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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Schoep’s Ice Cream continues growing its ‘sweet’ bond with the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund

Iconic company, leadership, team members “roll up sleeves” to help those in need

If there’s one thing the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund has relied on over the years, it’s having the support of the community.

Dozens of companies throughout the state have lent their support to the organization and provided a safety net for more than 90,000 households that find themselves in crisis. Years ago, the KWW/CF found a “sweet” match in Schoep’s Ice Cream.

The Madison-based company shows its support for the organization by hosting multiple fundraising events throughout the year. Things like the $5 all-you-can-eat Ice Cream Social at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison and Wo Zha Wah Days Fall Festival in Wisconsin Dells always bring overwhelming support that goes a long way.

A line of hungry patrons forms at an ice cream social at the East YMCA in Madison, WI.

Klumb, KS Energy see results, impact support has on KWW/CF

Company will be top sponsor at this year’s golf outing

As a major contractor in the industry, KS Energy understands the need that exists during Wisconsin’s frigid winters and humid summers. With thousands of people unable to afford their utility bills throughout the year, the New Berlin-based company has remained eager to lend its support in any way possible.

When Dennis Klumb Jr., the company’s president and CEO, saw the direct impact and reach that the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund a decade ago, he was quick to get on board.

“The beauty of (the KWW/CF) is that you see where your money is going, and that’s helping families in need,” Klumb said. “When you support an organization like the KWW/CF, you’re directly helping families in need.

After two decades, Betty Lou Cruises still strong supporters of KWW/CF

Von Rutenberg happy to back organization

It was the mid-1990s when Jack von Rutenberg first found out about the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund. Tim Bruer, the executive director of the nonprofit organization, was looking to reach more in-need Wisconsinites and knew the von Rutenberg family were strong supporters of the community. Twenty-three years and more than 90,000 households helped later, von Rutenberg is thrilled to see where things have led.

The Betty Lou Cruise package, generously donated by Von Rutenberg Ventures, is a popular auction item at the annual Golf Outing.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens, KWW/CF Share Close Bond with Community

Madison landmark hosts events benefitting the organization

For 23 years, the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund has relied heavily on support from those in the community. What started as an emergency fund covering nine counties has grown to an organization that has thousands of supporters and is available in every zip code in Wisconsin.

Despite the changes, KWW/CF Executive Director Tim Bruer has always known the organization can rely on the connection it has with the Madison area. So, when Schoep’s Ice Cream and the KWW/CF formed a partnership, it was obvious to reach out to a historic place like Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

KWW/CF staff are ready to scoop delicious donated Schoep’s ice cream for hungry patrons in Madison.

Hutter, MIG Commercial Real Estate Builds on Past Support by Providing New Home for KWW/CF Customer Care Center

KWW/CF and Heat for Heroes Customer Care Center now assisting over 200,000 calls statewide for emergencies and energy assistance statewide

Brad Hutter had just made a career change from private practice to commercial real estate when he was approached by Tim Bruer.

Bruer, the alderman serving Hutter’s district at the time, was aware of the fact that MIG, and Hutter, had historically supported a number of grassroots survival safety net efforts in

 the area. When informed of the growing unmet need that often lead to emergencies and homelessness, Hutter took a keen interest in getting MIG actively involved.Hutter’s interest in supporting KWW/CF, an initiative to help at-risk, low-income individuals with their heating bills during the winter was the beginning of this longstanding relationship. It was a no-brainer for Hutter, the president and CEO of Madison-based MIG Commercial Real Estate. He was quick to jump on board and helped the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund get off the ground.

Longtime Partnership Between Madison Gas and Electric and KWW/CF Has Been Critical to Driving Success

Local Madison Utility, its generous customers and shareholders work with KWW/CF to keep the heat and power on for those most in need

Nearly 25 years ago, Tim Bruer realized a need that was being unmet statewide, and worked to create a community organization to combat it. He just needed support to get it off the ground.

Through his many connections with the area’s utility companies through Energy Services, Inc. (ESI), Bruer formed partnerships to aid some of those most vulnerable during Wisconsin’s bitter-cold winters.

Kathy DeMets, Madison Gas and Electric Company Senior Director of Customer Service and longtime KWW/CF Campaign Committee member shown he