ESI Blog

April 29, 2021 @ 12:00am

 

The Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund is proud to announce the launch of Crescendo On Wisconsin, a statewide campaign committed to helping struggling Entertainment Industry workers stay safely in their homes by providing emergency energy and rental assistance during these difficult times.

The entertainment and hospitality industry has been one of the sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the country, indoor music venues have faced capacity limitations making it impossible to remain open, while outdoor music events with large gatherings of people were canceled in an effort to curb the spread of the infectious disease. Drastically reduced performance opportunities brought the industry to a screeching halt.

The Crescendo On Wisconsin Campaign is reaching out to provide a hand up by assisting entertainment industry workers (artists, musicians, stage and sound crew, venue workers, etc.) with obtaining much-needed financial assistance for keeping a roof over their heads or their heat and power on.

The Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund (KWW/CF), founded in 1996, is a statewide nonprofit charity

February 05, 2021 @ 12:00am

Veterans Hit Hard During COVID-19 Pandemic Supported With Online Resources

Many Wisconsin Veterans, many of which are suffering from service-related injuries, are struggling with changes due to pandemic and in need of services

While the COVID19 pandemic has impacted all of us, especially hit hard have been our Veterans. Many were already suffering from service-related injuries or being challenged with mental health issues and limited incomes.

During the fall season of 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic flared up across the United States with an increased wave of new cases and deaths throughout the civilian and Veteran communities.

https://kwwf.org/sites/kwwf.org/assets/images/default/vet-couple.jpg

February 06, 2021 @ 12:00am

River 2 Ridge Disaster Resilience Group Energy Assistance Partnership with KWW/CF

Local Non-profit provides $30,000 in assistance for those in need in a four-county area

The River 2 Ridge Disaster Resilience Group (R2R) partnered with the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund in October to provide $30,000 of energy assistance relief to residents in Vernon, Monroe, Crawford, and LaCrosse counties in Wisconsin.

While the R2R mission is to provide flood recovery relief for individuals and businesses, the pandemic of 2020 caused them to expand their crisis relief efforts.

https://kwwf.org/sites/kwwf.org/assets/images/default/R2R-long-logo.png

February 07, 2021 @ 12:00am

19th Annual Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund Charity Golf Classic Once Again an Overwhelming Success Despite Pandemic

Hundreds of golfers, contributors, volunteers, community stakeholders once again safely came together for a modified event that raised money for more than 400 Wisconsin households in need

The Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund Golf Classic has been a major fundraising event for the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund. The 19th Annual Golf Classic event held this past August was no exception. Even in a year when many events across the state were postponed or canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, sprawling and well-manicured greens provided plenty of wide-open space for the event to move forward in a safe and socially distant manner.

https://kwwf.org/sites/kwwf.org/assets/images/default/golf-classic-20202021-02-09-1036.jpg

Golfers at the 19th Annual KWW/CF Charity Golf Classic and Silent Auction shown here getting ready for a great day of golf in Lake Geneva, WI.

February 10, 2021 @ 12:00am

Energy Services, Inc., KWW/CF Opens Expanded Customer Care Center to Address Growing need for Energy Assistance

1,000’s of calls per day are taken at the expanded location that has increased the capacity to help those in need

In early 2020, Energy Services Inc. (ESI)/ Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund (KWW/CF) opened an expanded Customer Care Center in Madison, Wi. The expanded space allows us to continue to be the primary place to turn for individuals that struggle to keep the heat and power on in crisis.

ESI was created in 1982 as a result of the ESI was created in 1982 as a result of the unfortunate hypothermia deaths of two seniors during a harsh Wisconsin winter, followed by another death in Dane County of a fragile elderly person from heatstroke during the summer.

 

https://kwwf.org/sites/kwwf.org/assets/images/default/callcenter_blurred-sm2021-02-09-0909.jpg

Customer Care Specialists at the expanded Customer Care Center for ESI and KWW/CF take 1000’s of calls each day from those in need.

February 08, 2021 @ 12:00am

Local Musician’s Career Affected by Covid-19 Pandemic

Shutdown and restrictions to businesses keep musicians from performing, making a living

Since its inception, the KWW/CF has enjoyed a close supporting relationship with a number of sectors including labor, hospitality industry, restaurants, and especially those from the music industry. Like others, hit hardest have been those associated with the entertainment industry. Recognizing this KWW/CF has reached out to them with most having lost their primary source of income due to the COVID19 pandemic.

https://kwwf.org/sites/kwwf.org/assets/images/default/Derek-Ramnarace---photo-by-Kyle-Hilker---Shatter-Imagery-sm.jpg

Derek Ramnarance, performing with his band, Old Soul Society. Photo credit: Dylan Overhouse

 

February 09, 2021 @ 12:00am

Madison-Area Couple Struggles to Run Businesses, Take Care of Family During COVID-19 Pandemic

Extra planning, safety measures along with revenue losses impact local businesses

Matt and Tori Gerding have a lot on their plates. Along with raising two small children, each of them is navigating a business through an industry upended by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’re both as busy as ever with work – everything we do takes so much more planning and work than it ever has before,” said Matt. “We just take life one day at a time, stay as focused as possible and try to extend each other a lot of grace. And our kids help ground us and remind us every day what is truly important in life, so I’m thankful for that perspective.”

February 11, 2021 @ 12:00am

Flannel Fest 2020 Virtual Music Event Celebrates 7 Years of Keeping Wisconsin Warm

Virtual format during COVID-19 pandemic successfully raises funds and awareness

Now in its 7th year, Flannel Fest has become an annual celebration of local, regional and national Americana music benefitting the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund (KWW/CF). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, most live music events have had to postpone until 2021, or they have created virtual events on the internet. Flannel Fest 2020 did the latter, with a successful online and virtual Facebook Live music event held on November 21 that raised over $15,000 for KWW/CF thanks to a 2 to 1 match challenge. While the event was free for anyone to attend, donations were strongly encouraged via virtual tip jars.

https://kwwf.org/sites/kwwf.org/assets/images/default/ff2020---all-artists-SQUARE-sm.jpg