part to a $750,000 gift to the Zoological Society of Milwaukee from the We Energies Foundation. 

The exhibit features a 1.6-acre outdoor habitat, a 20,000-square-foot Elephant Care Center, individual stalls for training and elephant health care, and various indoor and outdoor enrichment activities to keep the elephants happy and healthy.

Zoo visitors are able to view the elephant exhibit and the new multispecies hoofstock exhibit from the We Energies Foundation Elephant Overlook — a second-floor terrace on the southeast corner of the elephant care center. The We Energies Foundation African Forest Garden adds beauty between the two exhibit areas. 

“The We Energies Foundation focuses on creating a brighter future for the communities we serve, and the zoo is a wonderful example of an organization that makes a positive community impact,” said Beth Straka, vice president — We Energies Foundation and senior vice president — corporate communications and investor relations at WEC Energy Group.

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee, a nonprofit that helps fundraise and support the Milwaukee County Zoo, continues to fundraise for their Window to the Wild campaign to complete Adventure Africa. Many of the African animals (impalas, hippos, rhinos, zebras and bongos) will live near one another in new habitats that look and feel expansive and open. Learn more about Adventure Africa.

#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.

#FridayGiving: Literacy Services helps adults head back to school, improve their lives

When you hear the phrase “back to school” you usually picture little kids heading back into the classroom after summer break. But for Literacy Services of Wisconsin, “back to school” means helping adult learners break down barriers and explore new opportunities for themselves and their families.

We Energies is proud to support Literacy Services as they celebrate 55 years in our community. The organization provides motivated adults with access to quality basic education and skills training so they can improve their lives and strengthen our community. Last year, volunteers and staff helped more than 1,000 adult learners build literacy skills, improve their English and earn high school credentials.

To learn more about Literacy Services’ impact and how you can get involved, visit their 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. 

#FridayGiving: We Energies’ Public Service Building taking part in virtual Doors Open

Like many Milwaukee organizations, Historic Milwaukee had a tough choice to make this year: cancel their annual Doors Open event or find a way to adapt. As a proud sponsor of the event, we’re pleased to report they chose the latter — and starting Saturday, Sept. 26, we’ll be taking part in a virtual Doors Open 2020.

In years past, historic buildings have opened their doors to the public as part of a citywide celebration of Milwaukee’s architecture. This year, more than 60 buildings are part of the online festivities, running through Sunday, Oct. 11.

We’re excited to showcase some of the incredible, historic features of the Public Service Building (PSB), our 115-year-old headquarters. Visitors to the PSB webpage will learn that construction began on the building in 1902. It was designed as a central station for The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Co. (TMER&L), a predecessor of We Energies. 

You can still see many of the beautiful neoclassical details from the outside, as well as the replica green doors where rail cars used to enter and exit the building. We’ve posted plenty of pictures of the inside, too. 

To learn more and take part in this year’s virtual event, visit the Doors Open 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. 

#FridayGiving: Our support helps the Addiction Resource Council teach kids to say no

Parents know the transition from middle school to high school can be tough, but the Addiction Resource Council (ARC) in Waukesha County is working to make sure 7^th through 9^th graders have the skills they need to make good decisions. The We Energies Foundation is proud to support their mission through the Resist the Influence program.

As part of the program, trained professionals teach kids how to recognize negative outside influences and the impact those influences can have on their lives. The goal is to prevent the students from trying e-cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. The program teaches students to make decisions that reflect who they are, not who someone is pressuring them to be.

To learn more about the Addiction Resource Council, visit their 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.

Educators continue learning with help from the We Energies Foundation

Students are just getting back to school, but many teachers have been working hard throughout the year, continuing their education to prepare their students for success. That’s where the Milwaukee Teacher Education Center (MTEC) comes in. The not-for-profit was designed to recruit, support and retain teachers and school leaders in urban settings. 

Teachers gather for training in February 2020

The We Energies Foundation is a proud sponsor of the organization, as it provides teachers with continuous training to help the next generation succeed. Its goal is to increase learning and close achievement gaps through effective teaching.

The current health crisis has taken a toll on students and teachers alike. Although the center provides many different options for educators, MTEC is offering educators training and tools to support students impacted by trauma during the coronavirus pandemic.

To learn more about MTEC and its incredible mission, visit its 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.