Capital Campaigns
Milwaukee Ballet gratefully acknowledges all donors who contributed to our Capital Campaigns for our new production of The Nutcracker and for the building of Baumgartner Center for Dance
New Nutcracker Campaign: 2022-2023
Plans for a new production of The Nutcracker began as an extension of the Capital Campaign to build the Baumgartner Center. The campaign was paused with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 but was relaunched as a new $5 million campaign in 2022.
With the support of many individuals and organizations through the various phases of the campaign, we:
- Engaged a team of world-class designers to create magical new costumes, sets, and props.
- Contributed to our “Give Back to MKE” fund to further community engagement initiatives related to The Nutcracker, such as sensory friendly performances and subsidized student matinees.
- Established a Legacy Fund to provide a stable and continuous source of investment income to preserve and sustain The Nutcracker and Milwaukee Ballet for generations to come..
Thank you to those who contributed to bringing the new Nutcracker to life on stage in December 2023!
Our Donors
PRODUCTION DESIGN SPONSORS ($500,000+)
- Robert Dohmen, Costume Sponsor
- Herzfeld Foundation, Lighting Sponsor
- David & Julia Uihlein, Scenic Design Sponsor
- Mary Vandenberg & Keith Mardak, Music Sponsor
- Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes & John W. Mellowes, Production Design Sponsor
LEGACY SPONSORS ($200,000 - $499,999)
- Donald & Donna Baumgartner
- Stanley Kritzik
- Susanna & Justin Mortara
‘GIVE BACK’ SPONSORS ($100,000 - $199,999)
- The Bradley Foundation
- Tony & Andrea Bryant
- Anne & Tom Metcalfe
- We Energies Foundation
- The Windhover Foundation
PRINCIPAL SPONSORS ($25,000 - $100,000)
- Anonymous (2)
- Clair & Mary Baum
- Lois & Richard Pauls, Drosselmeyer Sponsor
- Peck Foundation Milwaukee, Ltd., Puppets Sponsor
- Michael & Mary Burke Ryan, King Rat Sponsor
- Sue & Allan “Bud” Selig
- Jan Serr & John Shannon, Sugar Plum Sponsor
- von Briesen & Roper, s.c., Snow Queen Sponsor
SOLOIST SPONSORS ($10,000 - $24,999)
- Jennifer Abele, Featured
- Baird, Featured
- Jane Bell, Oasis Sponsor
- Charter Manufacturing Company, Lion Sponsor
- Sue & Tony Krausen, Trumpet Sponsor
ENSEMBLE SPONSORS ($5,000 - $9,999)
- Jason & Heidi Bemis, Ensemble
- Linda Benfield & Steve Wallace, Soldiers
- Bucyrus Foundation Inc., in honor of Mary Ann LaBahn, Ensemble?
- Kay & John Crichton, Ensemble?
- Catherine L. Davies, Snowflakes
-
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
- Peter & Joan Bruce
- Elizabeth & Charlie Haas, Flowers?
- Hinsdale Dance Academy?
- Jewish Community Foundation
- - Suzy B. Ettinger Fund
- Kelly & Karina Noyes,Party Guests
- Jill G. Pelisek, Swans
- William & Margaret Raasch
- Riverwater Partners, Tannenbaums
- John & Audra Rumpf,Ensemble
- Craig Young & Sharon Busey,Mice
FRIENDS OF THE NUTCRACKER
$2,500 - $4,999
- Kathy Averbeck, in honor of Karina Noyes?
- Chris & Krista Boyce?
- Cheryl & Stuart Carron?
- Christine & Tom Irgens
- Richard & Sarah Kimball?
- Herb Kohl Philanthropies?
- Dr. Suzanne Martens
- Gregory & Susan Milleville?
- New Haven Ballet?
- Town Bank, A Wintrust Community Bank?
$1,000 - $2,499
- Nicole Andersen?
- Barb Baltz?
- Matt & Kellen Bartel?
- Jay & Sara Baumgartner?
- Lisa & Bob Collins, in honor of Grace Reynolds?
- Kathleen Allen Crocker?
- Tyler Curran?
- Christine Czernejewski, in honor of Jack Mangi?
- Sarah & Peter Damsgaard?
- Buffy & Steve Duback?
- Kristy & Ian Elfe?
- Amanda & Stephen Elliott?
- Engage Dance Academy?
- Christine & David Foley?
- Tim & Sue Frautschi?
- Elizabeth & Frederic* Friedman
- Renee & Chad Griswold?
- Bernadine Hoeft?
- Mike & Mary Ignatowski?
- Andrew Jones & Amy Schmidt Jones
- Kendra Scott, LLC?
- Dr. Dean & Mary Klinger?
- Rebekah & Thomas Kowalski?
- Thomas & Jane Lacy??
- Anne Martino?
- Gregory & Susan Milleville
- Ann Neely?
- The John Oster Family Foundation?
- Neil & Erica Riegelman?
- Molly & John Thiel?
$500 - $999
- William & Barbara Boles?
- Amy & Dennis Connolly, in honor of Julia Connolly?
- Kristi & Michael Draver?
- The Effective Communication Coach?
- Lori Erickson & John Bell?
- Tasha Hamilton?
- Richard Hariman, in honor of Robert & Lily Hariman?
- Melissa Hayden?
- David & Christie Melby-Gibbons?
- AnnMarie & Wayne Kraszewski?
- David Krier?
- Robert Lyon & Gabrielle Davidson?
- Sarah Thomas Pagels & Jesse Pagels
- Nancy & David Putz?
- Jeffrey & Wende Raasch?
- Austin & Heather Ramirez, in honor of Susanna Mortara?
- Barbara C. Steinmetz?
- Keri Sarajian, Rick Stratton & Family?
- The Walters Family, in honor of Grace Walters?
- Rebecca Wanek?
- Mark & Anne Weitenbeck?
Baumgartner Center for Dance
Baumgartner Center for Dance broke ground in 2017 and opened its doors in September 2019 thanks to generous support from our Building Capital Campaign Donors. 100 families and organizations raised more than 26 million dollars to build the Baumgartner Center for Dance. Our heartfelt gratitude is given to all of the donors who made this vision a reality, with extra special thanks to Donald and Donna Baumgartner for ensuring the future of our facility.
Learn more about our facility and construction journey below
Our Donors
- Anonymous (2)
- Ben and Molly Abrohams in honor of Donald and Donna Baumgartner
- Argosy Foundation
- Astor Street Foundation Inc.
- Baird
- Barb & Aaron Baltz
- Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation
- Clair & Mary Baum
- Donald & Donna Baumgartner
- John P. Baumgartner
- Mr. & Mrs. James D. Bell
- Linda Benfield & Steve Wallace
- Mark & Victoria Benskin
- Eric & Aliah Berman
- Lori & William Bonifas
- The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation
- Mr. & Mrs. Anthony W. Bryant
- Stuart & Cheryl Carron
- Catalyst Construction
- David & Ruth S. Coleman Foundation
- Kathy, Margaret & Randy Crocker
- Sarah & Peter Damsgaard
- Ms. Jacqueline Davis
- Michael & Margaret DeMichele
- Robert Dohmen
- The Dohmen Family Foundation, Inc.
- Steve & Nancy Einhorn
- Jeff & Kelly Fitzsimmons
- Nancie Flaxman
- Foley & Lardner LLP
- Kari & Bill Foote
- Tim & Sue Frautschi
- Elizabeth & Frederic Friedman
- Sandy Golden
- Greater Milwaukee Foundation – Anonymous Fund
- Greater Milwaukee Foundation – Joan and Peter W. Bruce Fund
- Joe & Adriana Griffith
- David Grill
- Barry Grossman & Gail Lione
- Glen & Claire Hackmann
- Katie Heil & the Heil Family Foundation
- Herzfeld Foundation
- Sally Baumgartner Jarrar
- Jewish Community Foundation – Clarice S. Turer Charitable Fund in honor of Nita Soref*
- Joshua & Megan Jeffers
- Andrew Jones & Amy Schmidt Jones
- Matt & Kathryn Kamm
- Sarah & Richard Kimball