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

Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund donors provide a critical survival safety net for those economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

High unemployment or being underemployed creates serious challenges for Wisconsinites trying to stay safely in their homes and keep their heat and power on

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted just about every part of our daily lives. Tens of thousands of businesses across the nation have closed their doors -- some permanently. Longtime traditions and celebrations have been canceled or postponed. Traveling out in public now comes with an added health risk, and proper precautions must be taken. Households have transformed into temporary work stations and classrooms. 

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.

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.

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.

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.”